Lukas Marani

Lukas Marani Winery was founded by Avtandil Gabrichidze in 2017, following the family tradition. The Gabrichidze family owned a historical house in Bolnisi, Georgia: in 1818, Swabian colonists from Germany settled in the region, then-called Ekaterinenfeld; their houses still remain preserved and have built-in, underground cellars. Now almost two centuries old, Avtandil inherited the cellar and German house from his father, Shota Gabrichidze, who started winemaking in 1942. According to the ancestral tradition of their family, the wine cellar is always handed over to the first son's grandson, which is why Avtandil named the winery after his grandson, Luka. The ancestral vineyard of the Gabrichidze family is located in the Village of Zvareti, in the Bolnisi region. According to family traditions, Bolnisi Rkatsiteli was cultivated in the vineyard in 1942, making the vineyards over 80 years old. The Gabrichidze family takes care of their vineyards with only natural treatments. Together with winemaking, Avtandil does vigneron’s job himself, too: “I go to the vineyards twice a day to observe all the processes. In general, taking care of a vineyard is like raising a child, as it needs attention and care constantly. Besides, no matter how urgent business you have, when you get to the vineyards, everything else is forgotten. For me, this is not tiring at all, on the contrary: it's the best way to unwind…” Today, Lukas Marani produces Bolnisi Rkatsiteli with two different methods: traditional Georgian qvevri (fermentation and aging in clay vessel/amphorae) and Swabian (two-week fermentation in oak barrels).