Subeliani Winery

Subeliani Winery was founded by vigneron and winemaker Emzar Subeliani in 2017. Emzar is from Abkhazia — the currently occupied region of Georgia. Despite the fact that Emzar’s family members were not actively involved in wine production, he became interested in vineyards during his childhood. Emzar states that “My grandfather was originally from Upper Svaneti, but he moved to Kodori, a region famous for Odesa vine variety. During the Soviet period, you could also find Tsolikouri vineyards there; however, due to the low yield, the collective farm cut down the vineyards en masse and concentrated on growing tobacco.” In 1995, Emzar purchased a 19th-century house in Bolnisi. The house was formerly owned by Swabian colonists of Ekaterinenfeld (now Bolnisi). Traditionally, the house also had a cellar, where its previous owners fermented wine in oak barrels. Like other local winemakers, Emzar found the German heritage of wine production interesting and he enrolled in training programs to learn more. As Emzar explains, viticulture is a relaxation ritual for him: he owns a 70-year-old vineyard with Bolnisi terroir and an irrigation system he designed himself. Vineyard work starts at 5 a.m. and after several hours, he is off to his office. Then, during the day, he returns to the vineyard several times to tend to the vines. Throughout the years, the Subeliani family mostly focused on Bolnisi Rkatsiteli; in 2022, Saperavi was cultivated for the first time. “Sometimes, I just go to the vineyard for recreational purposes… Being with the vine is the best way for me to relax, de-stress, and forget about everyday problems.” The first Subeliani bottling took place in Emzar’s cellar in 2017: Bolnisi Rkatsiteli, produced by the Swabian method, won a bronze medal at the New Wine Festival the same year. In the following years, Emzar also became interested in the traditional Georgian qvevri winemaking (fermentation of wine in an amphorae-shaped clay vessel). Today, Subeliani Winery offers Rkatsiteli and Saperavi made by Swabian, classic, and traditional Georgian qvevri methods. Emzar still has the dream of returning to Abkhazia and learning more about its local grape varieties. At this stage though, Emzar is planning to enrich the selection of the Subaliani winery with the Kakhetian varieties of Kisi and Goruli Mtsvane. “As for the wine production methods, learning and development is a continuous process for me, I am still learning both through practical experiments and various training courses,” Emzar Notes.