Now it is difficult to say when I had the idea to make wine. Did I realize it as a life’s work or just as a potential earning opportunity? I can definitely say that it was my dream.
My name is David Dzagania — I am the creator of the Etiquette brand.
How it all began
A schoolboy from Tbilisi dreamed of a lot, and a lot of things came true in his life, but already a long time ago, as an adult, he was not let go of the thought — the thought of how to convey to people what you love so much yourself, how to put into form that precious content that for centuries the inhabitants of the beautiful country of Sakartvelo absorbed and kept in themselves how to tell people about wine…
We believe that wine is not just a drink, it is part of the cultural heritage, it is a history and a way of life. We want to convey to people the aromas, tastes, colors and sounds sent by God and dissolved in wine with the help of the warmth of human hands.
Three people worked on the name and concept of Etiquette: me, my wife Nano and our close friend Nika Kandelaki. The main discussion was around the name. We wanted to put into words the idea that wine is different from other alcoholic beverages, which in itself implies compliance with the rules and regulations for its use, so we came to the word «etiquette». We really liked how it sounds, it has sophistication, but at the same time it is concise and understandable in many languages.
The birth of wine culture and Georgian culture are inseparable. For 8,000 years, wine has been the soul of Georgia, which is why being a wine producer in our country is a huge responsibility. Honoring traditions, multiplying them, taking care of the history and culture of Georgia — all this is an integral part of the Etiquette concept.
Production
We started the production of wine in 2017, and initially this process served as the supply of our family restaurant «Turfa». But in 2019, the current crisis situation forced us to close the restaurant, so we had more time and resources to come to grips with the production of wine. Already in 2019, about 10 tons of grapes of different varieties were made — Khikhvi, Kisi and Saperavi, which is approximately 6500 — 7500 bottles per year.
Today our Etiquette brand is represented by the following types of wines — Khikhvi, Kisi, Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Pinot Noir and Entente.
Wine starts with grapes (more precisely from the ground).
At the time of the start of our business, we did not have our own vineyards, so in 2017 we established long-term relationships with vineyards in Telavi and Kvareli, whose owners have owned and cared for heritage vineyards for many years. Our cooperation continues to this day, we are fully confident that the care of the vineyards is carried out in full accordance with the rules and requirements, and we use the best grapes for making wine.
Our house and the winery itself is located in Telavi, where we spend about four months a year tending the land, grapes and wine.
Also, as soon as the construction work is over, we plan to host guests in order to acquaint them with the peculiarities of wine production.
In 2021, we ourselves have already planted up to 0.15 hectares of Kisi and Khikhvi grape varieties, which will give us the first harvest by 2024. and also in 2024 we plan to plant the vineyards we need on the territory of 1 hectare. These grape varieties are particularly ambitious and require more attention and responsibility in the long run.
We also have a number of small terriers (small plots of land within the winery) that have already been specially bred for the small production of 200 and 300 bottles of signature wines that will likely hit the market in 2025-2027.
At the moment, in the manufacture of wine, we already use about 20% of Saperavi grapes grown with our own hands. We plan to further develop our vineyards, growing 4 grape varieties Kisi, Khikhvi, Rkatsiteli and Saperavi.
On request, we made wine from Pinot Noir grapes in our Kvareli cellar, this wine is presented in the format of a sweet red jug wine and bears the name of our restaurant “Turfa”, and in 2020 we prepared 12 tons of grapes, about 8500 bottles, which gave us more opportunities for reinvestment from sales and investing money and energy in maintaining quality.
By 2025-2026, our winery will be 100% provided with its own grapes.
Now our main short-term goal and task is to organize a wine cellar and provide wine storage technology, which is one of the key points in winemaking. We are also constantly looking for new shades and flavors. In 2019, our wine called Entente was born. This most interesting blend appeared by joint fermentation of three grape varieties — Khikhvi, Kisi and Rkatsiteli.
In 2022, we started producing cognac using the traditional wine spirit method in French oak barrels. The final product will also reach our customers by 2025-2026.
The properties of wine depend on many factors, and primarily on the grape variety and geography. It is worth remembering that Saperavi, grown in Kakheti, and Saperavi, grown, for example, in Bulgaria, are somewhat different grapes. Grapes are very sensitive to geography, which is why there are so many varieties of grapes in the world.
A huge part of the grapes in Georgia, more than 60%, is produced in the Kakheti region. Our wines are also produced in Kakheti. We use Kakhetian grapes from different microzones. For example, Khikhvi is from the Telavi and Akhmet microzones, Kisi is from the villages of Magraani and Babanauri, Saperavi is from Telavi, and Pinot noir (not a local grape variety) is from Kvareli.
If you look at the map, then all these cities and villages are close to each other, but despite this, the land from these places is different, all this affects the taste properties of grapes and, as a result, wine. Therefore, if we take it even deeper, wine starts from the ground.
Etiquette produces only Qvevri wine. According to the data of 2020 — 2023, qvevri wine makes up approximately 10% of the total wine production in Georgia, which has ensured and will ensure the exclusivity of this product for a long time to come.
We are a family winery, our main goal is to create our own exclusive taste and production standard for the perfect wine, the taste of which reflects the essence and depth of Georgian culture and history.
Our wines
Saperavi
Saperavi is the most famous Georgian black grape. Probably the main grape for the production of Georgian red wines. It is very dark and gives thick, rich wine tones. So to speak, produces the reddest of red wines. Wines made from Saperavi are aging well. They age slowly and retain their properties for a long time, up to 50 years. They are best after 4 years of aging.
In Georgia, it is bred everywhere, both in the east and in the west. With the participation of Saperavi, quite a lot of wines are made, more than 30 varieties
Rkatsiteli
Produced from the eponymous Kakhetian grape variety Rkatsiteli. Like Saperavi, Rkatsiteli grapes are one of the most common varieties in Georgia. It grows throughout the territory of Georgia, as well as beyond its borders (Russia, Moldova, Dagestan). The name translated from Georgian means “red branch”, paradoxically for white grapes. The locals named it so because the branch of the main stem of the bunch turns red when it ripens.
Kisi
Produced from the white grape variety of the same name. This is a very rare variety, which was practically destroyed in the 80s of the last century as a result of the “dry law”. To date, this wine is present on the domestic market in limited quantities. A lot of effort and time was spent on restoring the production of Kisi. The wine has a very interesting taste, it is produced both according to the old Georgian technology and according to the European one. It is usually used to make a dry white wine, but semi-sweet is also occasionally found. Kisi is a kind of face of modern Georgian viticulture, it was almost completely forgotten during the Soviet era and only recently brought back to life. By 2019, it had broken into the famous white variety category.
Khikhvi
Khikhvi grapes grow more in the east. It tolerates winter and drought well. Sugar content is about 30%. This grape is scarce in Georgia, it is not easy to find it, you have to look for it near Kardanakhi. The variety has two varieties — Kakhetian and Colchis.
It is noteworthy that the great Georgian historian and researcher Ivane Javakhishvili had high hopes for Khikhvi and considered this variety to be one of the oldest endemic Georgian grapes. Ivane Javakhishvili even named the historical date of Khikhvi grapes and wrote that Khikhvi in its current form was formed in the 5th century AD.
The Khikhvi grape is a very interesting variety and can be used to make versatile wines. For example, both dry and dessert wine can be freely prepared from Khikhvi. This is a very rare feature, and of the famous Kakhetian varieties of vines, only Khikhvi has such an opportunity.
Khikhvi wine has an interesting aroma and balanced taste. At the same time, this wine has the aroma of wildflowers. By the way, Khikhvi has a great potential for aging, and the wine does not age quickly. In addition, high quality fortified wine, the so-called port wine, can be made from khikhvi.
Technological process
The preparation of Etiquette wine takes place according to the traditional Kakhetian technology in a Qvevri clay jug, the jug is buried in the ground, which ensures the proper temperature regime during the fermentation of grapes, which is the basis of this process. Fermentation on oil cake continues for 12-21 days, after the fermentation stops, we hermetically close Qvevri and leave the future wine for 4-6 months (sometimes longer).
Each grape variety is different. The storage period depends on this and on the vision of the final product of the winemaker. In order to obtain a natural cold treatment during winter frosts, we transfer the wine to stainless steel wine tanks, where the so-called natural cold treatment takes place from the natural winter cold, where the wine is freed from tartar and other unhealthy elements. In summer, due to the warm weather, the wine undergoes a natural heat treatment.
As a result, with the onset of autumn, the wine is filtered through primary and secondary filtration with 80/100% filtration, and within 2-3 months it is filtered again, after which it is again sent for storage in stainless steel tanks. After 14-15 months, the wine is ready to drink and goes to the market. It is important to note that the wine is bottled only after the order is received, which is the most acceptable format for a wine of this age. After the second year, the wine is bottled or oak barrels, depending on the type and characteristics, and stored in the Enoteca until consumed.
We make wine under the tireless guidance of our winemaker Malkhaz Shatirishvili, for whom the production of wine has been an integral part of life for half a century. Many years of experience and the transfer of family traditions are the key to the success of our business.
Today, our wine is sold both on the export market and in local wine restaurants in small volumes. In the future, we plan to improve the aging process and offer customers higher quality (aged) and exclusive wines, which, first of all, requires time and effort, and, as a result, a higher quality product.
How to store wine
One of the most important steps in the winemaking process is the proper storage of the finished wine. True lovers of this drink always have good and high-quality wines in the house for all occasions, so it is very important to know the answers to questions about storage: what is the optimal temperature and humidity for wine? Should the bottle be stored vertically or horizontally? Dark or light place to choose?
First of all, we must remember that wine is a liquid that is constantly changing: even after bottling, it continues to ferment very slowly and for a long time. Over time, it matures, and the feeling of freshness and sparkling taste weakens. Every wine has its best period when it should be drunk. It can be weeks or even decades.
Sudden changes and inconsistency in temperature and humidity have a bad effect on the safety of wine in a bottle, of course, if we are talking about natural wine made in accordance with all the rules of winemaking culture and ethics. If you store the wine correctly, then even on the 15th — 30th day, its taste improves.
However, even in well-preserved wine, sediment separation cannot be guaranteed. This normal sediment is of two types:
Crystalline — the so-called cream of tartar (cremortartar), which consists of tartaric acid. This sediment does not spoil the wine and allows complete decanting.
Amorphous (shapeless) — the precipitate is a product of the oxidation of dyes. It adheres tightly to the inner walls of the bottle, and just as the crystalline sediment does not interfere with decantation, it retains full transparency and softens in quality.
The question of how to store wine in bottles — horizontally or vertically — is not as simple as it seems at first glance. It depends primarily on what kind of wine is poured into the bottle and what kind of cork the wine is corked. The reason wine bottles are kept horizontal is because of the cork.
Wines with natural cork, which is what we use in our production, are stored horizontally so that the wine poured into the bottle wets the cork and prevents it from drying out, thereby eliminating drying and letting air into the bottle.
The ideal temperature for wine is 15 degrees Celsius and the humidity is 80-83%. If you provide the drink with such a temperature regime, the wine will be stored longer and improve its taste. Light and humidity are also important for wine storage. The darker and wetter the cellar, or chosen storage area, the better for the wine.
Ideal conditions for storing wine are created by a specialized wine refrigerator. Have a wine cooler at home. A stable environment, darkness, coolness and humidity — these four things will take care of your wine in the best possible way.
We tell you about our culture and history through wine.
We strive to bring you the true taste of Georgian traditions.
We offer you something more than just wine…
With love — your Etiquette.
