Georgia on My Mind...
Beth Ribblett
Georgia's traditional wine-making method in large clay vessels (Qvevri)
has been approved for inclusion into UNESCO
8,000 years - that's how long the people in the republic of Georgia have been making wine. Considered the oldest wine producing region in the world, Georgia is currently one of the hottest areas for authentic, natural style wines at affordable prices. Boasting more than 500 varieties of indigenous grapes, the majority of wines are produced in the ancient method of using Qvevri, large clay vessels, buried underground for temperature stabilization. The production style of the wines has changed little throughout its 8,000 year history – whole cluster fermentation is the norm, native yeast are almost always used and little to no sulfites are added to the wines.
Over the next 2 weeks we have an impressive selection of Georgian wines coming into the store - from Pet Nat, white, orange, rosé and reds that we would love to introduce you to! This week we are featuring 3 in our weekly pack to give you a taste of the unique style of the region at a super affordable price. The wines are arriving tomorrow and there will be a limited amount of 3 packs available so I highly recommend that you call to reserve yours today - 504 304 0635. Here's the lineup:
Guardians Kakheti Rkatsiteli - Guardians is a cool collaborative project with local farmers, the "Guardians" of the Georgian wine making tradition. The label on this wine honors Lela, one of Georgia's legendary woman warriors from the 1600's. Rkatsiteli is the main white grape of the Kakheti region - it's a bright, juicy white with tropical and stone fruit and nice acidity. $14.99
Baia's Wine Gvantsa’s Aladasturi Rosé - Considered one of the young superstars of the region, 26 year old Baia Abuladze is one of a handful of commercial female wine- makers. Located in the village of Obcha, in western Georgia, Baia and her sister Gvantsa are the 3rd generation of family winemakers on 2 hectares of land. Their wines all involve some level of skin contact, and most are made in qvevri. This is made with the famed but rare, indigenous Aladasturi grape, known for producing delicious rosé wines. $25.50
Dila-O Saperavi - Dila-O is a second project of Orgo - an artisan winery located in Eastern Georgia that specializes in the Qvevri wine making tradition and produces from 50 year old vines + vines. Making wines from old vines in Georgia is a rare and difficult project since during soviet times most older vines were ripped up and replaced with younger more prolific vines. Made from 100% Saperavi fermented in qvevri, unfiltered and low-sulfite, the natural wine making style allows the true nature of the grape to shine. The deep rich color is complimented by engaging flavors of ripe dark fruits, cassis and spice, with some earthy, smoky and tobacco notes. An amazing value at $15.99
3 Pack: Purchase all 3 with a 10% discount, $51 plus tax or you can purchase individually (no discount).
Other Wines Arriving: Dakishvili Brut Sparkling (Kisi) Pet Nat, Dila-o by Amber Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane, Chona's Marani Mtsvane 2018, Dakishvili Selection Rkatsiteli 2017