Pandora’s Amphora

Pandora’s Amphora wine was hand-crafted following the ancient European tradition of fermenting in clay amphora vessels rather than the relatively modern wooden barrel. The resulting wine is simply stunning and full of intrigue. Equally intriguing is the story of where this particular amphora came from. An ancient and disused amphora clay vessel beckoned to Glenn during his time at Penfolds, it's origins unknown though seemingly dating back some centuries, quite possibly to Greece. What was left of its flaking glaze provided glimpses of a decorative painted fresco that once adorned the vessel – this became the reference for the digitally hand-painted illustration which wraps around the main bottle label.

A series of maker's marks found pressed into the clay has also been incorporated into the packaging design, influencing the logo's typography, the PA monogram, and the symbol which is hand-stamped into the sealing wax on top of the bottle.

As research uncovered, the legendary 'box' featuring in Greek mythology's tale of 'Pandora's Box' was actually not a box at all, but an amphora. A printed silk ribbon has been incorporated into the wine packaging, providing a hint to the legend of Pandora's Amphora and requiring the viewer to rip open the wax seal to reveal the full extent of what is written beneath:

"When Pandora opened the amphora gifted to her by Zeus, all the evils of the world escaped. All that remained inside was, hope."

This process of ripping open the seal acts to symbolise Pandora opening the amphora and physically connects the viewer directly to the legend.

– Cheers!