Quality Wine, Quality Grapes
Winemakers: Levan Japaridze
Country/Region: Georgia, Kakheti
Vineyard Management: Organic
Soils: Alluvial, clay, loam
Grapes: Saperavi
Quick Facts:
Levan Japaridze started his own venture in 2004 knowing that good quality wine can only be made from good quality grapes. He has since taken the strategy of spreading and increasing the awareness of natural Georgian wine through festivals and competitions, both locally and abroad. At the 11th International Wine and Spirits Exhibition WinExpo Georgia in and the 10th International Wine Competition, an international jury and Commission Chairman, Master of Wine from the UK, Tim Atkin, presented gold and silver medal wines to Levan in several categories. Including his Gozauri Saperavi 2015 which was awarded the Silver Medal.
Japaridze’s brand ‘Gozauri’ is a reference to an ancient style of glazed clay wine bottle first produced in Kakheti.
Winery
The vineyard is located in Georgia’s region of Kakheti famous for its viniculture and rich wine-producing traditions, namely, in the unique micro-zone of Kindzmarauli. Annual sun exposure and growing season on the left bank of the Alazani River lasts almost as long as on the Garonne valley (birthplace of Cabernet Sauvignon) with the soil formed by alluvial deposits of clay, gravel, and sand. The soil and other ecological features of the micro-zone combine to provide the best conditions for the production of high-quality wine.