Oda Family Marani

Oda Family Marani: From Hazelnuts to Vines

Established in 1933, Oda Family Marani is housed in a traditional wooden Georgian home, one of the oldest in Martvili. Originally founded by Parten Gagua and Olgha Gegia, the winery saw a revival in 2016 when their great-grandson, Zaza Gagua, along with his wife Keto and their two daughters, returned to transform the family estate. They replaced hazelnut plantations with vineyards, planting organic Ojaleshi grapes sourced from local vineyards and utilizing newly buried Kvevris for fermentation.

Keto Ninidze, a journalist with experience in organic winemaking in Germany, played a pivotal role in establishing this family winery.

Reviving Samegrelo's Winemaking Tradition

Oda Family Winery, in collaboration with Vino Martville, has revitalized the terroir-focused winemaking traditions of Samegrelo. Their efforts have put this region on the map as a notable winemaking destination, contributing to the growth of wine tourism in Samegrelo. In 2018, Oda expanded its vineyard by planting ancient Megrelian and Abkhazian grape varieties, including Chvitiluri, Koloshi, Dudghushi, Lakvazhi, and Ashugazhi, alongside Ojaleshi.

Crafting Exceptional Wines

At Oda, wine production takes place in open-air maranis, where they focus on rare Megrelian, Lechkhumian, and Rachan grape varieties. The winery adheres to ethical and organic farming practices, avoiding chemical fertilizers and systematic treatments. Their philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention, resulting in wines that are free from additives and unfiltered, with only small amounts of sulfur used when necessary. Keto began bottling wines in 2016, initially selling locally before expanding to the USA in 2017.