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They say that “Georgia” – hears “Saperavi”! How else, if these two words for many are one. Please note that the concept of “saperavi” is used in a broad and narrow sense.
In a broad sense, saperavi means dry Georgian wine, the most popular and widespread in this country and made from the saperavi grape variety.
In narrow terms, this is a wine made using a special technology (for example, it must be aged for a year) since 1886.
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Features of the Saperavi grape variety
Saperavi (from Georgian: “paint”, “dyer”) is a red grape variety, which is characterized by rather large clusters.
Juicy berry pulp is dark pink in color, while other red varieties contain pigment only in the peel.
Berry juice of rich pink color.
The variety tolerates frost well and is able to take root in almost any soil.
But there is also a significant drawback – it is easily infected with various kinds of diseases characteristic of 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 from 4 to 30 years. During this time, the fragrant bouquet fully develops, and light plum tones begin to be captured.
Saperavi production
Traditionally, when making Saperavi wine, they use the Kakhetian method.
The pulp wanders in special qvevri jugs, previously buried in the ground.
But today, enterprises are increasingly neglecting the traditions of production and the future wine undergoes a fermentation procedure in familiar steel vats.
Before the process, scallops, bones and twigs are cleaned.
You can adjust the sweetness of the wine by using berries of different maturity.
In order to get dry Saperavi, not quite ripe grapes are used, which should be harvested at the end of the summer season – early September, since the variety is medium late.
If there is a need to prepare a dessert-type drink, the most juicy and ripe clusters should be selected.
What else you should know about Saperavi
The color of Saperavi is one of the most intense in the world that wines can have.
Because of this, tinting of the oral cavity in a purple hue is often observed after drinking the drink.
Even if you dilute the drink, its color will not change and will not fade.
The strength of the drink reaches 10–12%, and the amount of sugar does not exceed 4 g/dm3.
On the palate, the presence of blackcurrant, pomegranate shades and cherry motifs is felt, blackberries and fragrant prunes also take place.
The longer the wine is aged, the more expressive its flavor composition.
As a rule, the drink is aged for a year, but the shelf life reaches 50 years.
The peak for revealing the taste qualities 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 substances, and also improves the process of lipid metabolism, and this is the real prevention of atherosclerosis.
In the summer of 2014, there were rumors about the creation of a white Saperavi by some 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 mature the drink, the higher the level of elite and the wine costs, respectively, more expensive.
But remember that Saperavi is both a quality and inexpensive wine.
How to drink Saperavi
It is customary to pour the drink into wine glasses.
According to the etiquette, the container should be 1/3 full.
Before serving alcohol should be cooled to 13-15 ° C.
The wine goes well with meat dishes, spicy or salty foods.
According to tradition, Saperavi is consumed during feasts in the company of lamb shish kebab or pilaf.
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Relevance: 13.06.2018
Tags: wine and vermouth