Zurab Topuridze
Iberieli Wine Cellar
Dublatsikhe, Guria
Iberieli Wine Cellar is a family winery run by Zurab Topuridze who first started making wine 40 years ago in his grandfathers Marani and also at home in his garage. The name Iberieli – which was chosen by Zurab’s children – refers to the ancient people in the Caucasus’ who made wine over 8000 years ago, these people later became Georgians and are believed to be the inventors of kvevri winemaking. The family’s aim is to maintain the authentic tradition of Kvevri wine making in Georgia by also utilizing an old Satsnakheli for crushing at their Marani in Guria.
Zurab has been involved in vineyard farming and making natural wines from childhood when he used to help his granddad. He was 13 years old when he made my first natural wine on his own. His winery is in the village of Dablatsikhe (English translation “Lower Castle”), which is located in Chokhatauri municipality of Guria region. Guria region is located in the western part of Georgia, bordered by the Black Sea subtropical costal lowlands to the west and the mountains in the east. The region is rich in cultural traditions and natural beauty, famous for its polyphonic music, humorous people, and used to be wellknown for its delicious rose-hued wines.
When Zurab got married to Tamar to a native of Dablatsikhe, he bought small house in the village and sufficient land for viticulture, and started planting and reinstating the variety that his grandfather loved so much. This was Chkhaveri, a rare late-ripening variety, native to Guria region, making rosé-style wines. He makes natural wines in underground 319vevris with a total capacity of around 13 tonnes (22 terracotta vessels in total). The vineyard itself is four hectares, planted on the terraced slopes of River Supsa valley, on the reddish brown clay over lime with lots of magnesium and iron in the soil.
Zurab has two vineyards, the first is located in the village of Sakvavistke in Guria. It is 10HA planted to Chkhaveri, Jani, Skhilatubani, Mtevandidi, Sakmiela, Tetri Kamuri & Tsolikouri in 2002. The soil is basalt based loam. The second is located in the village of Tsinandali in the Teliani municipality in Kakheti. It is 5HA planted to Rkatsiteli, Rkatsiteli Vardisperi, Kakhuri Mtsvane, Kakhuri Mtsvivani Kisi, Khikhvi & Saperavi in 2015. The soil is alluvial with riverstone and limestone.