Ikaltos Tsiteli

Ikaltos Tsiteli, 'the red of Ikalto', is a rare red variety from Kakheti, also called simply Shavi Kurdzeni, 'black grape'. Its flowers are bisexual, the bunches small to medium and loose, the berries medium-sized, round and dark blue under a waxy bloom, with thin skin and juicy, slightly astringent flesh. At full ripeness it reaches 18.4–21.3% sugar and 5.7–7.7 g/l acidity and yields 8–10 tonnes per hectare. The ampelography rates its dry red table wine as average and recommends the variety for blending; Tchotiashvili in Saniore uses it in the red Chveni Ezo.