Saperavi (Sah-per-RAV-ee)

Very old Georgian variety. It’s name means “dye”—a reference to the dark color of the grape’s skins which immediately turn their white juice pink. The most widely planted grape in Georgia today and widely planted in the former Soviet Union. Makes rich, darkly-colored, full bodied savory dry wines. Some producers ferment the wines in the traditional manner, underground in qvevri, large clay vessels which look like amphora without handles.