Perpetuo Saperavi

Region: Kakheti Region, Georgia

Grapes: Saperavi

Type: Red dry wine

Unique features: Kakheti production technology

Alcohol content: 13.9 %

Optimal serving temperature: 18°С

Ageing potential: 20 years

 

 

Description

Perpetuo wine is a project courtesy of Code de Vino magazine. Project wine is a branch of winemaking focusing on specific regions and traditions of the world. It relies upon the best experiences of wine production stemming from local climate conditions, as well as the historical and cultural background of an area.

 

Benefits

Perpetuo means «eternal,» thus, Perpetuo wine is a «wine that prolongs your life.» It is a magical elixir made according to traditional Kakhetian technology, unique for this region of Georgia.

Perpetuo wine is made from the best grapes of Georgia, selected by the most skilled experts. The most well-known specialist of the team is Givi Chagelishvili, an acclaimed and respected expert from Georgia, who used to produce wine special for Stalin, Frunze, and others.

Perpetuo wine is made with carefully selected Saperavi, aged in clay qvevri according to the specifications outlined by the lead expert of Code de Vino in Georgian wines. The wine is stored in jars made from environmentally friendly clay, does not contain any additives or preservatives, and the fermentation method is not artificially accelerated. The resulting wine is a product of pure nature.

 

Tradition

The Saperavi vineyards for Perpetuo are located in the mountain area of Gorielebi, an area where the laws of consecrated geometry apply. This area was chosen as an ideal zone of wine production back in the 3,500 BC. A large number of clay wine vessels of various shapes and sizes have been discovered here, as well as twigs of vines wrapped in silver leaves. This signifies that as early as 3,500 BC, the culture of winemaking was very influential here, and the grape was a cult object.

 

Vineyards

The lands of the vineyard are extremely fertile, which exempts them from the need of any mineral fertilizers, but more importantly, the microclimate here is dry.

The vineyards are situated in a gorge with a constant weak wind blowing, providing for the fast evaporation of any humidity, and protecting the land from mold and fungi. This allows producers to reduce the amount of targeted sprays and treatments to a minimum, which is simply impossible in other vineyards.

It is also worth mentioning that Saperavi Perpetuo is made only from selected grapes, without the addition of any unnecessary wine materials.

Thanks to the special microclimate of the area, the sugar content of the grape is consistently high (combined with a high acidity), and the level of residual sugar is controlled by early harvesting starting by the end of August.

 

Terroir

The soil here contains rocks, sand, and carbonates. These aspects help combat excess humidity, leading to a reduced harvest volume, but increased mineral content and superior quality.

Perhaps, this is the key factor of making a great wine in Georgia: low-humidity Saperavi with just the right amount of sugar, extractivity, and pigmentation.

 

Winemaker

As counterintuitive as it may sound, carbonate soil, which is a key factor for cultivating Saperavi, does not guarantee high-quality ageing and storage processes.

Today, in an age where many winemakers stop at nothing to reduce the price of their wine and get more wine material, Perpetuo is truly one of a kind. Its quality is assured by the name of the most experienced expert in Georgia—Givi Chagelishvili—who used to personally select wine for Stalin. As an invited consultant, he has made significant contributions to the production of Perpetuo wine. Every year, a new winemaker is chosen for Perpetuo to maintain its uniqueness and original character.

 

Taste

Any wine aged in qvevri has a distinct taste and aroma. The color of the wine is ruby red, has a particularly intense taste, and is rich in notes of ripe dried fruits. It is in perfect harmony paired with cheese, yet is also great during lunch or just by itself.

 

Enogastronomic combinations

This wine reveals itself in different ways depending on how it is served: with a full meal or just appetizers. It is true that traditionally this wine has been served at abundant Georgian feasts, but you can see it in a completely different light if you let it play the key role on your table.

 

Serving

We recommend opening the bottle 30 minutes prior to serving.