Vinono

Inner Kartli

The vineyard is in the village of Ateni in Upper Kartli, 650m above sea level. It is planted to 32 year old Tavkveri vines and the soil is silt & clay

Mariam’s grandfather used to own small vineyards in the area of Tbilisi and made wine for the family. Her great grandfather used to own a vineyard in Racha and made wine all his life. Although there was a long history of wine in her family, her interest and desire to make wine began when she started to work for a wine tourism company cofounded by John Wurdemann of Pheasant’s Tears. He along with the founding members of the Natural Wine Association mentored her down a winemaking path. She spent nights drinking and exploring wine, talking to winemakers and reading books including the notes of Ilia Chavchavadze from the 19th Century. But it was the offer from her uncle in 2014 to use one of the qvevris at his marani that allowed Mariam to take the leap from dreamer to winemaker.