Saperavi wine: an overview of taste and types
They say that "Georgia" hears "Saperavi"! How else could it be, if these two words are one and the same for many. Please note that the concept of "sapperavi" is used in a broad and narrow sense.
In a broad sense, saperavi refers to dry Georgian wine, the most popular and widespread in this country, which is made from the saperavi grape variety.
In the narrow sense, it is a wine produced using a special technology (for example, subject to aging for a year) since 1886.
Features of the Saperavi grape variety
Saperavi (from the cargo.Saperavi: "paint", "dyer") is a red grape variety characterized by rather large clusters.
Juicy berry pulp of dark pink color, while other red varieties contain pigment only in the skin.
The berry juice has a rich pink color.
The variety tolerates frost well and is able to take root in almost any soil.
But there is a significant drawback - it is easily infected with various diseases inherent in this plant.
Due to the presence of tannin in the berries, the grapes have a bitter astringent aftertaste, and the component also contributes to the long-term storage of wine and its qualities - more than 50 years.
The best are bottles aged for a period of 4 to 30 years. During this time, the aromatic bouquet fully develops, and light plum tones begin to be captured.
Saperavi production
Traditionally, Saperavi wine is made using the Kakhetian method.
The pulp is fermented in special kvevri jugs, previously buried in the ground.
Today, however, enterprises are increasingly neglecting the traditions of production and the future wine is fermented in conventional steel vats.
Before the process, it is cleaned from scallops, seeds and twigs.
You can adjust the sweetness of wine using berries of different maturity.
To produce dry Saperavi, not quite ripe grapes are used, which should be harvested in late summer - early September, as the variety is medium late.
If you need to prepare a dessert-type drink, you should select the juiciest and ripest clusters.
What else you should know about Saperavi
The color of Saperavi is one of the most intense in the world, which can be found in wines.
Because of this, the oral cavity often turns purple after drinking a drink.
Even if you dilute the drink, its color will not change or fade.
The strength of the drink reaches 10-12%, and the amount of sugar does not exceed 4 g/dm3.
The taste of the wine is characterized by the presence of black currant, pomegranate and cherry flavors, as well as blackberry and fragrant prunes.
The longer the wine is aged, the more expressive its flavor composition is.
As a rule, the drink is aged for a year, but the shelf life reaches 50 years.
The peak for the disclosure of the taste of the drink is considered to be 12-15 years of maturation.
Saperavi is characterized by healing properties.
The drink saturates the body with nutrients and energy, and also improves the process of lipid metabolism, which is a real prevention of atherosclerosis.
In the summer of 2014, there were rumors about the creation of a white Saperavi by an experimenter.
But such a drink has not gained much popularity, consumers prefer the classic version of the drink.
Saperavi wine costs an average of $6-8 per bottle.
It goes without saying that the pricing policy depends on the period of aging of alcohol and, the more aged the drink is, the higher the level of elite and the more expensive the wine is, respectively.
But remember that Saperavi is both a high-quality and inexpensive wine.
How to drink Saperavi
The drink is usually poured into wine glasses.
According to etiquette, the container should be 1/3 full.
Alcohol should be cooled to 13-15°C before serving.
The wine goes well with meat dishes, spicy or salty foods.
Traditionally, Saperavi is consumed during feasts in the company of lamb kebabs or pilaf.
Update: 13.06.2018
Category: Wine and Vermouth