Vardzia Terraces - Chitistvala 2022

Origin: In 2015, through the joint efforts of businessmen Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, and Meskhetian grape collector Giorgi Natenadze, the ancient stone-walled terraces of 12th-century Queen Tamar were resurrected in the village of Khizabavra, Aspindza Municipality, in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of southern Georgia. Twelve hectares of historical terraces were restored and 27 rare endemic varieties of Meskhetian vine planted — varieties unseen in production for 400 years.

Grape Variety: 100% Chitistvala — meaning "bird's eye" in Georgian, a reference to its small, distinctive berries. This rare endemic white grape is unique to the Samtskhe-Javakheti highlands and grows nowhere else in the world. Once considered lost to history, it has been painstakingly revived as part of the extraordinary Vardzia Terraces project. Older than Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane, Chitistvala is recognised as one of the most promising ancient varieties for further study and propagation. Gvinico

Taste Profile: Amber in colour, rich with character. On the nose, dried leaves and yellow fruit give way to a palate that is beautifully balanced and velvety — a wine of depth, elegance, and ancient mountain soul.

Craftsmanship: Fermented and aged in traditional Qvevri clay vessels buried underground, using prolonged skin contact — a method recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Unfiltered and made with minimal intervention, allowing the terroir of high-altitude volcanic soils to speak with full clarity. These are among the most natural and truly organic wines you can find — a white wine of living history, bottled for the first time in four centuries.

Serving Suggestions: Serve cool rather than cold at 12–14°C. Pairs wonderfully with soft and aged cheeses, roasted poultry, spiced dishes, walnut-based Georgian foods, and light charcuterie. Also excellent on its own as a contemplative sip.