White semi-sweet wine Tvishi is made in the Racha-Lechkhumi region in Western Georgia from the Tsolikauri grape variety. Tvishi is a name controlled by origin. This wine has a light straw color, a balanced bouquet with pronounced fruity notes, a rich aroma and a sweet aftertaste. On the palate, nuances of honey, apricot, tropical fruits, melon, mint and quince stand out. The strength varies within 10-11.5% by volume, the sugar content does not exceed 30-50 g/l.
Tvishi refers to naturally semi-sweet wines, which means that the sweet taste is achieved solely by the residual sugar preserved in the fruit, without additives.
Features of the region
Tvishi wine is produced in the Tsageri municipality of the Racha-Lechkhumi region. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 435 meters above sea level, in the vicinity of the villages of Tvishi and Alpana on the right bank of the Rioni River.
The area of the region barely reaches 15 km². The autochthonous Georgian grape Tsolikouri grows here, but this variety is distributed throughout the country, so the uniqueness of the wine lies not in it. The peculiarity of the zone is a unique combination of microclimate and soil.
Every Tvishi is 100% Tsolikouri, but not every wine from Tsolikouri is Tvishi. The climatic zone plays a key role.
The region has a humid climate with cool but not frosty winters and hot summers, besides, the zone is reliably protected from the winds by mountain ranges. Such weather conditions and fertile humus-carbonate soils allow the berries to gain the necessary sugar content and aroma.
Production technology
Only the ripest berries are suitable for making Tvishi, which have gained the maximum amount of sugar, but have not yet begun to raisin. First, the fruits are peeled from twigs and ridges, crushed under pressure into the pulp, the juice is separated from the skins and left to ferment at a temperature of about 15 ° C. When the sugar content reaches 5-7 g/100 cm³, the fermentation is stopped by cooling the wine to 3-5 °C.
Despite the fact that the birthplace of wine is Georgia, the method of interrupted fermentation was invented in France. The technology came to Racha-Lechkhumi at the end of the XNUMXth century thanks to the French winemaker Antoine Mossano, who came to “Europeanize” the local alcohol industry.
How to drink Tvishi wine
Like other semi-sweet white wines, Tvishi goes well with fish dishes, poultry, light salads, pies, fruits, and desserts. When serving, the drink is cooled to 8-12 degrees.
Tvishi is a young wine, it is not aged in barrels and not stored in bottles for a long time, but is drunk within a year after production. Accordingly, the price is democratic, rarely exceeding $10 per bottle. All this makes Tvishi an excellent option for family feasts, home dinners, gatherings with friends.
Famous brands of Tvishi: Marani, Schuchmann, Lukasi, Royal Khvanchkara, Teliani Valley, Tbilvino, Mildiani, Iveriuli and others.