{"title":"Georgia new wines","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"pheasants-tears-poliphonia-tibaani","title":"Pheasant's Tears Poliphonia - Tibaani, Kakheti","description":"\u003cp\u003ePoliphonia: “Harmonic chaos” is how John Wurdeman describes this blend of 417 indigenous Georgian grapes (of the 525 known to date).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Polyphony or Poliphonia is a mixed planted field with 1-10 vines of each of the 417 varieties. This micro-vineyard is harvested in 3-4 sweeps, as the grapes all ripen at different times, so one ends up with white, golden greenish, blue, purple, grey-pink grapes at various level of ripeness that eventually finish co-fermenting together!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e90% destemmed 10% whole bunch, everything is naturally fermented in buried qvevri, after a five day maceration the must is pressed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe wine itself is delicious, more like a dark rose than a red, with sappy fruit and a nice herbal twist. The idea behind it is lovely – this is, of course, about conserving and promoting autochthonous grapes, providing a raison (raisin?) d’etre for them to be replanted. The wine also riffs energetically on the idea of Georgian folk song; different voices at different pitches and interval coming together in tonal fusion. With wine as with music you have to surrender to it to cultivate the message. Georgian wine seems atonal if we can extend that metaphor; oddly coloured and oddly shaped texturally, and then with the food and the occasion it makes perfect sense, as if you were shaping around the wine.' Doug Wregg\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Georgian wines, the great ones, are in demand. France, Italy, London, Japan and increasingly New York are importing. Japan is super nuts over wines from this country\" Alice Feiring\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePheasant’s Tears estate vineyard plantings flow down the slopes of the eastern Georgian Kiziqi province overlooking the Alazani Valley and snow-capped Caucasus Mountains. The site itself is located near the village of Tibaani in the shadow of the 6th century monastery of St. Stephen. The terroir here is special, with long summer sunlight of over 14 hours a day and evenings cooled by the breeze from the gorge. The soil is composed of limestone, chalk and dark clay on the surface, whilst a metre deep lies a sandy loam mixed with gravel, providing excellent drainage for the vines’ root systems.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWinemaker Gela Patalashvili grew up in a farming family learning from their grandparents and parents how to grow grapes and make wine in qvevri. Gela, along with John Wurdeman, are helping to preserve the traditional winemaking techniques that have made Georgia a home for viticulture since 6,000 BC.\u003cbr\u003eQvevri were the first vessels ever to be used for wine fermentation, with archaeological finds dating back to 6000 BC. Qvevri are clay vessels lined with beeswax and completely buried under the ground where the temperature stays even throughout the year, allowing the wines to ferment in the natural coolness of the earth. Pheasant’s Tears qvevri vary in age but some date back to the mid 19th century. The cellar is built in the vineyard itself to minimize the damage to the grapes in transportation, allowing harvesting and process before the heat of the day takes effect. In accordance with Georgian traditional winemaking methods, the ripest of stems are added to the grape skins, juice and pits, for both reds and whites. The maceration time depends on varietal and the size of the qvevri and varies between 3 weeks and 6 months.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePheasant’s Tears are also committed to seeking out rare indigenous varietals, of which Georgia has over 500 species of grape, many limited to tiny micro-regions at specific elevations and most unfamiliar even to the most knowledgeable Georgian wine consumer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd as to the name of the winery – the pheasant is a bird believed to have originated in Georgia (The Latin is something like pheasantas colhidas, and Colhida is an ancient name for Georgia). In the region of Kizikh there is an old saying that only the finest of wines can compel a pheasant to cry tears of joy!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Le Caveau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":34972840263840,"sku":"","price":29.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0420\/3629\/7888\/files\/Pheasantstearspoliphonia.webp?v=1764264040"},{"product_id":"alapiani-marani-rkatsiteli-bolnuri-kakheti-east-georgia","title":"Alapiani Marani, Rkatsiteli Bolnuri -  Kakheti - East Georgia","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAlapiani Rkatsiteli Bolnuri has ripe yellow fruit, quince, sun-baked apricot skins with caramel toffee, exotic fruit. An array of orchard flavours and spice hits your palate, underpinned by bright, fresh acidity and minerals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe grapes comes from from the village of Khatisopeli, Bolnisi Municipality (Kvemo Kartli), at an altitude of 550 meters above sea level, it spent 6 months on skins, in Qvevri.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Spicy, citrussy notes and well balanced tannins. This has all the structure of a great qvevri wine. ..there’s ripe lemon and lime fruit” Simon Woolf\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Georgian wines, the great ones, are in demand. France, Italy, London, Japan and increasingly New York are importing. Japan is super nuts over wines from this country\" Alice Feiring\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eALAPIANI MARANI, Kartli\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \/ Kakheti\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOrganic, natural\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBehind Alapiani Winery are the two distinctive characters Merab Mirtskhulava and Avto Gigineishvili. The two know each other from the communist military era and can therefore trust each other truly blindly. Merab is the master on the vine and in the Marani, Avto takes care of all financial matters and the awareness of the ‘brand’ Alapiani.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFounded in 2011, Alapiani Marani have been producing natural wines in two climatically different regions of Georgia: in the Kakhetian dry-hot East in Vazisubani and in the interior Kartli near Okami and Bolnisi There, grape varieties such as Chinuri and Shavkapito grow about 550 m above sea level, where the soil is predominantly alluvial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAlapiani Marani uses a wide range of Qvevris, with some of the largest (2,000l) buried outside. The authenticity and generosity of Alapiani’s wines have elevated the winery’s reputation to cult status, their wines being loved and respected by all generations of Georgian wine drinkers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Le Caveau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59251611566414,"sku":null,"price":32.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0420\/3629\/7888\/files\/AlapianiMarani_RkatsiteliBolnuri.jpg?v=1774456662"},{"product_id":"urjukas-marani-saperavi-kakheti-east-georgia","title":"Beka Urjukashvili Saperavi - Kakheti, East Georgia","description":"\u003cp\u003eBeka Urjukashvili \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSaperavi is beautifully put together and balanced. Round, ripe plum, black berry with aniseed, cloves and meaty hints. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grapes were harvested in the Khashmi micro-zone, from clay–carbonate soils on south-facing slopes at 550–650 m above sea level. The medium to heavy soil texture, with high carbonate levels, combined with the warm and sunny microclimate, promoted high sugar accumulation, rich pigmentation, and a firm tannic structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Georgian wines, the great ones, are in demand. France, Italy, London, Japan and increasingly New York are importing. Japan is super nuts over wines from this country\" Alice Feiring\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEKA U\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eRJUKASHVILI, Kakheti\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOrganic, natural\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMarani Urjukas is a small, family-owned winery in Patardzeuli, Kakheti, East Georgia, operated by Beka Urjukashvili and his father, producing natural, artisanal wines in traditional qvevri.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBeka Urjukashvili is an ex-professional rugby player, who played with several teams of the French Pro D2 - Aurillac, Figeac, Limoges, Aubenas - and winemaker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e“Wine making is our family tradition. Since childhood, I used to observe the process in our wine cellar. Recently, I have become actively involved in wine making myself. I didn’t think that aside from Rugby, that I would be able to get involved with something so deeply and with love. Today, together with my father, we own Urjukas Marani. We are “Urjukas” which means “elusive” and “a freedom fighter.” For the first time we made wine in a small quantity, in our winery which is situated in the village of Patardzeuli. On these lands years ago, everybody had the best vineyards, and the grapes were outstanding too. Today, the situation has changed, but I absolutely have a great desire to return the grape vine to Patardzeuli. I am planning to plant vineyards in a place which has been stuck in my childhood memories.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Le Caveau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59251637354830,"sku":null,"price":32.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0420\/3629\/7888\/files\/MaraniUrjukasSaperavi2022_Kakheti_Georgia.jpg?v=1774452707"},{"product_id":"white-mulberry-natia-chekurishvili-tsitska-no-skin-contact-imereti-georgia","title":"White Mulberry (Natia Chekurishvili) Tsitska (No skin contact) - Imereti, Georgia","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhite Mulberry (Natia Chekurishvili) Tsitska, like all wines made by Natia show distinct purity of fruit and minerality. Full bodied, bright, yellow fruit, quince, flowery. Fresh finish, herbal, citrus, melon and long mineral finish. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe tradition in West Georgia Imereti is to make whites, without maceration on the skins. Natia, like her neighbourg Ramaz Nikoladze, follows this tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWHITE MULBERRY, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eNATIA CHEKURISHVILI, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eImereti\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e          \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOrganic, natural\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNatia ‘Cheko’ is the winemaker and founder of the White Mulberry winery in Terjola, located in the Imereti region of Georgia. This winery produces natural wines, including Qvevri styles, specializing in Imeretian varietals. Known for using local grapes such as Tsolikouri. Natia explains that at 33 she found a job at a wine bar—even though she didn’t like wine. But in Sighnaghi, at Pheasant’s Tears,\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e“Wine entered my soul.” The wines she trained her palate on were not just some of the best in Georgia—they were among the finest natural wines in Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"When she was given a small plot of promising land, in West Georgia Imereti region, the winemakers in her life encouraged her. More than the sturdy wines of Kakheti, her home region, the lighter wines of her adopted home resonated. The move suited her, and she reflected poetically on why: “In Kakheti, people are more serious and more emotional, like the wines. Here, the wines have less angst.”\u003c\/em\u003e Alice Feering How Women Are Breathing New Life Into Georgia’s 8,000-Year Wine Tradition\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Le Caveau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59251832553806,"sku":null,"price":32.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0420\/3629\/7888\/files\/WhiteMulberry_NatiaChekurishvili_Tsitska.jpg?v=1774456531"}],"url":"https:\/\/lecaveau.ie\/collections\/georgia-new-wines.oembed","provider":"Le Caveau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}