Iago’s Winery
Iago’s Winery.
Iago Bitarishvili makes just 5,000 bottles a year, but his influence and impact is that of a major, and visionary, producer. From his family vineyards in Kartli he makes arrestingly elegant Amber and White wines from the local Chinuri grape. Born to a wine-making family, Iago reintroduced the use of Qvevri in the early 2000s and took his vineyards into fully certified organic viticulture in 2005. Ten years ago, he was one of the founders of the May New Wine Festival in Tbilisi, today a huge tasting and celebration of natural and artisan wine which is attended by tens of thousands. Iago’s vision and commitment to quality have inspired the interest of export markets, and the quality aspirations of scores of new Qvevri wine producers in Georgia. Imported into the UK by Les Caves de Pyrene, his gorgeously aromatic, textured, herb-tinged Chinuri is snapped up by London’s top restaurants and retailers. Iago (who is on the board of the Georgian Wine and Food Tourism Association) is among the pioneers of contemporary enotourism in Georgia, and offers famously wonderful tours, tastings and supra feasts at his winery.
