Grape · Kakheti, Georgia
Saperavi
sah-peh-RAH-vee
Georgia's teinturier
A rare red-fleshed grape: inky even as a rosé, capable of qvevri amber-red wines and of polished, age-worthy dry reds.
- black cherry
- pomegranate
- smoke
- plum
- earth
Profile
Bodyhigh
Acidhigh
Tanninhigh
Sugardry
Saperavi is a teinturier — the flesh is red, not just the skins — so color is never a problem. In qvevri (buried clay) it can be wild and tannic; in modern tanks it can be as composed as a Bordeaux. Both traditions are alive in Georgia.
It is one of the oldest cultivated wine grapes still in serious production. Drink it with that in mind, and with grilled lamb.
Khinkali, grilled meats, and walnut sauces.
At the table
Service
61–64 °F (16–18 °C). Qvevri versions: a wide glass and food.
