Igavi Wines, Mgaloblishvili, 2023

£31.40

Light, pale-hued red from very old Mgaloblishvili vines in Lechkhumi, fermented with a short maceration and aged in qvevri; bottled unfined, unfiltered, with no added SO2. Floral and tea-tinged, fresh and delicate.

Darjeeling tea
hibiscus
rosehip

At a glance

Producer: Igavi Wines
Region: Lechkhumi
Grape: Mgaloblishvili
Vintage: 2023
Country: Georgia
Wine type: Red
Size: 75.0cl
Farming: Organic — practising

Taste profile

Body: Light
Acidity: High
Tannin: Low
Sweetness: Dry

What to eat with it

mushroom khachapuri
roast beet salad with walnuts
grilled trout
herbed roast chicken

How to serve it

Serve: Cellar temperature (14–16°C)

Why Cave selected it

Rare native Georgian variety from century-old vines, made without additives in traditional qvevri; a distinctive, graceful red with tea-and-floral nuances.

About the wine

The vineyard sits at 530 meters above sea level, with vines that are at least 120 years old. The grapes undergo whole-bunch maceration for two weeks in open fermenters before ageing in qvevri for nine months. Unfiltered, unfined and zero sulphur added. A beautiful pale salmon colour this wine is super expressive with notes of tea and hibiscus shining through.

About Igavi Wines

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.

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