The history of Khvanchkara wine began centuries ago. The oldest methods of Rachan winemaking were perfected in the 19th century with the help of Rachian nobles Dimitri and Luarsab Kipiani, which is how the well-known Kipiani Wine was created, nowadays known as Khvanchkara.
The main challenge for the Royal Khvanchkara wine company was the revival of the rich culture of Rachan winemaking and the preservation of the knowledge and experience which had been gained throughout the years. The company now honorably continues that unique tradition. Vineyards planted on carefully selected areas and thoroughly cared for, sophisticated technology and professionalism makes up the secret of Royal Khvanchkara’s fine and velvety wine.
The History
Racha, Western region of Georgia, is an exceptional place in the history of Georgian vini- and viticulture. Over the centuries, the Rachans worked to perfect their vine varieties as well as the methods of vine cultivation and wine-making. It is believed that the ancestor of Khvanchkara wine, Kolkhuri Tkbili, and other aromatic wines were well-known in Greek Homer’s times.
The renaissance of Rachan winemaking is connected with the names of Rachan nobels Konstantine and Kaikhosro Kipiani. In the 1870s, the two gathered together all ancient local traditions of wine-making and vine cultivation and started to make the legendary Kipiani Wine from Aleksandrouli grapes.
Their wine soon gained a reputation not only in western Georgia, but throughout the Russian Empire. Experts compared Kipiani Wine with Burgundy wines for its velvet and tender taste.
Dimitri and Luarsab Kipiani, founders of Khvanchkara wine variety, further perfected and enriched the technology. Thanks to their efforts, the wine entered the international market in 1897 and won the Grand Prix at the international wine exhibition in Ostend, Belgium, in 1907.
Kipiani Wine was renamed Khvanchkara by the newly established Soviet power with the purpose of hiding the achievements and success of the aristocratic family.
To increase production at the summer residence of the Imeretian kings, a new wine factory was built in Ambrolauri, Racha, in 1929-1947. The new facility produced 300,000 bottles of Rachan and Lekhkhuman wines each year.
In 2001, a new winery opened on the grounds of the Ambrolauri wine factory, but until 2015, the volume of production was small.
The Wine
The company Royal Khvanchkara produces premium wines from five select grape varieties grown in its vineyards – Khvanchkara, Usakhelauri, Aleksandrouli, Ojaleshi and Tvishi. Recently, the company added to the list two exceptional wines: Royal Reserve Khvanchkara and Royal Reserve Usakhelauri.
Royal Reserve Khvanchkara is made from a distinguished grape variety grown in the best vineyards of Sadmeli village in the Racha viticulture area. It has been bottled in a limited amount of just 200 bottles.
Royal Reserve Usakhelauri is made from a distinguished grape variety grown in the best vineyards of Okureshi village in a specific zone of the Lechkhumi mountainous viticulture area. It has also been bottled in a limited amount of just 200 bottles.
The Winemaker
The winemaker of the Royal Khvanchkara company is Lado Uzunashvili, a professional acknowledged worldwide who has been working in the industry since 1987. Wines created by him have won more than 150 golden medals at various global contests. Lado Uzunashvili makes for Royal Khvanchkara wine of classic Georgian character, uniting centuries-old traditions of Rachan winemaking with modern technologies.
