🧱Concrete

Argentina Through Wine · Step 3 of 5 · 2 min read

The vessel making the biggest comeback. Concrete tanks were standard in old European wineries — Bordeaux châteaux still have them from the 1800s. They fell out of fashion when stainless steel arrived. Now they're back, but in a new shape.

The concrete egg is the symbol of modern winemaking. The egg shape creates a natural convection current as the wine ferments — gentle stirring without any pump. The thick concrete walls breathe just a little (like oak) but add zero flavor. The result: oak-like texture, but pure fruit expression.

Argentina's most innovative producers — Zuccardi, Altos Las Hormigas, Catena — have made the concrete egg a signature of their philosophy: let altitude and place speak, not the wood.