Nikalas Marani Rkatsiteli Amber 2020

Zurab Mgvdliashvili's grandfather Nikala already built a small marani and cultivated wine in 1928 in Kardenakhi on the right bank of the Alazani river. At that time, Soviet trains were still running in Kakheti and the property was in the centre of the village directly opposite of the railway station. The ravages of time didn't stop there either, only a ruin of the station still reminds of the old times... When Zurab took over the property in 2005, not much more was left than the old foundation. As a tribute to his grandfather and the long family tradition he restored everything in loving detail and kept the old name, Nikala's Marani. He bought up small vineyards in first-class locations, until he was able to dedicate himself completely to wine production. Despite the constantly growing demand for his wines, he only wants to grow to the point where he can still control everything himself, because otherwise it would no longer be the wine pressed by his own hands. Up to 10,000 bottles of wine are produced annually on a 5 hectare area. He also has vineyards in the surrounding villages and cultivates biologically without artificial irrigation. I was lucky enough to meet him at the grape harvest in autumn 2019 as someone who presses the grapes himself in the wine press at noon, talks to me about Bacchus and the world in the evening, and the next morning he is already working concentrated at his laptop doing classic business. Nikala's Marani is a proud member of the Natural Wine Association and Zurab himself is the director of this association of currently over 80 natural wine producers. This is a big responsibility, both in terms of content and time: every day he is in contact with other winemakers who seek his organisational advice, because he also acts as a representative of everyone.

You can find more information about Nikala's Marani on the information page https://www.winesgeorgia.com/site/domaine/nikalas-marani