Marani Khvanchkara

Name: Marani Khvanchkara
Brand: Telavi Wine Cellar

BronzeDecanter World Wine Awards 2019 SilverInternational Wine & Spirit Competition 2017 SilverDecanter World Wine Awards 2017

A semi-sweet red Georgian wine made from Mujuretuli and Aleksandrouli, appellation of Khvanchkara. Made using the European method, aged in a neutral vessel; 5 days of skin maceration. Alcohol 11.5%. Sources note raspberry, red berries and strawberry on the nose and light-bodied on the palate. Telavi Wine Cellar is a large producer with its own vineyards.

Style attributes

Color: Red
Tannin: No data
Sweetness: Semi-sweet
Aging vessel: Neutral vessel
Technology: European
Technology: 5 days of skin maceration
Volume: 750 ml
Alcohol: 11.5%

Grape varieties: Aleksandrouli, Mujuretuli

Recognition

BronzeDecanter World Wine Awards 2019
Major competitionvintages: 2018
Claimed by the winery — not verified against the competition's own results.
SilverInternational Wine & Spirit Competition 2017
Major competitionvintages: 2015
Claimed by the winery — not verified against the competition's own results.
SilverDecanter World Wine Awards 2017
Major competitionvintages: 2016
Claimed by the winery — not verified against the competition's own results.
Grand GoldChina Wine and Spirits Awards 2019
Unknown weightvintages: 2017
Claimed by the winery — not verified against the competition's own results.
BronzeInternational Wine Challenge 2017
Unknown weightvintages: 2015
Claimed by the winery — not verified against the competition's own results.
SilverENOEXPO 2013
Unknown weightvintages: 2012
Claimed by the winery — not verified against the competition's own results.

Medals are weighted by competition credibility — a gold from a pay-to-play contest is not a gold from Decanter.

Vintages: 2024, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012

Origin

Producer:Telavi Wine CellarLarge producer, own vineyards

Region: Racha-Lechkhumi

Appellation: KhvanchkaraHigh authenticity risk

What to check for this appellation

Khvanchkara is a naturally semi-sweet red PDO from Racha, made only from Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grapes grown in a small demarcated micro-zone around Ambrolauri. Because these two grapes grow on a very limited area (the core micro-zone is on the order of tens of hectares, within roughly 900 ha of Racha vineyards) while the name is among Georgia's most famous, the volume sold under the name has historically exceeded what the zone can produce, and falsification of the name is well documented in the wine press. What to check: confirm the producer is registered in the Racha/Khvanchkara zone and owns or sources Aleksandrouli/Mujuretuli grapes there, and treat unusually cheap 'Khvanchkara' with caution.