Winemakers
Baia Winery
Baia and her younger siblings — Gvantsa (Sister) and Giorgi (Brother) were born and raised in Obcha in a friendly, traditional family of winemakers. They spent a happy childhood watching how parents and grandparents were involved in the diverse winemaking processes. At that time, the Abuladze family traditionally produced wine using Imeretian technology — the maceration process (soaking the juice of the grape with the skins and sometimes also the stems) was shorter and only 5- 10% of grape skin was used during fermentation in Qvevri. In 2015, the Abuladze’s family business participated in the local agricultural startup competition and won the grant of GEL 5000 (about $2,000 USD at the time) to buy a used wine bottling machine to increase production and quality. At the same time, Baia officially established the new wine company and the label Baia’s Wine was born. Accompanied by her younger siblings, she totally remodelled the production structure and focused on the organic winemaking techniques. Their first organic wine — a white dry Tsolikouri was bottled in 2015. Soon afterwards, the women- empowered family business became one of the first organic wine producers in Bagdati Municipality. A few years after starting with white wines, the trio offered red wine from Otskhanusi Sapere and Aladasturi grapes. Today, they produce wines from Imeretian vine varieties such as Tsolikouri, Tsitska, Krakhuna, Aladasturi, Otskhanuri Sapere. Each grape cluster is chosen carefully only from the Abuladze’s Obcha vineyards.
The village Obcha boasts a unique microclimate for growing grapes. The location is unique — sitting in the eastern part of the Sairme Mountains which gives a slightly higher angle for the rays of the sun and a greater solar intensity. At 324 meters of altitude, the land offers an ideal location for growing premium wine grapes: The well-balanced geography, micro-climate and well-drained soil come together to create the perfect environment for Baias’s exquisitely handcrafted wines.
Peradze Wines
The premium wines known as “Peradze” are made by Peradze Winery Ltd. The company’s winery lies in the little town of Armazi, not far from the historical center of Mtskheta. The winery focus on three main regions in Georgia for winemaking: Kakheti (in the east), Imereti (in the west), and Kartli (in the center). The grapes grown in the Kartli region are some of the most renowned in all of Georgia. About fifteen varieties of premium classic and “Qvevri” (Clay Pot) wines are represented in our assortment. Peradze Winery bas been constructing a new winery at the same location in Armazi. Which will be finished by the end of the summer of 2022. The winery will be placed in a lovely setting near the Mtkvari River. The location is 5-7 minutes drive from Mtskheta historic district. The modern-style structure will be outfitted with fresh new equipment and technology, as well as tanks, a bottling line, and a fully equipped laboratory.
Irakli Peradze the winemaker himself worked for a number of years in telecom. Travelled all around the world. With travelling brought him exposure to life outside Georgia, he and his father are considered the first people to introduce water sports into Georgia. The likes of wind surfing, kite surfing, Kayaking etc. Along side bringing something new into Georgia he also started producing wine to introduce to the world. He has clear passion and love for the process, jokes about how his family want him to settle down but he says he is too busy making wine.
Tsinandali Estate
Tsinandali Estate is the cradle of classical winemaking of Georgia, the place where Georgian wine was first bottled. Located in the heartland of wine producing region of Kakheti it was among domains of Chavchavadze princely family for centuries, but true revival of the Estate is linked with the name of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze (1786-1846) poet, public benefactor and military figure. Under Prince Alexander Chavchavadze Tsinandali Estate on the one hand continued 8000 year long tradition of Georgian winemaking while at the same time creating standard of modern technological approach. Today this noble tradition continues and ancient Qvevri and classical European winemaking still coexist.
Tsinandali Estate to this day focuses on the quality rather than quantity of wines. Its iconic wines include signature red Saperavi and namesake white Tsinandali among others. Unique vineyard is bordered by canyons and forest creating detached territory with superb terroir planted with 11 Georgian vine varietals, allowing Prince Alexander’s legacy as a creator of modern Georgian winemaking to live on and Tsinandali Estate still to offer best of Georgian wines.