The CRADLE of WINE - GEORGIA QVEVRI WINE Tasting

*Realized annualized returns [IRR] for all sold paintings, from inception through June 30, 2022, net of fees and expenses. **Dollar-weighted estimated annualized returns [IRR] of the Masterworks portfolio from inception through June 30, 2022, net of fees and expenses.
net of fees and expenses. **Dollar-weighted estimated annualized returns [IRR] of the Masterworks portfolio from inception through June 30, 2022, net of fees and expenses.

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I use this wine key: Laguiole en Aubrac Wine Key Ebony
I have used this glass in this Video: RIEDEL Performance Riesling.
I have tasted the following wines in this Video:

2020 Rtvelisi Rkatsiteli Qvevri Kakheti:

2019 Jusos Kisi from Kakheti:

2019 Georgian Qvevri Crazy Amber Goruli Mtsvane Kartli

2017 Mareli Winery Saperavi Red Wine Kakheti

96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume.
90 - 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.
80 - 89: A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.
70 - 79: An average wine with little distinction except that it is soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.
60 - 69: A below-average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor or possibly dirty aromas or flavors.
50 - 59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable.

Georgia is happening right now. The wine world is talking about this country that has been producing wine in a very archaic way for millennia. The oldest wine artifacts are pottery jars with traces of wine. They were found in Georgia and the oldest one dates back to 5,980 BC – roughly 8,000 years ago! But that a country has been producing wine for a long time does not necessarily mean, that it produces great wine.

You know, before the Georgian jars were discovered the oldest wine artifacts were found in Iran – not a great wine country today… The long history was only one of the reasons why I wanted to go there. It was also because I wanted to understand their wines better. When someone asks me what my favorite wine is I usually answer that it is constantly changing and most of the time it is my latest discovery. A grape variety, region, or winemaking country that I did not know before.
I thought Georgia might be that, so I jumped on the plane when I got the chance and traveled to the cradle of wine.

Georgia lies between Russia and Turkey, on the border between Europe and Asia and is a beautiful country. It is mountainous and has great forests that harbor bears and the food is delicious. They like to eat fresh vegetables, meat, and fish and I never left a table not feeling like I overate. The climate is diverse. The west is subtropical, humid and moderate in temperature, while the east is dry and continental with hot summers and cool winters. There are 1,600 wineries making wine on 55.000 hectares of vineyards. That is roughly half of the vineyard area in Bordeaux. The vineyards are split up between 10 wine-growing regions. The most important one is Kakheti covering roughly 70 % of the vineyards and producing around 80% of Georgia's wine.

The one thing that Georgia is the most famous for, however, is its way of producing wine. Not all of their wine but a significant share is made in an archaic way … maybe the same way the wine in those 8,000-year-old jars were made.

[drmatthewhorkey]

Georgia holds a special place in my heart as it’s where my professional wine career started. It’s amazing to see the diversity of qvevri producers just in the last ten years. It’s also amazing how quickly hygiene in qvevri wines have improved in recent years.

I love Rkatsiteli and it reminds me of Ribolla Gialla in structure when macerated. My favorite Georgian white grape may be the rare Goruli Mtsvane. Great that you featured one.

I love Saperavi and while Kakheti is the most known region, I love Imereri in the West and the red grape Otskanuri Sapere. Nice job KB!!

[giorgimgaloblishvili]

As a Georgian I am very happy to see a video about Georgian wines.It's right, It's harder to make a good red qvevri wine. I think now is the time, when qvevri wines evolve and are looking for the right and best way to become really amazing. Have a question for Konstantin, did you taste better qvevri wines when being in Georgia than in this video?

[lauracanna]

I have found a Georgian red wine (£17) in my local convenient shop, it's called Mukuzani and made from Separavi grapes. It's sold in a cute amphora and it's very nice, in fact I keep buying again and again. I'll try some more in the future. Thanks for this video ❣️

[aleksandreivanashvili]

You should have tried Usakhelauri, Khvanchkara, Akhasheni, Ojaleshi, Tvishi... You were not even trying, thats pretty mediocre 🙂good luck but you tried most basic wines in Georgia...
btw if you were even willing to buy for example Khvanchkara(real one) you would be pretty surprised by the price tag(about 210$ per bottle) you bought wines from 8$ to 25$ and you want to find perfection in that price range

[nikitanesteruk]

Thank you Konstantin, great video as always! Also thank you for covering Georgian wines and specifically Amber wine. I think longer videos like this where you cover a specific region or a winemaking style are extremely interesting, I wish we see more of these in the future. Thanks again and keep going!

[oldcremona]

Just received 7 bottles of Pheasant's Tears 2020 Rkatsiteli. I shall be spreading the word of qvevri wine among my friends and family!!

[comesahorseman]

I've tasted Rkatsitelli from the Finger Lakes/Konstantin Frank, ; made conventionally it was quite good, moderately fruity with good acid structure.

[natatatyanko]

Thanks for the interesting information! I've tried wines from all four grape varieties you mentioned. I do love Kisi and Mtsvane. But Gergian wine is like a lottery - you never knows what's in the bottle))

[mcwine]

Nice! Finally I see a bottle that I have also tried LOL! Thanks Konstantin 🙏🏻🍷👌🏻

[tyeg]

Thank you for covering this wine! Been waiting for someone to promote the world's oldest winemaking region, with some of the best wines and winemaking traditions, especially qvevri style.

[teonatokhadze]

Thank you for giving a broader perspective on Georgian amber wines. Definitelly Georgian qvevri/amber wines taste unusual to western palate. That is why it was extra special to hear an opinion from a professional with a refined taste on these rustic and sometimes as they call it - "hipster" wines. Thank you for being cool and adventurous to bring it out to wider public. Cheers or Gaumarjos as we say it in Georgia 🥂

[johnde]

Now that's a tasting I can get behind! I just had a qvevri wine last week, it's always an interesting experience.

[bobmarley]

Great video as always, a Georgian wine is definitely on my list to get with my next purchase unfortunately good ones are a bloody pain to procure in the UK these days

[gtrnka]

We had a bottle of Saperavi from the Guardian Wine House in Katherine, Georgia. We enjoyed it…it was the label that stood out when we bought it.

[figgymoonpowda]

I've enjoyed a few bottles of the 2019 Vinoterra Saperavi this year. Not particularly grippy, silky like a mature well balanced brunello with rhone characteristics. Glad to see this video, needs a part 2.

[Hillcapper]

The German restaurant my wife and I go to serves some Georgian wine. They have a Kvareli that i will occasionally get. Your description of that last red is exactly how I would describe it, except I don’t have your wine vocabulary! It’s not an easy drinker for sure and you need a very heavy dish with it. Love your channel!

[jornbesteman]

God I have waited for this video. I love Amber orange wines ever since my vacation in Ukraine and Georgia. In my opinion everyone should try amber orange wines before they make up their opinion about orange wines.

[danfarmer]

A very interesting taste test. I've never had a wine from Georgia. Thanks for expanding our wine horizon.

[adamcollet]

If you get the chance to try it the Prince Alexander Chavchavadze Saperavi is one of the best wines I’ve ever tried. The complexity is off the charts and only retails for aroun $85

[tonydeltablues]

It's cool you are trying these type of wines :-)
More! Bravo.
Tony