Saperavi

Georgia's foremost red grape

Saperavi is Georgia's most important red grape; its name literally means «dye» or «paint». It is a rare teinturier: not only the skin but the flesh is coloured, so the wines take on a deep, almost inky hue.

Saperavi yields sturdy, tannic, high-acid wines with long ageing potential; it makes both dry (Mukuzani) and semi-sweet (Kindzmarauli, Akhasheni) styles. The variety is frost-hardy and grown well beyond Georgia.

In qvevri Saperavi shows especially powerfully — with notes of dark berries, spice and dried plum.