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.
Conde Nast Traveler: “In Georgia, Wine Forges National Identity—and Deep Pride”
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.
New York Times: “Georgia’s Winemakers Tip a Glass to the West”
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.
BBC: “Georgia’s Moment of Truth”
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.
Sommeliers International: “Land of Female Winemakers”
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.
Ghvinia Winery: Fostering Natural Wines
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.
Vogue: Georgia’s “Little Tuscany”
“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.”
CBS 60 Minutes Overtime: “Winemakers Revive Ancient Grapes”
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.