Knowledge about traditional winemaking
Our responsibility for the heritage of 8000 years wine culture
When we were children we did not yet understand the elaborate and complicated methods our grandfather used in the wine-making process. All we knew was that everything related to the wine and the wine cellar, the Marani followed very strict rules: Before we could enter the Marani we always had to wash our feet. Then we had to form a line and go inside one after the other and leave the Marani in the same order again. Our grandfather would stay inside in order to thoroughly clean the place in which we had stood. This is just one example of many formative experiences we shared while growing up and which turned into valuable rituals, of which we still make use of today. In addition to the prescribed behavior in and around the Marani we are also applying our grandfather’s strict rules defining the choice of the exact date and time during which the grapes may be harvested, processed and filled in the qvevris. It is also strictly regulated, when to decant the fermenting wine from one qvevri to another and to only use a clay carafe, containing no more than 2 litres of wine at once for that purpose. This set of rules, all carried out 100% in manually, makes the secret recipe of our Marani VAZIS XIDI wines. Our oldest wine-master, 91-year old Shota Kavrishvili is the keeper and conveyer of the Vazis Xidi Winery’s secrets. Not only does he have over 70 years of experience in wine-making, he is also almost daily exchanging knowledge and ideas with other wine experts in the region and bringing this wisdom into harmony with our old family rules and practices.
At Marani Vazis Xidi Winery we believe in the exceptional quality of the traditional Georgian wine-making method, which has proven its worth over the past centuries and even millenia. But we also recognize that the rules and techniques known today did not exist from day one but rather developed over the years, taking into account new findings and influences from outside. Vazis Xidi therefore not only stands for wine produced respecting traditional methods and rules. We are also looking to bridge the gap between the ancient pre-soviet-era manufacturing and present-day Georgia. This means learning from other active winemakers in the area, taking inspiration from European wine experts and making use of scientific insights and the benefits of a connected world all while staying true to our core beliefs and values, with the sole goal to produce authentic, natural Georgian wine for the world. We take the opportunity to participate in internationally renowned competitions such as Berlin Wine Trophy and Mundus Vini in order to have our wines judged by experienced sommeliers and wine connoisseurs. Already winning multiple gold and silver medals in our first two years confirmed our belief to have a product with high potential and motivates us to further develop and perfect our wines in the coming years.