Winemakers
Badagoni
Badagoni has its own vineyards in each micro-zone of kakheti region – the very heart of georgian wine production. Badagoni major enologist is doctor donato lanati, Italian enologist listed in top 5 enologists of the world and is owner of the international winery award – wine oscar. The badagoni wine factory was renewed at the end of 2014. The bottling and microfiltration lines are made by the famous italian companies “bertolaso” and “enotec” especially for badagoni. They have no analogue in the world. Wine is aged in french oack barrels. Badagoni controles wine making process starting from the soil up to the wine bottle on the shelf. Badagoni has advanced laboratory equipped with the japanese equipment. In adition, badagoni actively works with the international research centre and laboratory “enosis” situated in italy. Badagoni qvevri wine (georgian traditional method of winemaking for 8000 years) is made in the alaverdy monastery wine cellar build in 9th century and restored in 2006 by badagoni.
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.
NIKA Marani
“When I was 15 years old, my father asked me to fill the jugs with wine for a big party. So I had to tap the wine and I got very drunk. This was my first drunk. I get it, wine is for drunkenness. As an artist, I also understood that wine, like the stones, wood and other materials that I used as a sculptor and architect, comes from nature and is something alive in our sensibilities. Something to discover. This lively exchange between nature and culture, which is visible in the wine, fascinates me and therefore I consider the existence of a winemaker as a kind of artistic process, where the results are always open and not predictable. It was also clear to me that the Kvevri as a vessel and the associated ancient Georgian wineification tradition could play a very important role. My former winemaker friend Soliko TsaiSchvili and I quickly agreed that Kvevriwine and natural wine should become inseparable concepts. That’s why we also wrote a Credo for Kvevri Wine Association, where we set down the basic rules of Kvevri wine as a natural wine. Little did we know then that our little movement around Kvevri wine association would achieve such popularity in Georgia and abroad. I have been in this process since 2006. In the beginning it was my parents, who were already retired, who stood by me, then my wife Anna and then my daughters who filled our winery “WINERY NIKA” with new life.
The names of the wines and the labels, which I draw myself, express this development of our winery. Names like: TARIELUNA, ANNA, MA FILLE, DATO-NOAH, TOCO POCO, NIKA are all the vineyards we have and whose wines produce.
Our wines are certain reflections of our lives.
Discover, marvel, love, go further... live.”
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.