Each year we experiment with grapes we like working with in search of different interpretations of the varietal and the terroir it’s from – for 2023 our focus was firmly on Rkatsiteli from Bolnisi after our successful first vintage in 2022 of a direct press white wine made in Qvevri – at the time of writing only 20 bottles of Naked Rkatsiteli are left: you can find these either at Pulp or Dadi here in Tbilisi. Nevertheless, on to our first release of Rkatsiteli of 2023; strictly limited to 30 bottles – you’ll find out why in the description below:

Thought Process behind Auslese

We noticed that Rkatsiteli from the Bolnisi terroir was often produced to a high quality wine with full skin contact – often expressing pleasant mellow flavours and a balance of acidity without so many of the tannins that can often be found in full-skin Rkatsiteli from various terroirs in Kakheti. We wondered if it would be possible to make a cleaner, brighter full-skin contact wine and struck upon using the German methodology of an Auslese for this wine. “Etwas Auszulesen” literally means selecting – so an Auslese is usually a Qualitätsprädikat (quality designation) that defines hand selection of the best grapes, different to a Beerenauslese which means that the grapes are deliberately aged on the vine to the maximum possible sweetness, we didn’t have the luxury to do that in 2023 but naturally we want to try this at some point too… anyway, back to our Auslese – we took the best bunches of grapes that we had that were to be processed either as direct press or carbonic maceration and then we painstakingly selected the best berries (this took 3 of us from the afternoon way past dusk) then lightly crushed the individual grapes without stems and fermented on the skins for 30 days.

Brief Tasting Notes

After fermentation we basket-pressed the must and laid the wine to rest in glass (ideal for a clean interpretation of this style) – what results is a wine reminiscent of a Gewürztraminer that’s been at a party in a flower meadow, think bees, honey and flowers dancing happily at the dawn, a hint of the summer rain and ripe apricots getting down for a boogie on your palate. Given the highly labour-intensive method of production we elected to keep this experiment super-focused for 2023 – we’re pleased to note that feedback from wine-professionals and professional-drinkers alike has been such that we will definitely increase production in 2024 to make this wine more available in the places that appreciate such wines. It goes without saying that fermentation was spontaneous on native yeasts and also that zero sulphites were used in the production process. The label is part of our new square-label limited edition series that nods to the simple graphic labels I remember from my parents table in the 1980s.

Limited Availablity

This wine is available by the glass/bottle at Dadi in Tbilisi – supplies are strictly limited, once it’s gone the only way to get some will be to come and help us make Auslese 2024 in October – if you’re interested drop us a line.

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Grape: Rkatsiteli
Terroir: Bolnisi in Southern Kartli
Vine age: Approx 30 years
Elevation: 480 masl
Alcohol: 10.5% abv
Vinification: Spontaneous Fermentation on Wild Yeasts in Churi (Imeretian Qvevri) – aged on lees for 7 months, no skin contact, unfiltered
Details: Family farmed grapes made in Qvevri with no skin contact for a pale white wine that loves to be slightly too cold, pairs well with smoked meats and fish – a definite summer wine that bridges the gap between Georgian endemic grape varieties and winemaking technologies and a decidedly European palate – most similar known wines from Europe: Pinot Gris/Grigiot/Weissburgunder.

Grape: Chinuri
Terroir: Okami in Upper Kartli
Vine age: Approx 70 years
Elevation: 650 masl
Alcohol: 13.4% abv
Vinification: Spontaneous Fermentation on Wild Yeasts in Churi (Imeretian Qvevri) – aged on lees for 7 months, no skin contact, unfiltered
Details: Family farmed grapes made in Qvevri with no skin contact for  full bodied white wine that opens up complexity, pairs well with Italian dishes – a wine that is great cold but can also be enjoyed at temperatures a little higher depending on your mood – a wine that is changing in the bottle and will she different expressions over time – most similar known wines from Europe: Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.

Grape: Rkatsiteli
Terroir: Bolnisi in Southern Kartli
Vine age: Approx 30 years
Elevation: 480 masl
Alcohol: 11.5% abv
Vinification: Whole bunch fermentation in a full carbonic maceration method, malolactic fermentation completed, unfiltered
Details: Family farmed grapes made in carbonic maceration for a fruit-forward white wine that delivers pineapple and candy notes despite being a dry wine, pairs well with cheeses and cold platters – a wine that was absolutely experimental in nature but has pleased palates of all kinds – very limited quantities available – most similar known wines from Europe: difficult to say because there are very few white carbonic maceration wines, at a push maybe a riesling halbtrocken even though this is dry – mainly because of the fruit notes. (Sold Out)

Grape: Ojaleshi
Terroir: Kindzmaruli Microzone, Kakheti
Vine age: Approx 4 years
Elevation: 325 masl
Alcohol: 11.5% abv
Vinification: Whole bunch fermentation in a full carbonic maceration method, malolactic fermentation completed, unfiltered
Details: Family farmed grapes made in carbonic maceration for a fruit-forward light red wine that delivers strawberry and candy notes on the nose and cranberry and gooseberry in the glass – another experiment intended as a homage to the Beaujolais Nouveau wines which are made with carbonic maceration, pairs wonderfully with asian and spicy foods due to the piercing acidity cutting through, also true for great/fatty dishes – most similar known wines from Europe: Beaujolais Nouveau. (Sold Out)

Availability of Wines:

Dadi Wine Bar
4 Shalva Dadiani, Tbilisi (near Freedom Sq.)

Bagelin/Saidanaa
5 Luarsab Sharashidze Street, Tbilisi (Pikris Gora, Lower Vera)

Pet Nat Wine Shop
3 Tamar Chovelidze, Tbilisi (Vera – opposite Rooms Hotel) &
8 Gurjani St, Tbilisi (Avlabari)

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