Tamada Khvanchkara

Notes - Georgia is one of the oldest wine producing regions of Europe and is sometimes known as the cradle of wine. Khvanchkara is a naturally Semi Sweet Red wine and is perhaps the best known wine of this style from Georgia. Allegedly, along with Kindzmarauli, it was the favourite wine if Stalin. The Tamada Khvanchkara is blend of Alexandreuli and Mujuretuli grapes from the Khvanchkara vineyards, near the town of Ambrolauri in Racha region of western Georgia. Due to the scarcity of the grape material and the limited land available to re-plant new vineyards the name is often used incorrectly by other manufacturers of this style of wine.  GWS has maintained its high standard to ensure that only the true varieties from this exclusive region find their way into the wine. The wine is fermented traditionally with wild yeasts from the vineyard that have developed to give unique fermentation characters to the wine. The fermentation vessels are open oak vat with special boards to keep the skins submerged during the fermentation process. At the appropriate time the wine is taken from its skins and only the wine that drains freely is used for this exclusive wine. Once off skins the wine is cooled and SO2 is added to stop the fermentation so the required sugar level is maintained. The wine is mid-red in colour and shows obvious rich sweetness / viscoscity when swirled around the glass. The nose exhibits a light cherry spicy character and some of the wild yeast notes are apparent when the wine is initially poured. The palate is soft showing a spicy clean fruit presence and delicate tannin structure. There is a rich sweetness of fruit and sugar that is completed by subtle oak tones picked up during the fermentation. The finish is Sweet and lingers in the mouth with balanced acidity and fruit. The wine is non vintage and is blended. Upon ageing the wine's fruit flavours develop and it becomes more spicy and the sweetness is more apparent. Use as a dessert wine, try with hard cheeses such as an aged Gouda or simply try out on people who don't like dry red wines!
 
   

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