Kosta’s Trip to Georgia: Wine, Stories, and New Connections
Our founder, Kosta, recently made a trip to Georgia with two things in mind: supporting the local wine scene and finding new ways to share it with wine lovers back in the U.S. Along the way, he met some amazing winemakers, swapped stories, and tasted wines that have been perfected over generations. It was a trip full of connection, inspiration, and, of course, great wine.
Qvevri Wine Cellar: A Blending of Knowledge
From the village of Velistsikhe in Kakheti, Ivane Nareklishvili set out to found his own winery. As a third-generation winemaker, Ivane spent 25 years gaining experience working for a variety of wine producers. After spending time studying in Italy- and becoming engrossed in different techniques- he came to understand the future of Georgian winemaking exists in the blend of traditional Kakhetian and contemporary winemaking knowledge. With a modern winemaker’s eye for quality control, and the steady hand of minimal intervention, Ivane honed his ability to finesse a natural ferment to reveal the best of native yeasts and traditional techniques without risking errant slips or spoilage. From this, Qvevri Wine Cellar was born in 2015.
Pi Winery: A Symbol of Balance and Harmony
This symbol of balance and harmony is the philosophy behind Pi Winery and its founding family. In 2020, Teona Omarashvili teamed up with her uncle Levan, to officially brand Pi Wines after years of family centered winemaking. This wine pays tribute to the eternal- like the number π, and reflects a pursuit of perfection that never truly ends. With roots in ancient soil, each sip brings you closer to the elegance of nature’s own equation.
News from Saperavi Brothers: Import Workshop for Georgian Winemakers
In a meeting of tradition and opportunity, Saperavi Brothers’ founder Kosta made a compelling presentation to a group of Georgian winemakers in Tbilisi, offering insight into the pathways- and challenges- of bringing Georgian wine to the United States.
Homeland of Wine Magazine: “Truly Rachvelian Wines”
Racha is a region in northwest Georgia that is known for its beautiful nature and traditional culture. A particularly mountainous region spotted with waterfalls and mineral springs, Racha has always been a popular holiday destination for Georgians. In the world of Georgian wine, Racha holds a host of under-appreciated grape varieties within its diverse soils and climate, surprising even the most knowledgeable wine drinkers.
IQVE Winery: The Truth is in Qvevri
Givi Adeishvili’s winemaking experience started in his childhood in the 1990s. Qvevri winemaking technology was abandoned in Georgia over the years under the legacy of the Soviet Union. During the Soviet period, people concentrated on mass production, and the quality of Georgian wine was forgotten along with rare grape varieties. Givi made it his life’s mission to to support the Georgian wine industry in the process of shifting from this Soviet legacy of winemaking back to traditional Georgian winemaking which includes the revival of the qvevri fermentation process.
Ceramics Monthly: “Clay Culture”
Emphasizing the inherent craft behind qvevri winemaking, Ceramics Monthly highlighted these unique earthenware vessels of Georgia. They start by pointing out that the qvevri is traditionally involved in every part of winemaking- the fermenting, aging, and storing- and quote a common Georgian expression, “here it is born, grows up, matures, and resides.”
From Chelti: 2018 Heritage Saperavi Scored By “Planet Grape Wine Review”
News from our producer Chelti!
The 2018 Chelti Heritage Saperavi was recently scored by Planet Grape Wine Review, a non-technical review for regular wine drinkers. Created by Catherine Fallis, the world’s fifth female Master Sommelier, Planet Grape Wine Review is the United States’ first female-led wine review.
Highlight: “Deep Dive into 8,000-Year-Old Qvevri Winemaking”
German Master of Wine- Konstantin Baum- has highlighted Georgian wines on his numerous visits to the nation. He emphasizes the importance of Georgian wine historically and its emergence on Western markets for curious and excited wine lovers. He describes his adventures in Georgia on the backroads stretching to the vineyards, the surprisingly good food, and the process of Georgian wine production, including a peek inside the making of a traditional qvevri and the craftsman behind it.
From Georgian Cinema: Qvevri (1970)
From the Georgian film vault, “Qvevri”, a black and white short directed by Irakli Kvirikadze, comically highlights life in the wine growing region of Kakheti. Gogia brings home a qvevri (the Georgian winemaking jug) made in Imereti to Kakheti. The qvevri, traveling across the country, cracks along the way. Gogia convinces a qvevri maker to fix it, but he finds himself stuck inside of it instead.