Penfolds Ampuole Project by Nick Mount

For wine aficionados, The Penfolds Ampoule—a handmade vessel of which there are only twelve worldwide—is the ultimate collector’s piece. The glass body, designed by Nick Mount, is a hand-blown, conical plumb-bob made from grey glass and topped with a scarlet “cotton-reel.” Designer-maker Hendrik Foster contributed metal detailing, and Andrew Bartlett, a furniture craftsman, designed the Jarrah cabinet in which the ampoule resides. The ampoule itself—scientific-grade, so as to make the most of ideal storage conditions—was designed by glassblower Ray Leake.

Each part of the elegant whole is hand-crafted; tedious hours go into the ampoule’s construction. The wine is worth the labor, though: first released in the 1950s, and of critical importance to Australian wine culture, Penfolds is fit for its unusually special container. The Ampoule comes with a “Making Of” booklet and a Certificate of Ownership & Authenticity signed by Chief Winemaker Peter Gago and the artists.

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