Georgian Wine

Pheasant's Tears | Kisi | Qvevri Amber Wine | Kakheti, Republic of Georgia | 2024 | Organic

Pheasant's Tears is one of Georgia's most celebrated natural wine producers, founded by Gela Patalishvili — an 8th-generation winemaker from the Kakheti region — and John Wurdeman, an American painter who fell in love with Georgia and its ancient wine culture in 1998. Together, they have dedicated themselves to preserving and reviving Georgia's extraordinary 8,000-year-old winemaking heritage, farming around ten indigenous grape varieties without pesticides or herbicides and vinifying everything in qvevri — traditional clay amphorae buried in the earth, used in Georgia since the Neolithic era.

Kisi is a rare and ancient Georgian white grape variety grown almost exclusively in the Kakheti region, in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. At Pheasant's Tears, it is vinified in the traditional Georgian manner: fermented and aged in qvevri with extended skin maceration of six months — producing what Georgians call an "amber wine" and the rest of the world has come to know as "orange wine." The result is a wine of extraordinary depth, texture, and complexity that has no real equivalent in the conventional wine world.

The 2024 Kisi is deep amber-gold in the glass. The nose is captivating — dried apricot, quince, honey, beeswax, dried flowers, and a hint of walnut, with an earthy, almost ancient quality that speaks directly to the qvevri. On the palate, unusually powerful structure with grippy, polished tannins — rare in a white wine — balanced by bright acidity and a long, complex, spiced finish. Not aggressive, but deeply serious. A wine that transports you elsewhere entirely.

Made from certified organic grapes. Pair with spiced lamb, charcuterie, aged Parmesan, old Comté, washed-rind cheeses, roasted root vegetables, and dishes with Middle Eastern or Caucasian spice profiles.

• Producer: Pheasant's Tears
• Grape: Kisi
• Style: Qvevri Amber Wine (Orange Wine)
• Region: Kakheti, Republic of Georgia
• Vintage: 2024
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Vinification: Fermented and aged in qvevri (buried clay amphorae); 6-month skin maceration
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Anapea Village Kisi Pet Nat 2024 · Kakheti, Georgia

Winemaker Description

Kisi is one of the indigenous varietals native to the Republic of Georgia. Petnat, also known as “Petulant Natural Method Ancestral”, is the original sparkling wine. This Kisi is farmed in a biodynamic, regenerative vineyard planted over a dried up river bed.

The fruit is hand harvested and the wine is skin contact macerated in qvevri. Qvevris are amphorae buried in the ground to control their temperature. Once the wine has finished its maceration and is still undergoing spontaneous, wild yeast fermentation, it is bottled prematurely without additives and allowed to finish its fermentation in the bottle.

This Kisi has fine bubbles, is dry and textured from skin contact, with crisp green apple and pear aromas and flavors. A fabulous alternative to Champagne.

Producer

Anapea Village Kisi Pet-Nat 2024 is a vibrant, natural sparkling wine from the Kakheti region of Georgia. Crafted by winemaker Khatia Darguashvili, this wine is a “Pétillant Naturel” (naturally sparkling) made from the indigenous Kisi grape, utilizing ancient Georgian techniques adapted for a modern, bubbly style.

Winemaker Description 

Light amber, golden hue, with a pronounced varietal aroma and taste. Characterized by aromas of ripe quince, jams and dried fruits. The wine is harmonious, balanced with tannins and acidity.

The Marnaveli Kisi-Khikhvi Amber Wine 2023 is a traditional Georgian "orange" or skin-contact wine produced in the Kakheti region. This wine is crafted using the ancient Qvevri method—fermenting and aging the grapes in large, beeswax-lined clay vessels buried underground.

Has a long ending. Ideal for dried apricots and figs. Churchkhela, cheese and honey, as well as seafood and white meat. 

Pheasant's Tears | Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane | Tibaani | Qvevri Amber Wine | Kakheti, Republic of Georgia | 2024 | Organic

Pheasant's Tears is one of Georgia's most celebrated natural wine producers, founded by Gela Patalishvili — an 8th-generation winemaker from the Kakheti region — and John Wurdeman, an American painter who fell in love with Georgia and its ancient wine culture in 1998. Since 2007, they have farmed their vineyards with minimal intervention, using wild yeasts and traditional qvevri winemaking to best showcase the extraordinary terroir of Kakheti. The name comes from an old Georgian tale claiming that only the best wine could make a pheasant cry.

Tibaani is a sub-zone of Kakheti, in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, where the ancient Georgian grape varieties Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane have been cultivated for millennia. This blend of the two varieties is vinified in the traditional Georgian manner: fermented and aged in qvevri — traditional clay amphorae buried in the earth — with a full month of skin maceration, producing a wine of remarkable depth, texture, and complexity. The wine is unfiltered and unfined, allowing for natural sedimentation in the bottle.

The 2024 is deep golden in the glass. The nose offers honey blossom, dried apricot, quince, and a hint of walnut, with an earthy, ancient quality that speaks directly to the qvevri and the land. On the palate, full-bodied and dry with a nutty, textured richness, bright acidity, and a long, complex finish. A wine of genuine character that transports you to the cradle of wine civilization.

Made from certified organic grapes. Pair with roasted meats, spiced lamb, charcuterie, aged hard cheeses, washed-rind cheeses, and dishes with Caucasian or Middle Eastern spice profiles. Decant before serving; a little sedimentation is natural and expected.

• Producer: Pheasant's Tears
• Grapes: Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane
• Sub-zone: Tibaani, Kakheti, Republic of Georgia
• Style: Qvevri Amber Wine (Orange Wine)
• Vintage: 2024
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Vinification: Fermented and aged in qvevri (buried clay amphorae); 1-month skin maceration; unfiltered & unfined
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Winemaker Description 

Rkatsiteli aged in oak has very complex and interesting aromatic profile. The citrus, green apple, flowery aromas add freshness to the wine, while secondary aromas derived from oak aging add vanilla, caramel and toasted notes. 

White dry wine made according to European rules from Kakheti region. Is made from Rkatsiteli grape variety. Has a light straw color, pronounced varietal aroma and taste. Characterized by citrus, wildflower and pineapple aromas. A cheerful, gentle wine with a light finish, balanced in acidity and alcohol.

Anapea Village Mtsvane Orange Wine 2020 · Kakheti, Georgia

Winemaker Description

Anapea Village Qarvani produces Natural Wines exclusively using Georgian traditional methods. The winery uses 2 sets of Qvevris for both fermentation (6 months on skins) and aging. All farming is organic and biodynamic and the winery is a member, and strict adherent, of the Georgia Natural Wine Association.

Mouth is soft and rich with well expressed aromas of white cherry jam, ripe tropical fruits backed by lively acidity and long finish. Velvety bouquet, velvety fruit tones.

Memo Summary Notes

The Anapea Village Mtsvane 2020 is a traditional Georgian “Amber” (orange) wine produced in the Kvareli micro-zone of Kakheti. Winemaker Khatia Darguashvili is renowned for her strict adherence to ancient methods, producing wines that are essentially “time capsules” of Georgian history.

It is bone-dry with a “crunchy” texture. You’ll find notes of yellow plum, citrus zest, and tropical guava, balanced by the firm, tea-like tannins derived from the long skin contact.

Details

• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Region: Kakheti, Georgia
• Grape: Mtsvane
• Type: Orange Wine
• Farming: Organic, Biodynamic