“Saperavi Press”

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.

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.”

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.

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 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.

A recent article by Kurt Johnson for Conde Nast highlighted Georgian wines as a symbol of national identity among the current landscape of the Caucasus region. Johnson set out to explore one of Georgia’s most famous wine regions- Kakheti- through an organized harvest with a local winemaker.

The New York Times recently traveled to the country of Georgia to investigate the nation’s attempt to move closer to Western markets, particularly the extensive U.S. market and American wine drinkers. At the heart of this entrepreneurial push are Georgian winemakers themselves- a pillar of the Georgian developing economy.

The Georgian people have taken to the streets for days on end to protest Prime Minister Kobakhidze’s recent declaration that it would not continue negotiations with the European Union for the next four years, a surprising turn from the past twelve years spent developing the nation to become a full-fledged member of the EU. Among the protestors are Georgian winemakers, who have been a foundational piece to the economic and cultural revitalization of Georgia.

An article published last year by Aurélien Foucault for Sommeliers International highlighted the women winemakers increasingly representing Georgian traditional winemaking. With an uncompromising love for wine, Georgian women have risen to challenge the male-dominated traditions of this centuries long tradition both on the vineyards and in the cellars.

Shalva Alelishvili, founder and chief winemaker of Ghvinia Wines, merges his broad background in business, the science of wine, and sommelier training to produce one of Georgia’s most promising wine labels. He set out to build a cellar in his family’s village of Meskheti, a mountainous region in southwestern Georgia. Meskheti is named for ancient tribes known to be the first inhabitants of the modern Samtskhe-Javakheti region. Historians credit these early settlers with the invention of iron metallurgy, connecting this land with the innovation of human culture.

“Nicknamed “Little Tuscany”, Kakheti, just a two-hour drive from the capital Tbilisi, is not only one of Georgia’s most beautiful regions, with endless views of mountains and vineyards, but also its most famous wine region, responsible for 70% of Georgia’s wine production.”

Reporting for CBS 60 Minutes, a team of journalists headed to Georgia on an investigation of the nation’s winemakers and ancient grapes. At one point in history, Georgia boasted 1,400 native grape varieties, most of which were destroyed during Georgia’s years under the Soviet Bloc. As a vital part of the nation’s cultural identity, a bold move has been made to recultivate the lost varieties.

With a picturesque view surrounding ​​the village of Vardisubani, in the Telavi region of Kakheti – a postcard of Georgia- Marmenio’s 2024 harvest is underway.

For Marmenio, winemaking is based on a philosophy: At Marmenio they love traditional Georgian winemaking, but they marry it with experimentation and a willingness to grow and learn.

Hundreds of people visited Chelti Winery’s booth at its center location inside the expo center, growing Chelti’s brand directly with samples of their high quality wine. The booth was managed by the knowledgeable Chelti team who spent every day of the WinExpo describing their winemaking from the vines to the bottle.

Situated in the up and coming wine region of Imereti, Terjola encompasses a wild territory of villages stretching to the main city of Kutaisi. Imereti was an ancient kingdom of Georgia, once known for its royal family lineage. It’s the story behind Nanua Winery, and the family of Gia Chubinidze, who were winemakers for the last king of Imereti.

On a beautiful Fall day in the village of Khashmi in the region of Kakheti, Saperavi Brothers’ producer, Artizani, set out with a team of experienced, local agriculture workers and international visitors to harvest the region’s most popular grape- Saperavi. Khashmi is located in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region famous for its history of wine production and its fertile climate for cultivating several of the best local grape varietals, including saperavi. The vineyards sit at one of the highest elevations of vineyards in Georgia, adding to the microregion’s appeal.

Levan Kbiltsetskhlashvili was a successful lawyer in Tbilisi before he decided it was time to change his long-standing career- and his life- in the process. Levan grew up near Mtskheta in the village of Navazi. Above the village sits ruins of the ancient settlement in the region of Kartli, and as a child Levan would explore the ruins on the restless, long summer days. In the ruins sat the broken qvevris of the winemakers once prominent in the region. These childhood memories were the inspiration when he finally decided to become a full-time winemaker back in his hometown.

CNN Travel highlighted Georgian wine and its historical and cultural significance with an exclusive visit to Saperavri Brothers’ producer Chubini Winery. Tornike Chubinidze, Chubini’s primary winemaker, shared his insights at his winery while hosting both CNN and a group of curious Dutch travelers.