At A Glance
- Region
- Racha, Georgia
- Vineyard holding
- 25 hectares
- Vineyard villages
- Sadmelis Chala, Koveli, Tola and Chkvishi
- Winemakers
- Lado Uzunashvili and David Iselidze
- 2022 wines
- Khvanchkara, Usakhelauri and Tvishi
The Producer
The current winery opened in 2001 on the grounds of the original Kipiani wine factory. Production remained small until 2015. During the period that followed, Soviet-era winemaking equipment was replaced with modern machinery.
The estate has 25 hectares of its own vineyards across the Racha villages of Sadmelis Chala, Koveli, Tola and Chkvishi. Royal Khvanchkara characterizes the vineyards as biodynamic and the winemaking as low-intervention, with grapes picked by hand.
Winemaker Lado Uzunashvili represents the eleventh generation of his family’s winemaking tradition. He developed his knowledge in France, Japan, Australia and Georgia before sharing that experience with the Royal Khvanchkara team. David Iselidze works alongside him as another winemaker.
Wines
Khvanchkara is a naturally semi-sweet red composed of 60% Aleksandrouli and 40% Mujuretuli. Its aromas cover strawberry, raspberry, other berries and herbaceous notes.
Usakhelauri is a single-variety, naturally semi-sweet red. Black plum, cherry, blackcurrant and liquorice form its aroma register.
Tvishi is a naturally semi-sweet white made from Tsolikouri, with aromas of green apple, apricot and tropical fruit. Khvanchkara, Usakhelauri and Tvishi each appear as 2022 wines in the named range.