Georgian Wines

Noah’s Wine Country

The region is known for its rugged mountains, including the famous Mount Ararat, which is said to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark in the Bible. According to the biblical texts, it was Noah who planted the first grapevine right after the Flood: “…he became a man of the earth and planted a vineyard”.

Georgians have a long history of winemaking, and it remains an essential part of their culture and economy. After all, ancient Georgia is considered the birthplace of wine itself, where wine is believed to be first produced and consumed around 8,000 BC. The region known as Noah’s Wine Country is particularly significant. It is believed to be the starting point of the wine migration process across the region and the rest of the world.
It is not for nothing that Georgia is called “the cradle of wine”. This small country of less than 70,000 square kilometers (about 27,000 square miles) is home to many unique grape varieties – several times over that of France, for example. This diversity results from Georgia’s unique geographical location with three different climate zones – cold winds descending from the Caucasus Mountains in the north, western breezes carrying subtropical moisture from the Black Sea, and a front of hot continental air coming from the south. Multiple unique wine microzones exist throughout Georgia, allowing Georgian winemakers to cultivate grape varieties that do not exist anywhere else in the world.

Qvevri

The traditional method of winemaking in Georgia, known as “Qvevri”, involves a unique natural fermentation and aging process. Grapes are placed inside large “Qvevri” clay vessels, which are then buried underground for several months, allowing the grapes to age and mature properly. This method is considered a unique and essential aspect of Georgian culture and heritage and is still used by many Georgian winemakers today. It has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of humankind.

Phylloxera and its impact on winemaking

Phylloxera is a tiny insect native to North America that feeds on the roots of grapevines. It was accidentally introduced to Europe in the late 19th century and quickly spread throughout the continent, eliminating all local grape varieties. Unlike Europe, Georgia was never affected by the Phylloxera epidemic, which allowed the country to continue producing wine using traditional methods and grape varieties cultivated for generations. This helped preserve Georgian wine’s unique flavors and aromas and potentially contributed to the spread of winemaking in other parts of the world.

Georgian grape varieties

Georgian grape varieties have some of the most beautiful and unusual names too.
The most common white varieties are Rkatsiteli, Kahuri Mtsvane, Kisi, Hihvi, Chinuri, Goruli Mtsvane, Tsolikouri, Krahuna, Tetra.
Red varieties include Saperavi, Tavkveri, Shavkapito, Otskhanuri Sapere, Mujuretuli, Usakhelouri, Chkhaveri, Aladasturi, Jani.

Red Wines of Georgia

Kindzmarauli
Kindzmarauli is a naturally semi-sweet wine made from the Saperavi grape variety.It is known for its rich, full-bodied flavor, deep ruby color, and fruity aroma.
Kindzmarauli is a Geographical Indication (GI) wine from the Kindzmarauli microzone in the Kvareli district of the Kakheti region in Georgia.
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Saperavi
This is a rich, full-bodied red wine from Georgia’s indigenous Saperavi grape. This wine is characterized by its deep ruby color and complex aroma of dark fruits, such as blackberries and plums, with hints of spice and dark chocolate. This wine is ideal for aging and will keep improving the more time it spends in the bottle.
It is a premium choice for wine connoisseurs and those who appreciate unique and rare wines.
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Merlot
Merlot wine has a rich ruby color with light herbs, cherries, and chocolate tones. It has a multifaceted bouquet and a very refined taste.

Rosé
Georgian Rosé is an excellent wine from the highest quality Saperavi and Rkatsiteli grape varieties, characterized by its bright pink color. It is known for its fresh fruit aromas and subtle flavors of cherry, blackberry, and pomegranate.
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White Wines of Georgia

Tsinandali (85% Rkatsiteli, 15% Mtsvane)
This is an excellent dry white wine with a protected Tsinandali Designation Of Origin. It is made from Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes cultivated in the Tsinandali microzone.
This wine’s signature characteristics are its straw color, fruit flavors, and balanced taste.
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Amber wine (the traditional “Qvevri” wine)
Georgian “Qvevri” wines are almost always dry white wines. Georgia is the only country in the world where dry white wines are aged in traditional “Qvevri” vessels for several months. These are skin-contact wines, where grapes are aged and fermented in “Qvevri” together with the skins, stems, and seeds.
In Georgia, they are often called golden wines, and all over the world, they are usually called amber wines (or orange wines), emphasizing their signature thick amber color.
This wine has a charming aroma with notes of exotic fruits. Its velvety taste plays with a whole spectrum of ripe fruit shades and is followed by a cloudy and delicate apple aftertaste.
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About Kosher Wines

Translated from Hebrew, “Kosher” means “fit” – a term in Judaism used to describe products that comply with the Jewish Dietary Laws.
Kosher wines are produced under strict supervision from harvest to bottle. They contain no animal products or foreign additives (dyes, flavors, etc.).
Kosher wines don’t taste any different than non-kosher wines.However, some kosher wines undergo pasteurization. Pasteurized kosher wines are labeled as “mevushal” and unpasteurized as “non-mevushal”.
Kosher wines tend to be slightly more expensive than regular wines. This is due to the extra cost of Kosher equipment and Kosher supervision services.
Kosher wines are labeled with a Kosher symbol and the “mevushal/non-mevushal” marking.
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