Archil Guniava, Tsitska, 2021

£29.70

Single-varietal Tsitska from Imereti, fermented on skins in qvevri with no additions; a dry, medium-bodied orange wine showing tropical fruit, grassy lift and nutty depth.

tropical fruit
grassy
nutty

At a glance

Producer: Archil Guniava
Region: Imereti
Grape: Tsitska
Vintage: 2021
Country: Georgia
Wine type: Orange
Alcohol: 13.5%
Size: 75.0cl

Taste profile

Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry

What to eat with it

walnut-stuffed aubergine rolls (badrijani)
grilled herb chicken
roasted squash with tahini
khachapuri (cheese bread)

How to serve it

Serve: Lightly chilled (12–14°C)

Why Cave selected it

Benchmark Imereti qvevri orange from a tiny family cellar; pure Tsitska with texture and clarity, made naturally without additions.

About the wine

The grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and crushed into beeswax-lined qvevri. Fermentation occurs naturally over about two weeks. The wines also undergo wild fermentation and are bottled unfiltered, unfined, and with no added sulphur. The result is tropical, nutty and grassy. Lovey stuff.

About Archil Guniava

The Archil Guniava winery, located in Kvaliti Village, has been the family home for generations. Its 1.5 hectares of vineyards are planted on steep slopes and the grapes benefit from and ideal climate. The vineyard is home to a range of native grape varieties including Tsolikouri, Tsitska, Krakhuna, Otskhanuri Sapere, Dzelshavi, as well as the rare Dondghlabi and Mgaloblishvili, both of which Archil is passionate about reviving. Winemaking takes place in traditional old qvevris buried in the cellar, with a fully natural approach—native yeasts, no additives. The wines are often crafted in the Imeretian style, with around 15% skin contact during fermentation.

More about Archil Guniava →