2019 Askaneli Author's Collection Saperavi Premium, Kakheti, Georgia

Made from 100% Saperavi, Georgia’s deeply colored and full-bodied native red grape, this full-bodied wine shows black plum, blackberry and black pepper layered with oak and savory depth. Bright acidity gives definition to the concentrated dark fruit, while rich tannins lead into a long, velvety finish. Saperavi’s naturally high acidity and tannin provide substantial structure beneath the concentrated black fruit, giving the wine both power and freshness and a distinctly Georgian expression and a natural match for braised meats, wild mushrooms and other rich fall dishes. 

Askaneli is entirely family-owned and managed by brothers Gocha, Jimsher and Zurab Chkhaidze, who founded the company in 1998 to revive the winemaking legacy of their 19th-century ancestor Antimoz Chkhaidze, whose original wine cellar and qvevri date to 1880. Music is also an important part of the Chkhaidze family heritage: their mother is a professional composer, and the girl playing a harp featured in Askaneli’s original label and brand imagery was created specifically in her honor, reflecting the family’s deep personal connection to music alongside its generations-long connection to Georgian wine. However, they recently updated their label and reserve the harp label for specifically limited bottlings and now showcase the Secretary Bird - In traditional Georgian iconography, birds frequently appear on medieval stone carvings, bas-reliefs, and royal crests. They symbolize harmony, peace, and noble heritage, echoing the family's deep-rooted connection to the ancient, magical village of Askana in Guria. Today, the brothers carry both traditions forward while championing native Georgian grapes such as Saperavi.