Royal Khvanchkara - Dzelshavi Saperavi

Product information

DZELSHAVI SAPERAVI from ROYAL KHVANCHKARA is made from the local grape varieties Dzelshavi 70% and Saperavi 30%.

This wine has a colour of bright young ruby, mixed with purple. Aromas are perfectly expressed of cherry and cranberry. Although the body is still young and lively, it shows smooth tannins that have yet to find their final expression. The overall flavour is lively and refreshing with a clean finish.

Pairs perfectly with lamb stews, grilled and roasted red and white meats and is an excellent accompaniment to savoury and mature cheeses. Can also be considered as an alternative to bitter, nutty chocolates. Enjoy at 14 oC

ORIGIN OF THE DZELSHAVI

Dzelshavi is an indigenous, widespread grape variety that provides quite good material for making different variations of wines.
In specialised literature sources and among local winegrowers, Dzelshavi is also known as Dzvelshavi.
There are quite independent grape varieties known as "Ortliche Dzvelshavi", which are grown in the north-eastern part of Upper Imereti (Sachkhere district).
Dzelshavi is a local grape variety in western Georgia that comes from the Kolkheti grape family. With its morphological and agricultural characteristics, it is close to the Imereti grape varieties and, together with them, belongs to the Prol. Pontica subprol. Georgica Negr.
At present, this grape variety is widespread in Central and Upper Imeretia. Based on linguistic analyses, acad. Iv. Javakhishvili considers Dzelshavi to be one of the old grape varieties of Georgia.
According to him, in the distant past, around the 5th century (AD), the word "Dzeli" meant standing (living) tree, while the second part of the word "Shavi" expressed the brownish colour of the annual shoots of the vine. Then "Dzeli" changed its meaning to "log" (cut tree) and is used in this connotation today.
This is why the name Dzelshavi is used to indicate and express the colouring of the annual shoots, as is the case with Rkatsiteli, for example, which means "reddish-coloured shoot".