How do you Pronounce That?
“Pronunciation’ is one of the most mispronounced words.”
Mokokoma Mokhonoana
There’s always someone that mispronounces the name of a bottle of wine, and I’m sure you have experienced it…like the guy at dinner that wants to show off and loudly orders a bottle of “shab – bliss” (a.k.a. Chablis). Easy…right? Not so with wines from the oldest wine producing country in the world…Georgia.
In my last blog I provided an introduction to the country of Georgia and it’s wines, now it’s time to dig a wee bit deeper into the Georgian wine industry – what the wines taste like, and even more important, how to pronounce the name of each like a pro. The wines presented here are all sold by Silk Road Wines and are currently available in many retail locations as well as restaurants throughout Florida and Texas.
Ready??? Choose your favorite!
AlaZani Semi-Sweet Red Wine
This is one of the easier wines to pronounce – ah-La-zah-knee. While deemed a semi-sweet, this varietal actually has somewhat of a dry finish with an aroma of currants, flowers, and spicy white pepper with sweet and sour ripe cherries. AlaZani is a 100% Saperavi grape (that’s sah-pear-AH-vee) from the Kakheti region (more on regions and micro-regions in my next post). While I love dry wines, this (and KindzMarauli) are two of my favorites to sip cold on hot, balmy nights here in Florida.
KindzMarauli Semi Sweet Red Wine
Another semi-sweet red wine to choose from the Silk Road portfolio, but with subtle differences that set it apart from AlaZani. First, the pronunciation – kinz-mah-rah-oo-lee – said all at once – not one at a time! (Thank you Georgianwine.com.hk). Kindzmarauli has a velvet texture on the tongue, with notes of blueberry, rich currants, and hints of vanilla. And the smell….ahhhhhh. An avalanche of cherry pie aromas. A 100% Saperavi grape from Kindzmarauli in the controlled microzone of Kakheti (kah (brought from deep within the lungs) – ketty).
Pronounced moo-koi (a softer version of the fish and more of a coo)-zah-knee is a 100% Saperavi grape in the microzone of Kakheti. Unlike the first two wines, this one is a full bodied dry red, with a long, smooth finish, and is aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. The wine features notes of dark plum, blackberry, and spices, and while reminiscent of a Cabernet, it has powerful aromas of black and red berries, black pepper, and savory viands with a light honeyed finish..
A dry red, however, Saperavi (pronounced sah-pear-ah-vee) is unoaked with notes of tart cherry and pomegranate. While this wine has the weight and feel of a Rhone blend (yes…missing the L’accent Circonflexe because I don’t know how to type it in this program – je m’excuse), this Saperavi has aromas of raspberry jam and fresh figs, while the taste lingers with tart lingonberries, finishing with orange zest and charcoal. As is its name, this wine is a 100% Saperavi grape from Kakheti.
Had enough reds? MaNavi (pronounced mah-nah-vee), is comparable to a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc with bright aromas of apricot, citrus, and crisp green apple. Both the nose and the palate reveal herbs such as cardamom, coriander, and allspice, with a touch of white peach with a finish of lime accents. MaNavi is a 100% Mtsvane (pronounced mah-ts-vah-nay) grape from Manavi within the controlled microzone of Kakheti.
RkatSiteli Qvevri Amber Dry Wine
This one is tough, and while I’ll give you the phonetic spelling, just make sure you don’t add an Italian touch to it (you’ll see why). Pronounced ruh-Kat-see-tell-ee (see why you could add an Italian flair?), this Qvevri wine is probably one you’ve heard about and want to try – the “orange” wine. This unique amber wine is aged six months in a qvevri with notes of honey, apple, and apricot with a hint of spice. It’s made from 80% Rkatsiteli and 20% Mtsvane grapes from the microzone of Napareuli in Kakheti.
Sure, it looks easy, but it’s not what you think. Forget the English ‘k’ – it’s more of a hard ‘h’ in the beginning – (think of clearing your throat), and say H(wi)-kwi. Practice makes perfect for this unique amber wine with notes of lemongrass, honey, herbal tea, citrus, and apple. This delightful wine is made from 100% Khikhvi grapes from the controlled microzone of Napareuli in Kakheti.
last, but certainly not least (yes, Silk Road represents more wines, which we’ll talk about in later posts), is this beautiful bottle of organic Qvevri Rose Wine. Not as hard to pronounce as some of the aforementioned, but still challenging, let this wine roll off your tongue as k-whe-air-vree (try to incorporate the ‘k’ with the where, but still make it somewhat distinct). The color is a vibrant rose/pink (great for the upcoming Valentine’s day holiday), with notes of cherry, mulberry, and a hint of vanilla. This is a limited release!!
Now that you have your homework practicing how to say each wine, click HERE to find out where to find our wines in Florida and Texas. Or if you’re not from either state, click on the bottle photo to purchase wine online. Stay tuned Pennsylvania, Alabama, and North Carolina…we’re working on coming your way in the near future!! Next time…I’ll take a look behind the scenes at Silk Road Wine and Emerald Vines Media to show you who is WHO!!!