What is Usakhelauri, and why is this wine so expensive?
A rare red grape from Lechkhumi.
Short answer
Usakhelauri is a local red grape of western Georgia that grows mainly in Lechkhumi, and its wine is considered one of the rarest and most expensive Georgian wines. Plantings are small and the vine is prone to disease.
Why
- About 57 hectares were planted with the variety in 2004.
- The vine buds early and ripens late, in late September, and its thin skins make it susceptible to fungal disease.
- The protected-origin wine Okureshis Usakhelouri is made only in a micro-zone in Tsageri municipality, with yields capped at 10 tonnes per hectare.
Details
Usakhelauri wines made in qvevri or neutral open vessels show lilac, violet, mint and pepper, with very high acidity and light tannins. Okureshis Usakhelouri comes dry, naturally semi-dry or naturally semi-sweet, dark cherry red, with red plum and red currant notes.
Check prices with sellers. To find where to buy see where to buy good wine in Tbilisi, and for the method see our answer on qvevri.
Tip
Look for Okureshis Usakhelouri on the label: by the rules it must appear in Georgian, Latin and Cyrillic script.
What may differ
Price depends on the seller, vintage and producer, so check it with the seller.
Common misconception
Usakhelauri is made all over Georgia.
What actually happens
No. The grape grows mainly in Lechkhumi, and Okureshis Usakhelouri may be made only in a micro-zone in Tsageri.
People also ask
- What is Usakhelauri wine?
- Why is Usakhelauri wine expensive?
Sources
This answer is for reference. Taste and style depend on the producer and the vintage.
Georgian wine: regions and grape varietiesRelated questions
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The Georgian Law on Vine and Wine divides wines by colour into white, amber, rosé and red.
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