Mtsvane 2021 – Vachnadziani

The grapes to produce Mtsvane Vachnadziani were carefully sorted at the winery, to ensure the highest quality fruit was vinified. The Mtsvane Vachnadziani fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks to retain the purity of fruit and the varietal characteristics of the Mtsvane variety. Vinification lasted for two weeks at controlled temperatures of 16°C.

The grapes are grown in the Kakheti region in eastern Georgia, where the climate is moderately humid, with hot summers and cold winters. The vineyard is situated at an altitude of 350 metres above sea level, where the vines are trained according to the Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) method and are Double Guyot pruned. The soils are clay and loamy which provide good water retention properties to sustain the vines during the hot summers. The vineyard is planted with cover grass between the vines to reduce weeds; the soil is mulched and treated with organic mineral fertilisers. Mtsvane (pronounced Mitse-VANee) is native to the Kakheti region, it translates as ‘green’ in Georgian which refers to its yellow-green berry colour.

Vachnadziani was established in 1953 and is one of the oldest wineries in Georgia that is considered to be the ‘cradle of wine’, as 8,000 year-old indigenous Rkatsiteli grape seeds have been found in clay vessels. During the Soviet years Vachnadziani  fell into disrepair, but now the vineyards and cellars have received considerable investment. The aim is to preserve their ancient wine culture while combining it with cutting edge technology. With over 1,000 hectares of vineyard, covering the Kakheti region in eastern Georgia and the Imereti, Racha and Lechkhumi regions in western Georgia, Vachnadziani cultivates 25 vine varieties – the majority of which are indigenous. Their exciting and dynamic range reveals all the charm of this historic winemaking land.