Winemaker
Tamar- known not as Queen, but as King Tamar- presided over Georgia’s Golden Age at the turn of the 12th century. Her rise to power was anything but assured. Many doubted she would hold the throne for long, and factions within the nobility sought to marry her off in hopes of installing a more pliable ruler. But Tamar had other plans.
She left behind a legacy that continues to inspire Georgians today: a beacon of strength, sovereignty, and spirit.
Tamar Wines is led by Patrick Honnef. After numerous careers, Patrick decided to follow his passion for wine. In 2003, he made his way to Bordeaux, which led to 10 years of winemaking, viticulture, and management at Chateau d’Aiguilhe. With this experience, the challenge of Chateau Mukhrani (CHM) in Georgia and the fascination of contributing to the renaissance of Georgian wine culture made him decide to move to Georgia and to become the Technical Director and CEO of CHM. By 2023, Georgian Wines and Spirits became another jewel under his responsibility. Together with Manuchar Meskhidze, and Nika Natroshvili- the Chief viticulturist- Tamar strives to offer the joy of wine.
Winery
Tamar Wines is a collaboration with GWS (Georgian Wine and Spirits). The winery is located in Achinebuli, Kakheti region. GWS is one of the biggest producers of Georgia wines. It emerged from the Soviet-era government winery “Telavi2”, which was established in the 1970s. In the 1990s, as Georgia came into independence, it was purchased by future-orientated entrepreneurs who have recreated the winery’s image and solidified its success today.
Vineyard
100% grown in the estate vineyards in Kakheti Georgia following sustainable agriculture. This exceptional wine is filled with the rich diversity of Kakhetian Terroir. Method of Harvest: Hand-picked in small 20 kg boxes to ensure the highest quality of the grapes. Yield: Average 8-10 Tons per hectare.
The vineyards are in very distinct areas of the Kakhetian region which individual terroirs create an outstanding potential of diversity in winestyle and expression:
Vardisubani: An ancient riverbed, at an altitude of 600 meters, lies an eastward-facing parcel with a soil of stones and pebbles over a limestone subsoil.
Maghraani: This terroir is in the Akhmeta area of Kakheti, on the left bank of the Alazani River. at an altitude of 600 meters. The sharply sloping Argil terrain faces the south sun. Temperatures can reach 40°C in the summer. This remarkable meso-terroir is ideal for revealing the full potential of white grape varieties. Since 2016 the full vineyard was transferred to organic (bio) production, with an international certificate received in 2019.
Artana: A sloped plot located on the northern bank of the Alazani River and the Greater Caucasus foothills, at an altitude of 800 meters, with subsoil composed of clay, gravel, and some schists over a six-meter-thick limestone subsoil. The differences in temperature between the night and day are substantial, with cooler nights fostering aromatics and freshness.
Akura: Plot is located at an altitude of 650 meters, facing East on a slightly sloping, pebble-strewn terrain over a two-meter-thick limestone subsoil. Temperatures can reach 45°C in the summer. The stony soil absorbs the heat of the day and releases it at night, causing the grapes to mature more rapidly than those in other nearby terroirs.
Wines
