Otskhanuri Sapere

Origin

Native to western Georgia, particularly Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi. Otskhanuri Sapere nearly disappeared during the Soviet era but is now being rediscovered and replanted.

The name

Named after the village of Otskhana, roughly meaning ‘the coloured one from Otskhana’.

In the vineyard

Late-ripening, usually harvested in early October. The vine requires careful pruning to keep yields low. Our grapes come from Tskhratskharo, from mineral-rich, clay soils on a sheltered slope.

The grapes

Small to medium-sized, round, dark blue berries growing in cylindrical to conical bunches.

Taste and aroma

When made dry, Otskhanuri Sapere shows notes of cherry, wild berries, plum and herbs, with firm tannins and high acidity. Our semi-dry N°1 2020 is softer and more fruit-driven, with notes of sour cherry, pomegranate, rose, strawberry jam, rosehip and black tea.

How we make it

We ferment Otskhanuri Sapere spontaneously in qvevri. For our N°1 2020, we retained some natural grape sugar, following the tradition of Georgian semi-dry red wines. A few bottles of our fully dry Otskhanuri Sapere from 2017 are still resting in the cellar and can be tasted when you visit.

Food pairings

Our semi-dry N°1 2020 pairs particularly well with aromatic spices, Middle Eastern cuisine and mildly spicy dishes. It is also an interesting match for mature Georgian cheeses, such as Dambalkhacho and aged blue cheese from Samtskhe-Javakheti.