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My brother and I are preparing for the anniversary of the pope and decided to give him an exclusive bottle of alcohol. I looked after the Abkhazian wine, for which I received a scolding from my brother! He said that this was the worst choice, because in fact there are no vineyards in Abkhazia and they cannot make high-quality wine there.
The brother said that the best option for a gift is real Georgian wine, and not what I offer. We began to argue and have not yet come to a consensus. Therefore, I decided to figure out which wine is still better – Abkhazian or Georgian.
What is Georgian wine
The history of Georgian wine is quite long – it began to be made already 8 thousand years ago. And all this time it is produced according to traditional technology:
- grapes are harvested, which are then crushed and crushed;
- put grape juice together with softness, leaves and stalks in an earthenware kvervi jar;
- leave to ferment for at least 2 months;
- filter;
- the second is immersed in kvervi, which, in turn, is dipped in a marani (wine cellar) for at least six months.
The longer the fermentation period, the more tart the wine is due to saturation with tannins. Therefore, Georgian winemakers control the process depending on what kind of wine they want to get at the end.
The last stage in the production of Georgian wine is that it is allowed to settle, then it is poured several times from jug to jug. This is done in order to settle all the suspension contained in the drink. After that, it is again poured into kvervi, sealed and infused for 3-6 months.
I also learned a couple of interesting facts about Georgian wine:
- Red has a unique fruity aftertaste. Fruit trees (pomegranate, fig, apple, pear) are planted near the vineyards especially for the production of such a bouquet, and the harvest from them is used to create an exclusive red wine.
- In the manufacture of white Georgian wine, 2 grape varieties are used – krahuna and tsitska. The peculiarity of the original product is that it turns out to be a classic dark yellow color. The longer the fermentation process, the darker the wine becomes. Down to orange!
Good wine will have to be spent well!
Such a complex process of making quality wine is worth the corresponding money. Saw in stores, of course, and very reasonable prices. For example, Askaneli (Akhasheni) in Pyaterochka can be bought for 498 rubles. But for a more exclusive, collectible wine, you will have to pay 3-4 thousand rubles.
What is Abkhaz wine
Wine has been produced in Abkhazia since 1925. In the 80s, it became especially popular due to recognition at international exhibitions. Then the peak of popularity of Lykhny (Lykhny) and Apsny (Apsny) came.
The collapse of the Abkhazian winemaking fell on the period of Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign during the period of perestroika. Most of the vineyards have been cut down.
My Abkhaz choice, rejected by my brother.
As I managed to find out, Abkhazia has not been recognized as a wine-growing region for a long time. And, in principle, grapes grow extremely poorly there, mainly industrial crops. More or less in Abkhazia, the Isabella variety survives.
Wine material is brought mainly from Moldova and Argentina. And it is the wine material (in tanks!), And not excellent grapes. Wine is made in Abkhazia according to standard wine-making technologies, and without various ancient traditions, skipping the stages of grape harvest and fermentation.
A shock price for the “face” of Abkhazian winemaking!
In general, the production of Abkhazian wine is extremely doubtful. But the price is also affordable. Specially went to the nearest store to see the prices of the entire range. And the recognized Abkhaz exclusive, which once won at international exhibitions, found 200 rubles per bottle!
Which wine is better
Immersed in the details of making Georgian and Abkhaz wines, I came to the conclusion that my brother was right! Georgia is rich in vineyards, and they approach the production of the “drink of the gods” like the birth of a child.
Until now, the most ancient production technology is observed, and they use exclusively their own grown crops.
Abkhazia, as it turned out, has practically no vineyards on its territory. In fact, their area covers only about 600 hectares. At the same time, the republic actively exports its products around the world every year!
Apparently, on cheap wine material, it is possible to bottle liquid well, churning out wine of medium quality.
I recommend avoiding Abkhazian wines, preferring Georgian ones. He also decided to taste a few brands. So far, I have compiled my own small rating of the best among them:
- Kindzmarauli (Киндмараули). Amazing wine made from Saperavi grapes. Intense pomegranate color, velvety taste. The bouquet is complex, I still can not unravel all its notes. I got it for 710 rubles.
The best red wine in my life!
- Tsinandali (Цинандали). Despite the fact that the wine is dry, I absolutely do not feel any discomfort when tasting it. There is no pronounced acidity characteristic of dry wines. I noticed that Georgian wines have a pleasant mild taste, both red and white. I paid 890 rubles for the fine wine that came with the meat dinner.
Definitely the best companion for meat dishes.
- Mukuzani (Мукузани). Dry wine from Saperavi is beyond praise! There is a slight acidity, invigorating and tonic. Fruity and oak notes are felt on the palate. It is this brand that is considered the hallmark of Georgian wine. It is not a pity to give 1100 rubles for it!
The most worthy representative of Georgian wines.
It is Mukuzani (Mukuzani) that I currently consider as a pleasant present for the hero of the day. Amazing taste, beautiful design and reasonable price for a really high-quality product.
Tips on how not to run into fake wine
Good alcohol is often counterfeited. Counterfeit, of course, can and will cost less, but the dubious composition and unpleasant taste will spoil the whole impression of wine tasting.
A few tips from me personally on how not to run into a fake:
- purchase bottles only if they have excise stamps;
- pay attention to the quality of the label and film – they must be glued evenly, without wrinkles, the inscriptions must be clearly and correctly written;
- preview the shape of the original alcohol on the manufacturer’s website (a fake bottle may have a different look, for example, not with straight edges, but streamlined).
An experienced sommelier clearly showed me the difference between original (on the right) and counterfeit (on the left) alcohol – everything is different – from the shape of the bottle to the design of the label.
I recommend buying alcohol not in the nearest supermarket, but in a specialized alcohol boutique.
Thanks to my brother, I managed to dispel the myth that Abkhazian wines are among the best on the alcohol market. Surely many of you lived with a similar belief.
To our regret, we took cheap wine material as an exclusive. If among you there are those who do not agree with me – please speak in the comments.
*Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health!