Alazani Qvevri Saperavi Red 2019

Country
Georgia
Region
Georgia
Producer
Alazani Winery
Grape(s)
Saperavi (100%)
Type
Red
Style
Complex
Oaked Style
Unoaked
Body Style
Full bodied
Dry/Sweet Style
Dry
Alcohol Content
13%
Closure Style
Diam
Organic/Biodynamic
No
Sustainable
Yes-sustainable practices
Vegetarian/Vegan
Vegetarian
Yes
Vegan
Yes
Allergens
Sulphites
Yes
Milk
No
Egg
No

Region

Georgia is known as the `cradle of wine` as it is believed that winemaking stems from this area around 8000 years ago. Early Georgian winemaking traditions are still prevalent many thousands of years later including the use of a Qvevri (pronounced kwev-ri); a clay pot buried underground for fermentation and storage. As a Christian nation, Georgia was left unscathed by the Crusades in medieval times and was outside of the Ottoman empire which banned wine consumption under Sharia law which has meant that Georgia is not only the oldest wine region, but also the region which has most consistently produced wine throughout its history.

Producer

A family run winery, currently run by 2nd and 3rd generation - Simon and Daniil Nadashvili. Alazani is located in a village called Kardenakhi. Kardenakhi has a long winemaking history, every house/door had a vine growing over it and that’s where the name comes from - `Kari` (door) and `Venakhi` (vine) - `Kardenakhi`. Alazani makes wines in both the traditional `qvevri` way and more modern international winemaking styles.
Tasting Notes
Made from Saperavi, a highly pigmented black Georgian grape variety which is fermented and aged in a Qvevri. The grapes are crushed and put into the qvevri alongside their skins, pips and stalks (known in Georgia as the chacha which can be made into a spirit later), the wine ferments using the indigenous yeasts present on the skins and then stays in the qvevri for around six months at which point the chacha is removed and the wine is returned to the qvevri for further ageing. The result is a wine with a deep ruby colour with a pronounced black fruit character and balanced tannins. As each qvevri goes through a wild yeast fermentation, the qvevri`s are bottled individually with the number of the qvevri appearing on the label.
Food
Serve with bbq lamb chops.