Winiveria Rkatsiteli 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 5 years. No need to decant it. Opened in 2005 by Giorgi Piradashvili, the Winiveria winery is part of the Chateau Mere agritourism complex, located in the village of Vardisubani, an hour's drive from the Georgian capital Tbilisi. The wines of this winery, produced from indigenous grapes obtained from local winemakers and from vines over 20 years of age, are produced both with modern European technologies and with ancient traditional Kakheti methods (in particular the use of underground terracotta pots called Qvevri). Rkatsiteli is one of the oldest grape varieties in the world. It is native to Georgia, mainly in the Kakheti region, and can be traced back to 3000 BC, when it may have been known as "Kukura". The name Rkatsiteli literally means 'red stem' due to the color of the vine shoots. The wine shows a beautiful golden color tending to orange. On the nose, the bouquet is intense and complex with hints of apple, then sweet tropical fruits, pineapple, lime, and fennel. On the palate, the wine is very dense, fragrant and shows lively acidity. It is an excellent wine to combine with Middle Eastern cuisine, with recipes of spicy meats or legumes, and smoked aubergines.

Price: £13.36 from 8wines UK