Tsolikouri Qvevri (Georgian Republic)
The Tsolikouri grape is well-suited for both stainless-steel fermentation and qvevri winemaking.
In its amber or qvevri form, it transforms into a bold, textural wine suited to rich, earthy dishes.
Tsolikouri Qvevri Flavors
Tsolikouri Qvevri has a lively nose of dried yellow fruits, ripe quince, walnut and exotic spices:
 Melon |
 Apple |
 Quince |
 Dried Fruit |
 Honey |
 Walnut |
 Tea Leaves |
 Spices |
Tsolikouri Qvevri Profile
Tsolikouri Qvevri is full-bodied, structured, with light tannins and earthy undertones:
| SUGAR: | Dry (3 g/l) |
| BODY: | Full |
| TANNINS: | Medium - Low |
| FRUIT: | Medium - High |
| ACIDITY: | Medium |
| ALCOHOL: | 13-14% ABV |
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Serving temperature: 12-14°C (54-57°F) |
Tsolikouri Qvevri Food Pairing
 Finger Food |
 Grilled Vegetables |
 Mushroom Soup |
 Wrap |
 Pork |
 Duck |
 Chicken |
 Cheese |
Excellent Pairings
Roast Chicken or Duck with Herbs.
Mushroom dishes.
Grilled mushrooms.
Onions. Garlic.
Chicken and Poultry in Creamy Sauce.
Pork and Veal in Creamy Sauce.
Hazelnuts. Cashew. Pecans. Coconut.
Aged and Nutty Cheeses.
Georgian Specialities
Chicken in Bazhe sauce
Bazhe (Walnut sauce dishes).
Eggplant with Walnut paste.
Chanakhi (Lamb and vegetable stew).
The Ideal Glass for Tsolikouri Qvevri
The Chardonnay Glass was designed for enjoying full-bodied white wines. They have a wider bowl and a tapered top to enhance the buttery and oaky notes found in aged wines.
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The wide bowl steers the wine to the sensitive parts of the tongue, ensuring that the acidity creates a harmonious balance with the sweet aromas of the wine. The wide bowl allows the full bouquet of aromas to develop. It also reduces the risk for over-concentrated aromas. |
Tsolikouri Qvevri Cheese Pairing
Brie or Camembert
These creamy, rich cheeses complement the full, round mouthfeel of a full-bodied Tsolikouri Qvevri. The buttery flavors in both the wine and the cheese enhance each other beautifully.
Gruyère and Comté
The nutty, slightly sweet flavors of these cheeses pair well with the complex fruit and oak characteristics of a full-bodied white wine. The firm cheese texture adds a pleasant contrast to the richness of the wine.
Munster And Époisses
A rich and pungent washed-rind cheese provides a bold contrast to the refinement of a full-bodied Tsolikouri Qvevri.
Aged Gouda
Aged Gouda, with its caramel and butterscotch notes, matches the depth and complexity of a full-bodied Tsolikouri Qvevri. The wine’s acidity helps balance the cheese’s rich flavors.Havarti
The creamy and mild flavor of Havarti pairs well with the rich and buttery texture of a full-bodied Tsolikouri Qvevri, making for a delightful and balanced pairing.
Aged Cheeses
The crystalline texture and savory, nutty flavor of aged chesses will complement the undertones of a full-bodied Tsolikouri Qvevri.
If You Like Tsolikouri Qvevri
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Georgian Grapes
Tsolikouri
About Tsolikouri
Tsolikouri is a white grape variety native to the Imereti district of Georgia.
It is one of the most prominent and respected white grapes from Western Georgia. It produces elegant, structured wines and has a long-standing reputation in Georgian viticulture.
Nearly 90% of vineyards in western Georgia grow Tsolikauri.
Regions
Tsolikouri is indigenous to the Imereti region in Western Georgia, where it thrives in clay-limestone and alluvial soils, on hillsides with good drainage.
The grape likes humid subtropical climate with warm, wet summers and mild winters.
Fun Facts
According to former Soviet statesman Molotov, Tsolikouri was one of favorite wines of Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin.