Kardenakhi

Fortified white, Kakheti

Kardenakhi is a fortified white wine from Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane, from the Kardenakhi micro-zone in the Gurjaani district. A protected designation of origin.

It is a style rare for Georgia — a strong dessert wine of the sherry/port type: higher in alcohol, with notes of dried fruit, nut and caramel. The grapes are often part-dried to concentrate the sugar.

Kardenakhi is a reminder that, besides dry and naturally semi-sweet wines, Georgia has its own tradition of fortified wines.