Great Georgian Wines
The Republic of Georgia claims 8,000 years of continuous wine making history, let our sales staff guide you through the ancient country’s red, white, and orange wines available today.
Zvari, Rkatsiteli – 2020 $17.96
Zvari, a label made by Okro’s Wine (John Okruashvili), is a classic example of a ripe, aromatic style of Rkatsiteli that isn’t too savory or tannic, but still has an intense energy to it. There is a concentrated tropical fruit aroma (almost like a fruit roll-up) that brings me back to childhood memories of summer, with hints of spice, nuts, and tea leaves! – Alex Malecki, Sales Manager
Dila-O, Rkatsiteli Mtsvane – 2021 $18.96
If you have been looking to try an authentic Georgian Amber Wine (also known as Orange Wine in other parts of the world), but didn’t know where to begin, this blend from Dila-O is a great place to start! A 50-50 blend of Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane, two native Georgian varietals, undergo only one month of skin contact, producing a lighter style of Amber Wine that is softer and less tannic than others from the country. – Alex Malecki, Sales Manager
Kisi-Mtsvane, Nekresi Estate – 2019 $24.96
There are orange wines and then there are Georgian orange wines. Georgians have been practicing skin contact for thousands of years. And we’re not talking about maceration for a few days (that’s for wimps), but for several months to a couple of years. These wines are also fermented and aged in large earthenware vessels called qvevri which impart earthy tones to the wines. Nekresi Estate’s Kisi-Mtsvane serves as a great example of how Georgian orange wines are so deliciously unique. It has a rich cognac/amber-colored appearance in the glass. The flavors will elicit jasmine tea leaves, mint, and baking spice. It shows more savory and earth notes than fruit. It has a unique tannic structure, like tannins from a tea bag. Awesome with any dish with porcini mushrooms. Only 1000 bottles made and only available here. – Chung Park, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Rkatsiteli, Nekresi Estate – 2019 $24.96
Nekresi estate continues to produce a stellar lineup of wines. This orange wine comes from 60-year-old vines planted at altitude, giving it a concentrated richness and steely acidity. The long maceration brings out honeyed apricot and orange blossom aromas, while the palate is textured and minerally. – Amy Miller, Sales Manager
Saperavi, Giorgi Solomnishvili – 2018 $39.96
When a producer’s philosophy states “Wine is the way I choose to communicate with the world, it’s the way I express my unconditional love. It’s a silent prayer, an unwritten word,” then I’m immediately intrigued by what the contents inside of the bottle are trying to convey. Saperavi, the country’s most widely planted red grape, is unique in that both the skin and flesh are pigmented. Sometimes these wines are so opaque that Georgians refer to them as black wines, but this particular bottling spends time in both quevri and old French oak barrels, softening the color and tannic structure of the juice. Dark berries coupled with soft aromas of musk and tobacco envelope the senses. – Bambi Ray, Sales Manager