Manavi Wine Region

Manavi is a famous wine sub-region in the Kakheti wine region of Georgia. It is a Protected Denomination of Origin(PDO) wine that is mainly produced from the Mtsvane grape variety. This grape is cultivated and protected in the Manavi micro-zone. The wine has a light straw colour with greenish shades and a bright, lively taste. This fruity wine has a soft, crisp texture and pleasant acidity. The wine is best served with seafood (fish, seafood, etc) and vegetables. With the old wine-making culture and amazing nature, Manavi is one of the favourite places for wine lovers to visit in the Kakheti wine region.

Where is the Manavi Wine region?

Manavi is located in Kakheti wine region, which is part of the Sagarejo municipality of Georgia. This place is surounded with the Gombori Mountains and it not too far from the capital city Tbilisi. Wine lovers can travel from Tbilisi to Manavi by car in around 1 hours.

The History of Manavi Wine Region

The settlement of Manavi and its fortress gained special importance during the formation of the Kakheti principality. After the formation of the Kingdom of Kakheti, Manavi was mainly considered a royal estate. The village and its surroundings were ruled by the king's servants. During the reign of Erekle II, there were Circassian sons who, over time, appropriated a part of Manavi's serf estate, which caused misunderstandings with the royal court. Avalishvili also owned serfs in Manavi. In addition to this, the church also owned serfs, fields and vineyards in Manavi, and there were royal lands as well. Before hostilities, both the Kakheti and Kartli-Kakheti armies gathered near Manavi. In the early years of 1748, Erekle gathered "Kakhni Kai with some Sagarejo and some Manavi troops", and in 1796, Otar Amilakhor summoned him here with his entire command.

The Terroir of Manavi Wine Region

The favourable geographical environment of the wine region created good conditions for the development of many branches of agriculture, including viticulture and winemaking. Brown soils with their subtypes and variations and alluvial-proluvial soils are separated in this microzone.

Climate is moderately humid with moderately cold winters and warm long summers.

In the microzone, the annual duration of sunlight is within 2100-2200 hours, and in the vegetation period, it is equal to 1650 hours. The annual amount of total radiation is 120-130 kcal/cm2. The annual radiation balance is equal to 50-52 kcal/cm2.

Grape Varieties and Wines from Manavi

The most famous grape varieties from the Manavi wine region are Kakhuri Mtsvane and Rkatsiteli grapes. Mtsvane Kakhuri grapes are used to make white Georgian wines. They're named after their yellowish-greenish colouring and are often blended with Rkatsiteli grapes, to create a fruity and aromatic drink. In the Georgian language,,Mtsvane’’ means green colour.

Wine "Manavi" is a high-quality white dry wine of controlled origin. This wine is made from Kakhuri Mtsvane grapes. It is allowed to use up to 15% Rkatsiteli grapes.

"Manavi" wine is characterized by light straw colour to straw colour, with a greenish hue, the taste is gentle, harmonious, refined, and cheerful. With fruity tones, varietal aroma developed bouquet.

Food to Pair with Manavi Wine

Mtsvadi and Shotis Puri

Mtsvadi is a Georgian dish made with pieces of meat threaded onto a skewer and grilled or roasted over an open flame. Grilled meats such as ground pork, lamb, or veal typically get marinated in a mixture of lemon juice, pomegranate juice, tarragon and salt. Chefs often use onion which is chopped so that the meat remains moist and tender. Mtsvadi is typically cooked near an open fire and can also be served with various sauces, onion rings, sliced tomatoes, and pomegranates.

Georgian bread is made with whole wheat flour, salt, water and yeast. Sometimes bread can get too warm and must be cooled down before it is sold, so as to last as long as possible. Wooden racks are usually used for that purpose since they can help with the cooling process by absorbing heat from the bread

Khashlama

Georgian Khashlama is a traditional dish from the Caucasus region made with minced meat. Despite being time-consuming, the dish is pretty simple to make - chunks of beef, veal or lamb are just boiled in a pot of hot water. This classic dish often only consists of meat and a few spices, so the boiled meat is the star of the dish. Because of this, khashlama contains only the finest meat cuts available.

The Eastern European dish is widely believed to have originated in the Georgian city of Kakheti. It is known locally as pkhali and eaten all over the country. It's unclear where it originates from, but there are disputes over its origins. Georgian Khashlama traditionally takes hours on an open fire until the meat is fork-tender. It is commonly flavored with onions, garlic, bay leaves, and pepper. Eggs are traditionally served on special occasions in Georgia. The dish is usually part of a supra, a traditional Georgian dish.

Chakapuli

This Georgian dish typically features meat, plums, and herbs, such as tarragon, coriander, and garlic. It's usually seasoned with salt. It is popular in the spring when plums are still not ripe. Throughout Easter, one traditional Georgian dish that is served hot is Chakapuli, a pomegranate wine sauce. It is best paired with your favourite bread. Goes well with Manavi wine.

Places to Visit near Manavi Wine Region

Manavi Fortress

The fortress in Garekakheti, near Manavi village of Sagarejo municipality, is on a high mountain. Here was one of the centres of the last period of feudal Kakheti. Despite its high location, the castle is not inaccessible. Naturally, the West is the most protected side. Protection from the rest of the sides was mainly carried out by the walls.

St. Virgin Mary parish of Didi Chailuri

Virgin Mary Church is a historical landmark in the region of Kvemo Kartli and it's located in the village of Dashbashi. The local Armenian population built the church in the 19th century, on the ruins of the old Georgian church.

The church has been long destroyed and only the apse is left. The church is a three-sided building with an apse on one of the corners. A part of the roof is missing, but construction is still going on at the house. The new west wing has been added and there are no openings to the north anymore. There are inscriptions on the church that have not survived till now. The ancient stone with an inscription was found in the churchyard. Locals are restoring a lot of old architecture and building stones all over the city. They often store these pieces in garages or on property that is adjacent to where they live

Chailuri Fortress

Chailuri Castle was built in the 16th century and served as an entrance to Iori Valley. Together with Manavi Fortress it was used to protect against any enemy attacks.

This monument is also important because, in the neighborhood of this fortress, in 1801, a historic battle known as the last war of independent Georgia occurred.

The castle appears much more like its original shape after restoration work was completed under Parmen Zakaria. This work was followed by changes under the Ministry of Culture in the 20th century, but these didn't affect the appearance too much.

The castle has an irregular pentagonal ground plan. The corners of each side are enclosed by towers with battlements and gun ports. In the prison yard, there are traces of a square building that used to be there. The fence is surrounded by gun ports that you can see from outside.

Frequently Asked Questions About Manavi Wine Region