Saperavi
It was a short overnight trip that brought us to the Kakheti region of the Republic of Georgia. Kakheti sits just east of Tbilisi about halfway between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, not far from Azerbaijan. From a viticultural standpoint, Kakheti has an interesting geography and climate. Much of the grapes growing there and Saperavi is one of the most important grapes is done along the Alazani and Iori Rovers and nestled between the Caucusus and Tsiv-Gombori Mountains.
What this results in is a climate that is less than ideal for some of the more common wine grapes of the world. Winters can be cold with low temperatures often as low as -10C/14F and summer temperatures rarely exceed 30C/86F. During the summer, while it rarely rains hard or long, it does rain about one day in three.
Saperavi is a particularly hearty grape in cold weather. The vines are able to withstand those often long freezes. It is not overly susceptible to rot and mildew, so it is able to withstand the Georgian rains during summer.
Upon opening a bottle, we notice a very black aroma -- black licorice, black plum, black pepper. When we pour the wine, we are taken aback. Saperavi naturally has an appearance to it that would be considered a taint in most red wine -- rather than the typically clarity that we look for, our Saperavi is opaque and almost appears to be a dark milk. Don't be alarmed; that is simply the wine that Saperavi produces.
On the palate, we find our Saperavi to have extreme body and to be quite chewy. It's also highly acidic and it can be quite expressive. Look for licorice, plum, smoked meat, tobacco, leather, black pepper, and forest floor notes as you taste.
Pair your Saperavi with wild game, stews, salami and hard cheese, or with pork sausage.
What this results in is a climate that is less than ideal for some of the more common wine grapes of the world. Winters can be cold with low temperatures often as low as -10C/14F and summer temperatures rarely exceed 30C/86F. During the summer, while it rarely rains hard or long, it does rain about one day in three.
Saperavi is a particularly hearty grape in cold weather. The vines are able to withstand those often long freezes. It is not overly susceptible to rot and mildew, so it is able to withstand the Georgian rains during summer.
Upon opening a bottle, we notice a very black aroma -- black licorice, black plum, black pepper. When we pour the wine, we are taken aback. Saperavi naturally has an appearance to it that would be considered a taint in most red wine -- rather than the typically clarity that we look for, our Saperavi is opaque and almost appears to be a dark milk. Don't be alarmed; that is simply the wine that Saperavi produces.
On the palate, we find our Saperavi to have extreme body and to be quite chewy. It's also highly acidic and it can be quite expressive. Look for licorice, plum, smoked meat, tobacco, leather, black pepper, and forest floor notes as you taste.
Pair your Saperavi with wild game, stews, salami and hard cheese, or with pork sausage.
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