{"id":34801,"date":"2022-09-23T16:35:09","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T15:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leaandsandeman.co.uk\/blog\/?p=34801"},"modified":"2023-01-16T10:11:07","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T10:11:07","slug":"trip-around-georgia-kakheti-part-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leaandsandeman.co.uk\/blog\/2022\/09\/trip-around-georgia-kakheti-part-one\/","title":{"rendered":"A trip around Georgia | Kakheti: Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Caucasus Mountains as viewed from the Tsinandali Estate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Our next stop was then the main winemaking region of Kakheti, about 2 hours northeast of the capital. This was proper winemaking country; endless wineries and vines and, as it was harvest, lorryloads of grapes being driven around. This region is split in two by the Alazani river, forming a Left Bank and a Right Bank. The identification and understanding of soils here is still very much a work in progress (you must constantly remind yourself that there\u2019s only been 20 years of true quality-minded winemaking here, as under Soviet rule it was all about quantity). There are very black slates that come down from the mountains and spread through the valley by the river, with pockets of clay with limestone \u2013 all helping to give structure to the wines in this warm region.<\/p>\n

\"Georgia

Source: Wines of Georgia<\/p><\/div>\n

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Shilda, Tiko Estates & Winery Khareba<\/h2>\n

We went to the Left Bank, arguably fresher as closer to the Caucasus mountains and PDOs here not insisting on oak aging, to the Shilda and Tiko Estates. Shilda is a real up-and-comer, great value for money to be found in their Kakabadze range, while Tiko, made by Ukrainian born Levan, are as close to a White Burgundy made in Georgia as you\u2019ll find. The Tiko wines are already in the UK, and I\u2019d advise you to seek them out or order if spotted on a wine list.<\/p>\n

\"Shilda\"

Shila Estate with the Caucasus Mountains behind<\/p><\/div>\n

It was then to Winery Khareba, with their old wine tunnels and own traditional polyphonic choir. We were also invited to help in harvest (note to self \u2013 must put \u2018done a harvest\u2019 on the CV now) and press our freshly picked grapes in a traditional lagar-like press known as a satsnakheli.
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