If you’re looking for a high-quality, soft and approachable white wine, then look no further than Tsitska. Indeed, in upper and central Imereti, Tsitska is principally used to make sought after sparkling wines. Typical of the numerous indigenous grape varieties which call Georgia home, Tsitska is confusingly known by several other names depending on where it is grown. If you come across Shanti or Tsitsko, you still have Tsitska! In the villages of central Imereti, it is also called Male Tsitska. In foreign ampelographic works (Viala and Vermoreli, Guioni, Piula and Goete), Tsitska is also mentioned and briefly described under the name Tsitska da Chanti.
But for wine lovers, the only thing you need to know about Tsitska is that it’s delicious. When vinified to dryness, Tsitska are plush with aromas of yellow fruits such as quince, melon and pear; sometimes with a honeyed top note too which we defy you to resist. Tsitska has lovely fresh acidity too – it can be naturally cultivated to have high enough levels for the aforementioned sparkling wines. It also makes Tsitska still wines truly mouthwatering.
Tsitska is grown throughout upper and central Imereti, and is sometimes blended with Tsolikouri. Tsitska is also notably combined with Krakhuna for PDO Sviri, a still white wine.
An amber, Qvevri-made example from producer Baia’s Wine is available via The Oxford Wine Company and Taste of Georgia.
