Chkhaveri is a rare but fascinating grape. It was originally a “maghlari” vine, trained to grow up trees, and was described in Ampelography of Georgia as ‘light and pleasant’. Published in 1960, this book is considered one of the most influential books in Georgian winemaking – though nowadays winemakers think such an interpretation of Chkhaveri is…
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…
Aladasturi is a famous grape in Georgia, oft quoted in Georgian folklore and literature. The vine species appears in a number of Georgian poems, novel, songs, proverbs and sayings, though, as with most other Georgian grape varieties, written evidence of Aladasturi doesn’t exist. The grape is named for its presumed origin the village of Aladast, in…
If you have even a passing interest in sweeter wines, then you have to know about cult wine Khvanchkara AOC. Khvanchkara is a semi-sweet red wine from this small appellation of controlled origin or AOC, a micro-zone located in Racha-Lechkhumi in North Western Georgia. For a wine to be categorised as Khvanchkara it has to…
The name ‘Chinuri’ is derived from the word chinebuli, meaning ‘excellent’ in Georgian. It refers to the grape’s reputation for excellence in terms of appearance, colour and flavour. Chini also means ‘reddish-green’, appropriately matching the blush red-yellow-green the grapes turn as they ripen. Some winemakers even call Chinuri ‘Chinebuli’. Chinuri is one of the most important white…
If you’re at all interested in Georgian wine, then you’ll almost certainly have heard of Rkatsiteli. A white grape used to produce both traditional Georgian-style and European-style wines, it is now stocked by a number of retailers in the UK. If you pride yourself on staying one step ahead of the crowd then Rkatsiteli wines…
Goruli Mtsvane (pronounced Go-roo-lee Mah-ts-vah-nay) may not be as well known as its white counterparts Rkatsiteli or Kisi, but its well worth seeking out. Goruli Mtsvane originates from Kartli, one of the five key winemaking regions in Georgia. The Kartli vineyards are located in the river basins, hundreds of meters above sea level, bisected by the…
Gvino UK’s story is reflective of the meteoric rise in popularity of Georgian wine in the UK. Despite only starting to trade in August 2018, Danilo and Anzor have become an important force in both the promotion of Georgian wine direct to consumers, and as importers. Dani’s perpetual grin matches his palpable enthusiasm for his…
Georgia has become internationally known for its qvevri wines, helped in no small part by a swelling global interest in natural wines and orange wines. But did you know that qvevri wines only account for about 1% of Georgia’s total wine production? On the flip side, 70% of the country’s production is sweet and semi-sweet…
In Georgia, “You’ll rarely drink wine without food and rarely eat without wine,” promises Sarah May Grunwald in her Tbilisi guide for Jancis Robinson’s website. If we had our way, the Georgian tradition of ‘supra’ will become the next ‘hygge’. Georgia’s cultural of celebrating anything and everything with lashings of delicious local food and wine…