Gaioz Sopromadze Wine Cellar

Baghdati, Imereti

Gaioz Sopromadze was the first person to bottle natural wine in Georgia, shortly after the communist regime ended. His family have been making wine for the past 115 years but Gaioz was the first to start experimenting by varying amount of time on skins and making lighter, brighter styles by blending red with white varieties.

Winemaking tradition has been passed down through the generations and it is only Gaioz who has begun experimenting in winemaking utilizing less skin contact in white and red wines plus blending the two looking for lighter and brighter wines. The family has always practiced natural winemaking in that the vineyards have never been sprayed and the wines are made without any additions whatsoever. Interestingly, Gaioz was the first person to bottle a natural wine in Georgia just after the communist regime dissipated.

The vineyards have sandy clay topsoils and a gravelly limestone subsoil. Situated by the town of Baghdati in Imereti 200m above sea level, the vines have been naturally farmed (never treated with chemicals) and gained organic status in 2010. Current plantings are 30-45 years old Tsolikouri, Tsitska, Krakhuna, Dzelshavi & Chkhaveri. The marani is next to the vineyard and has 14 kvevri in total. They range from 180 to 1700 litres, with the oldest over 200 years old! Wines are bottled unfined, unfiltered with no additions, so you may find some sediment.

Gaioz was also one of the first winemakers in Georgia to bottle the versatile and delicious grape variety Chkhaveri and today works closely with his sons, Lasha and Guram to continue passing wine knowledge through the generations.