Igavi Wines, Mgaloblishvili, 2023

Igavi Wines was founded by Aidan Raftery, a Brit who made his way to Georgia after spending time in New Zealand and Oz. Before settling in Western Georgia, Aidan worked for 18 years as a somm and restaurateur. He sources grapes from vineyards he discovers in Imereti and Lechkhumi, alongside producing wine from his own vineyard, planted in 1954. The name "Igavi" is drawn from a Georgian folk tale that resonated with Aidan during his first visit to the country. The winery is located in the village of Zeindari in the Imereti region, where Aidan grows many native varietals. Following regional traditions, most of the grapes are destemmed before fermentation, and there is typically less skin contact than in other Georgian winemaking areas.