Traditional Natural Georgian Wine
Georgia, The Birthplace of Wine
For Generations the Country of Georgia Has Been Known as the Birthplace of Wine
3000 years before humans even started writing, ancient Georgians were fermenting grapes into wine. Although Georgia has been considered the birthplace of wine by many for generations already, one particular feature of the Georgian wine making process has established the necessary evidence to make that title concrete. Traditional Georgian wine uses a special clay vessel in the wine making process called a qvevri, a tradition that has been passed down through the centuries. Archeologists uncovered these same wine making clay vessels in Southeastern Georgia that date back 8000 years with remains of grapes inside, officially branding Georgia as the first known country making wine with grapes.
Georgian wines are made in a more natural way than modern winemaking practices. The wine-making process begins with pressing the grapes and then pouring the juice, grape skins, stalks and pips into the qvevri. The qvevri is then sealed and buried in the ground so that the wine can ferment for five to six months. When made with white grape varieties like the ancient Rkatsiteli, this creates a golden-hued wine, also known as amber or orange wine.
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60 Minutes Shares the History of Ancestral and Modern Georgian Winemaking
Reviewed by Tara Q. Thomas
A little extra sweetness turbocharges saperavi’s flavors here: It’s a bold swath of deep purple-plum fruit, fresh and simple. For a cheese plate, or for steak lovers who appreciate a bit of sweetness in their wines.
Reviewed by Tara Q. Thomas
Made from Mtsvane, this combines sweet candied-lemon flavors with savory notes of almond and stone, the flavors holding on with a slightly pithy grip.
David Becker
This wine is made from Saperavi grapes which are harvested late in the season. Pair this wine with desserts and cheese. Medium ruby in color. Nose of strawberry, red cherry, steel, vanilla and medicinal notes. Finish of ripe red fruit, red currant and some sweetness to the wine which provides a softer style in the palate. Finish lingers with cranberry and dried earth. 12.5% abv. 3.7 stars.
Our Team
Yanick Arakelov
Owner
Barry Greer
Owner
Sharon Arakelov
Owner
Candy Greer
OwnerGet to Know Us
Common Questions About Our Wine
Where is Georgia?
Georgia is a small country, about the size of West Virginia, which is nestled between the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountain Range. It is bordered by Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Is Georgia the birthplace of wine?
In 2015, scientists studying the history of agriculture uncovered ancient clay vessels dating back 8,000 years at an archeological dig in southeastern Georgia. The Neolithic-era site is a joint project of the Georgian National Museum and the University of Toronto.
Researchers analyzing the residue contained within the vessels—the remains of grapes and grape seeds—dated the material to 6000 BCE. This establishes ancient Georgia as the first known location of grape winemaking.
Georgian winemaking practices existed 3,000 years before the invention of writing and 5,000 years before the start of the Iron Age.
What wines can we compare to?
AlaZani // If you prefer a semi sweet red wine that is refreshing and light.
KindzMarauli // If you prefer a semi sweet wine that is deep and mysterious.
MaNavi // If you prefer a white wine that is crisp and complex.
SapeRavi // If you prefer a lively and textured red.
MukuZani // If you prefer the texture and heft of a bold and structured oaked red wine.
what makes our wine unique?
Our red wines are made using Saperavi grapes which are a unique Georgian varietal. Wines have been cultivated in Georgia for over 8,000 years. While other red varieties only have pigment on the skin, the Saperavi berry has dark pink flesh inside the grape. This is a distinctive feature of the Saperavi grape.
