21/08/2026
WHY CHOOSE CLAYVER?
There are MANY reasons but today we’re focussing on POROSITY BY DESIGN: How Clayver Cracked the Code on Ceramic Winemaking!
One of Clayver’s KEY technical advantages: controlled MICRO-OXYGENATION with NO RISK of internal contamination, ensuring OPTIMAL HYGIENE and microbiological neutrality.
Ever worry about BRETTANOMYCES lurking in your cellar?
Brettanomyces (often called "Brett") is a wild yeast that can grow in wine during aging or storage. While standard wine yeast turns grape sugar into clean alcohol, it can cause significant spoilage in wines, through the production of volatile phenol compounds.
Traditional oak barrels are beautiful, but they have a hidden risk: deep pores. "Brett" can settle deep into the wood, making it incredibly difficult to sanitize. Once it’s in, it’s a constant battle.
Enter Clayver ceramic vessels…
The SECRET is all in the pore size. Clayver ceramics are engineered with ultra-fine micropores. These pores are physically smaller than a Brettanomyces yeast cell.
Because the yeast cannot enter the pores of the ceramic, it stays strictly on the surface!
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR WINE:
• TOTAL SANITATION: With nowhere to hide, Brett can be easily and completely washed away.
• PERFECT OXYGENATION: You get the gentle micro-oxygenation benefits of oak, but with zero microbial risk.
• PRISTINE FRUIT: Your wine expresses its true terroir, clean and fault-free.
Science-backed winemaking MEANS cleaner cellars and better wine.
HOW CLAYVER HELPS CONTROL BRETT:
• SMOOTH, IMPERMEABLE INTERIOR: The dense ceramic body lacks the fibrous hiding places found in wood.
• EASY CLEANING: Smooth inner walls withstand hot water, steam, and aggressive cleaning agents.
• NO WOOD-DERIVED NUTRIENTS: The vessel is chemically inert and does not feed secondary yeasts.
• CONTROLLED OXYGEN TRANSFER: The vessel provides winemakers with a highly precise tool for micro-oxygenation.
In today’s changing climate and with the higher microbiological risks it brings, Clayver is a real ASSET.
One of Clayver’s most COMPELLING INNOVATIONS is the unprecedented control it offers winemakers over material POROSITY and MICRO-OXYGENATION.
Unlike traditional terracotta amphorae, which often suffer from irregular, high porosity and require internal coatings like beeswax, Clayver vessels feature a patented, liquid-impermeable stoneware with a highly controlled microporous structure.
Want to know more about CLAYVER? Then contact us for a copy of their latest catalogue or pop into SWAT for an informal chat and advice.
Read our BLOG articles on Clayver by visiting our website: www.swat.net.au
