The grapes come from Kakheti, Georgia’s most important wine region, where Ilia Estate is based in Kvareli.
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Location / Origin: Kvareli is located in the east of Kakheti, a region where the Caucasus Mountains and the valleys of the Alazani and Iori rivers create highly distinct terroirs and microclimates.
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Soil: Part of the wine comes from 25-year-old vines grown in deep blue slate soils. Another part uses grapes from a calcareous vineyard with a distinctly cooler microclimate. It is precisely this combination that gives the cuvée both ripeness and fresh tension.
Ilia Estate bridges traditional Georgian winemaking with a more refined, modern white style by combining different aging methods.
What is a qvevri? A qvevri is a large Georgian earthenware wine vessel that is traditionally buried in the ground and used for fermentation and aging.
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Fermentation & Aging: A portion of the wine is fermented and aged in qvevri, while another part is aged in large 500 L oak barrels. The total aging process lasts 6 months.
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Aging / Oak treatment: The interplay between earthenware and large oak provides extra texture and depth, while the wood remains relatively restrained, allowing the fresh fruit expression plenty of room to shine.
The blend brings together two indigenous white grapes strongly associated with Kakheti.
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Rkatsiteli – Kakheti: Georgia’s most important white grape provides fresh acidity, structure, and notes of apple, citrus, and quince. It forms a sturdy, lively foundation for the cuvée.
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Kisi – Kakheti: This more aromatic local grape adds floral nuances, riper fruit, and extra refinement, giving the wine more fragrance, breadth, and complexity.
