🍷 Pithos

A pithos is a huge clay vessel used in ancient Greece. Pithoi held wine, olive oil, grain and other supplies. A large pithos could reach a person’s height and more, and its walls were thick.

A pithos was often buried in the ground, half or fully, to keep the wine cool. The inside could be coated with resin so that the clay did not let the liquid soak through. The vessel was closed with a lid and sealed.

Other countries knew the same way of storing wine. Georgian qvevri, Armenian karases and Spanish tinajas are related vessels. All belong to the family of clay wine vessels, and all share one idea: clay, cool earth and slow maturing.

The pithos is linked to ancient Greece and wine: for the Greeks wine was an important part of life, festivals and trade. Today pithoi are found in museums, and some winemakers return to clay vessels. Alcohol is for adults.