What is Kotekhi wine?
Two dry wines, white and red, from the middle Alazani.
Short answer
Kotekhi is a protected designation of origin for wine from the right bank of the Alazani, covering dry white from Rkatsiteli and dry red from Saperavi. Registration number 799, date in the file: 12/10/2007. The specification sets alcohol at 10.5–12% by volume and sugar at no more than 4 g/dm3.
Why
- The specification allows only two varieties: Rkatsiteli (white) and Saperavi (red).
- The zone lies in the middle reaches of the Alazani on the right bank, at 250–700 m above sea level, covering about 14 km2.
- Both wines are dry, with sugar of no more than 4 g/dm3, and the document sets no minimum ageing.
Details
White Kotekhi is light straw in colour, with titratable acidity of 5.5–7.5 g/dm3 and dry extract of at least 16 g/dm3. Red Kotekhi is red, with acidity of 5.0–7.0 g/dm3 and dry extract of at least 20 g/dm3. On the grapes: Rkatsiteli and Saperavi.
Yields are set at 9–10 t/ha for Rkatsiteli and 7–8 t/ha for Saperavi. The zone is defined by coordinates and terrain: the foothills and the Alazani Valley beside the Tsiv-Gombori Ridge.
Tip
White and red Kotekhi are different wines under one designation, so check the colour and variety on the label.
What may differ
The specification sets only limits: varieties, zone, minimum alcohol, maximum sugar. Wines from different producers differ within those limits, and the specification can be updated, so check the current version on wine.gov.ge.
Common misconception
Kotekhi is only made as a red wine.
What actually happens
No, the specification covers both a white (Rkatsiteli) and a red (Saperavi).
People also ask
- What is Kotekhi wine?
Sources
18+. This page is about alcohol and is for reference only. Drinking alcohol harms health.
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