Amalthea Cellars
« Wine is like the cuisine! It’s by the quality of the raw material that makes good wine « (Louis Caracciolo)
Amalthea Cellars is a small 7-acre property located in South Jersey (New Jersey) and more specifically in the wine region of the Outer Coastal Plain. It was in 1972 that Louis Caracciolo, the current owner of Amalthea Cellars, then acquired the virgin field of vine. Four years later, in 1976 he cleared the property and planted with vines.
As little Louis Caracciolo often assisted his grandfather in winemaking a garage wine for family consumption. It was at this time that his passion for wine was born. When he was old enough to make his own decisions he went to study food and wine at Pratt Institue in New York. Following his school and being in love with « the French life style » he set out to discover the Bordeaux and Burgundy vineyards. He worked in few famous properties of Margaux and Saint-Emilion.
Where does the name « Amalthea Cellars » come from?
The vineyard was established in the same time that was discovered the satellite of the Jupiter planet, Amalthea. Louis Caracciolo is not only a wine enthusiast but astronomy as well so naturally he named Amalthea its vineyards. A good way to combine two passions that apparently have no common point.
Meeting Casey Economides, the cellar master at Amalthea Cellars
« This is not just my job, it’s my lifestyle. I studied art in Brussels for 6 months and then I traveled to France to discover the wines and the ‘french life style’. I have not studied oenology, I learned everything at the winery with Louis Caracciolo, or by myself. I love my job because it permit me to combine two passions: art and wine. Making wine is making art, to create and share their work with others, with friends. « (Casey Economides)
What is your winemaking philosophy? (Louis Caracciolo)
« Respecting tradition. One day I asked at a Bordeaux friend what new technologies had changed in his wine. He answered me ‘nothing! I follow the tradition. » It is 350 years since they make wine in New Jersey and I am trying to perpetuate. I try to reconcile / to find a compromise between this wine history and know-how acquired in Bordeaux without making a copy of Bordeaux wines. « (Louis Caracciolo)
What do you look for, each year, when you create Amalthea’ wines?
« Balance is our signature. We are very demanding when the quality of harvested reasons but also followed the daily evolution of our wines. We are looking for highly complex aromas of fruit, but also to make wines ‘full’. I mean, wines with a rich nose, a rich mouth … tasting very aromatically from beginning to end. « (Casey Economides)
What characterizes the wines of this property?
Personally, I would say that what characterizes the Amalthea Cellars’ wines is a certain aromatic richness, wines well done but very rounded, fat in wine.
Side anecdote:
For the little story, three cuvées of Amalthea Cellars is named like other Jupiter‘s satellites, namely: Europa. In addition each of these wines is assembling like a renowned property of Bordeaux. Europa I with the blend of Château Margaux (1er Grand Cru Classé Margaux), the Europa II blending like the Château Latour (1er Grand Cru Classé Pauillac) and Europa VII assembled like the Château Figeac (1er Grand Cru Classé Saint-Emilion).
Thanks to Louis Caracciolo (winemaker & owner) and Casey Economides (Cellar Master) for their hospitality.
Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche
Amalthea Cellars
209 Vineyard Road
Atco, NJ 08004
