What is Saperavi, and which wines are made from it?
A red grape from Kakheti and its wines.
Short answer
Saperavi is a red grape variety from Kakheti, most often made into dry red wines of a very dark colour. The name is linked to the word for dye. It is Georgia's leading red variety, with about 10% of the country's vineyards.
Why
- The name relates to colouring: the juice and wine are very dark, and the grape is called a dye.
- Saperavi is made into dry, semi-sweet, sweet and fortified wines, by traditional and European methods.
- Protected-origin wines based on it include Napareuli (dry), Mukuzani (dry, riper) and Kindzmarauli (semi-sweet).
Details
Saperavi comes from Kakheti. It is called the "ancestor of vines", and its origin is widely believed but not documented. The wines are dark, often nearly opaque, with notes of dark berries, liquorice and spice, tannic and acidic, at 12–14% alcohol.
A serious dry Saperavi can age for more than 10 years, while semi-sweet styles are best drunk within 1–2 years. Saperavi is also used to add colour and strength to other wines. For the traditional method see our answer on the qvevri, and for semi-sweet reds see what to eat with semi-sweet red wine.
Tip
Check the wine type on the label (dry or semi-sweet): the same grape gives very different bottles.
What may differ
Style depends on site, producer and method: warmer sites give black fruit and higher alcohol, cooler mountain sites give more elegant wines with red fruit.
Common misconception
Saperavi is always a dry red wine.
What actually happens
No. Saperavi is made into dry, semi-sweet, sweet and fortified wines, for example the semi-sweet Kindzmarauli.
People also ask
- What is Saperavi wine?
- What kind of wine is made from Saperavi grapes?
Sources
- Georgia Tourism: SaperaviChecked at:
- National Wine Agency of Georgia: red grape varietiesChecked at:
This answer is for reference. Taste and style depend on the producer and the vintage.
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