Region
Imereti, situated along the upper reaches of the Rioni River, is one of the most diverse regions in Georgia, with a constantly changing topography. Winemaking has been practiced in the region for millennia and the traditional Imeretian method of utilizing kvevri is still widely used today. Archil Guniava Wine Cellar is located in the western area of Imereti, close to the banks of the Kvirila River and the industrial town of Zestafoni. This part of the region sits on a massive slab of limestone, covered by a thick layer of clay. During the Soviet occupation, there was little investment into the wineries and many vineyards fell into a state of disrepair.
Vineyard
These family vineyards sit at 300 masl, just south of the Kvirila River. Proximity to the river keeps the warm, humid air from the Black Sea from causing excessive mildew and rot. The vineyards sit on rich deposits of clay, with limestone underneath and are always dry-farmed. The gnarly old vines here are bush-trained for the most part, some standing over 6 feet high, with the grapes shielded from the heat of the day by a generous canopy.
Varieties
The three main white grape varieties are used in this exciting blend. Krakhuna is a thin-skinned, high acid variety known for its freshness. The thicker-skinned Tsitska is also nervy and acidic, but with more richness and slightly more viscosity than Krakhuna. Tsolikouri is the most widely-planted of the three and has much more weight than the other two. It has thick skins and loose bunches, making it resistant to many of the fungal diseases that afflict Krakhuna and Tsitska, but it ripens much later and thus is in danger of frost.