Khvanchkara wine: an overview + how to choose

Khvanchkara - This is one of the most iconic Georgian wines. It belongs to the category of naturally semi-sweet reds. This wine is made from grapes that grow in a clearly limited natural terroir, including at the level of Georgian legislation, located on the right bank of the Rioni River, in the vicinity of the village of Khvunchkara (Ambrolauri district, historical region of Racha).

According to a credible claim by local winemakers, grape bunches ripening even on the opposite side of the river contain insufficient sugar.

The history of the drink in brief

There were two significant moments in the history of the drink that brought it to the forefront of the Georgian wine industry. The first of them was the unexpected furor caused in 1907 by the home-made wine of Princes Lebanon and Dmitry Kipiani, almost as a joke presented at the international industry exhibition in Belgium, which was held under the royal patronage...

The second point was the special attention shown by Comrade Stalin to the same local wine, which at that time was called Kipianivske, on the part of Comrade Stalin. By the way, it was Soso Dzhugashvili who played a direct or indirect role in obscuring the "noble" origin of the drink and renaming it Khvunchkara.

Production of Khvanchkara

Rather rare local grape varieties are used to make the drink we are interested in: Alexandrouli and Mujuretuli (theoretically, up to 10% Sapirayi is allowed in the wine, but a self-respecting producer will never stoop to such profanation). Khvunchkara is produced using the Racha-Lechkhumi technology, which is typical for Northwest Georgia. It consists in the fermentation of grape must without removing the pulp (ridges, seeds, peel, etc.).п.) with the subsequent interruption of the fermentation process by lowering the temperature.

Thus, the observation of local peasants who noticed that young wine becomes sweeter under the influence of sudden frosts was put into practice. The finished drink is pasteurized before bottling, which somewhat reduces its original taste, but provides the stability necessary for transportation.

Description of the drink Khvanchkari

In addition to the above geographical and technological features, Khvunchkara must have some mandatory chemical properties and meet a number of organoleptic parameters:

1. Strength - 10.5-12 degrees;

2. Sugar content - 3-5%;

3. The color ranges from dark ruby to ruby purple;

4. Aroma - hints of raspberry, blackberry, mountain violet and red velvet rose;

5. The taste is rich, full-bodied, round, with hints of raspberry, blackberry, dried fruit and a possible almond undertone;

6. Aftertaste - long, tart.

How and with what to drink Khvanchkara

The pride of Rachyno winemakers can and should be drunk from classic red wine glasses. The temperature of the proposed drink should be 12-14°C. A variety of meat dishes, especially those related to Georgian cuisine, can serve as an appetizer to the wine. However, it will be much more competent to accompany the main meal with dry table wines, and save Khvanchkara for dessert: fruits, nuts, churchkhela or soft cheeses...

Main producers

Here we come to a very delicate point. The fact is that even in the most successful years, the harvest in the appellation defined by Georgian law can produce no more than ten thousand bottles of wine. At the same time, according to the same legislation, the drink should be produced either in the terroir itself or in its immediate vicinity.

There are only four wineries in Georgia that meet all the necessary requirements: the oldest winery in the region, Khvunchkara, located in the village of the same name, as well as the Ambrolauri, Chrebalo and Bugeuli wineries located in neighboring settlements (the latter, although built on the left bank of the Rioni, processes raw materials purchased on the opposite bank of the river)... In addition, in a microzone suitable for growing conditioned grapes, you can get the wine you are looking for from small private farms. According to people in the know, the first place in this regard belongs to winemakers from the village of Chorjo.

Thus, we have to come to a disappointing conclusion about the actual inaccessibility of real Khvanchkari on the market. At the same time, the assortment of all more or less serious supermarkets is quite widely represented by wine of the same name produced by such well-known Georgian companies as Chateau Mukhrani, House of Georgian Wine, Telavi Wine Cellar, GWS, Badagoni, etc. Although the production facilities of all these enterprises are located in Central or Eastern Georgia, it is assumed that the Khvanchkara they produce contains grapes of the Alexandrouli and Mujuretuli varieties grown in vineyards from the "correct" microzone belonging to one or another company... The average buyer can only take the above statement at face value. The only thing you can be sure of when buying such wine is the quality of the drink, which may not be fully authentic Khvanchkara...

How to distinguish a fake

When choosing an honored Rachinsky wine, you should be guided by the following principles:

1. Ideally, choose products from the wineries of Khvanchkara, Ambrolauri, Chrebalo and Bugeuli;

2. When reading the label, first of all, look at the region of origin and composition of the drink (some craftsmen indicate without any doubt that the wine they offer is made from the Hvunchkara grape variety);

3. Pay attention to the bottle - it should be of high quality, but not pretentious;

4. Keep in mind that a real drink of this class will not cost less than forty dollars.

5. The ruby color of Khvanchkara must be dark and rich;

6. The tart notes present in the aftertaste of the drink should not be replaced by sourness;

7. Well, I hope you will be able to recognize alcohol with dye and take appropriate measures.

Update: 17.12.2017

Category: Wine and Vermouth