K’AVSHIRI
კავშირი
by Robert Joseph & Vladimer Kublashvili
Quietly innovative wines from the world’s most ancient wine nation
Bringing together grape varieties, vineyards, winemaking methods and vintages in a single bottle
For each, a journey
No two pathways are alike
Wine, a meeting point
K’AVSHIRI კავშირი
alliance, union, coming together
Former British wine critic and winner of the inaugural Vinventions Innovation Award, Robert Joseph, and leading Georgian winemaker Vladimer Kublashvili came together to create K’AVSHIRI.
A coming together of ancient and modern winemaking, and grapes grown in a variety of soils and microclimates in Kakheti and Imereti
The fruit of nearly five years of planning and experimentation
About the wines
The outcome of an ambitious project that began in 2018, K’AVSHIRI is a joint venture between Robert Joseph and Vladimer Kublashvili of Winery Khareba.
From the outset, the two men set out to make a totally original wine that showcased a range of Georgian grape varieties and traditional qvevri winemaking.
The Grapes
K’AVSHIRI White is a complex blend of 10 different grape varieties, eight of which are indigenous to Georgia, plus Muscat which also has ancient origins, and the Burgundian Aligoté that was introduced at the beginning of the 20th century.
K’AVSHIRI Red is even more complex, bringing together 9 varieties, including two Georgian white grapes that ere co-fermented with Saperavi and rare Aladasturi grapes that were dried for 10 days before fermentation.
The 2024 Assemblage of K’AVSHIRI Rosé is only produced from grapes picked in 2024, and only 1,500 bottles were made. The ‘lead’ variety - selected after much experimentation - is the rare Ojaleshi.
Winemaking
Georgia is famous for its Qvevri - terracotta amphora - winemaking. Nearly 12% of the 2023 Assemblage K’AVSHIRI White - five separate grape varieties - was fermented in qvevri, but 5% was fermented on its skins in stainless steel and 10% benefited from 2nd/3rd year oak barrels.
The 2022 Assemblage K’AVSHIRI Red is even more groundbreaking, combining air-dried Aladasturi grapes with Saperavi co-fermented with white Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes. Nearly 24% was fermented in Qvevri.
Production of the 2024 Assemblage Rosé involved co-fermentation, air-dryng grapes, brief exposure to qvevri, and barrel fermentation.