Labara's founders are two Georgian–Americans, Dato Gagua and Shalva Sikharulidze. They left the USA and moved back to Georgia with the idea to develop a winery in Kolkheti - West Georgia’s forgotten but wine history-rich area Vartsikhe - the village once famous for its wineries and brandy production for more than 100 years. The goal was to build the winery that would make Vartsikhe popular destination again for wine enthusiasts, attract more visitors and create opportunities for locals. The name of the winery was selected accordingly. Labara is the ancient Kolkhetian word, that means sunny, alive area.
Vineyards
Labara produces wine only from grapes harvested in the sustainably grown vineyards.
The vineyards are in the west Georgia, Vartsikhe and Salkhino, where distinct, subtropical climate, mild, warm winters and hot summers, harmonized by breeze of Black Sea and Caucasian mountains, create an excellent environment for the grapes to have a good balance of sugar and acidity. Tsolikouri, Tsitska, Krakhuna, Ojaleshi, Otskhanuri Saphere, Aladasturi and Dzelshavi are the native species found in the vineyards. Labara’s wine cellar in Vartsikhe, is situated in the heart of the 12-hectare vineyard. It is designed to produce up to 100-thousand bottles of premium quality wine, using traditional Georgian Qvevri and classic technology. Grapes are always hand picked and transported carefully so that the raw materials are delivered undamaged to the cellar.
Chuffed to hear from Lea & Sandeman that the wines from their newest georgian wine producer have arrived. I first tried Labara winery when their wines mysteriously arrived in my Tbilisi hotel room. Thank you to L&S team for being open to try these lovely western Georgian wines. (From the land of the Golden Fleece, no less.) Joyous, racy, yet succulent wines - like cool, bright morning sun. Nice counterpoint to their richer wines of the east. For importers of this calibre to get behind Georgia is so important.Sarah Abbott MW (Jan 2023)
