Saperavi is a red grape variety native to Georgia, a country with a rich winemaking history stretching back 8,000 years. It is considered Georgia's most popular and widespread grape. The name "Saperavi" translates to "dye" or "paint" in Georgian, reflecting the grape's dark skin and the intensely colored wine it produces.

• Teinturier Grape: Saperavi is a teinturier grape, meaning it has both red skin and red flesh, a rare trait among wine grapes. This characteristic contributes to the deep color of Saperavi wines.
• Adaptability: The grape is known for its ability to withstand extremely cold weather.
• Flavor Profile: Saperavi wines often exhibit flavors of dark fruits like blackberries and plums, with hints of spice. Aged versions can have notes of chocolate and tobacco. The wines are typically high in acidity and tannins. Some describe the wines as having earthy and smoky notes.
• Color and Tannins: Saperavi has thick, dark skins, leading to wines with deep, inky color and high tannin content. These strong tannins often require long aging.
• Antioxidants: Saperavi grapes have a high concentration of anthocyanins, a type of phenol compound, which contribute to the wine's color and may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Styles: Saperavi is versatile and can be used to produce dry, semi-sweet, sweet, and fortified wines, as well as rosés.
• Georgian Wines: Georgian Saperavi wines are the most well-known and are often aged in traditional clay vessels called qvevri. This method imparts unique complexity and richness to the wines.
• Food Pairing: Due to its high tannin content and robust flavors, Saperavi pairs well with rich, meaty dishes like grilled steaks, roasted lamb, and hearty stews. It also complements aged cheeses.
• Aging Potential: Some Saperavi wines can age for decades, developing complex flavors over time.

While native to Georgia, Saperavi has found success in other wine-growing regions, including:

• Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan.
• Australia
• United States: Notably in the Finger Lakes region of New York, where it was introduced by Konstantin Frank.

• Mukuzani: A dry, full-bodied wine from the Kakheti region known for its fruit and spicy notes.
• Kindzmarauli: A semi-sweet red wine from the Kakheti region with blackberry and violet aromas.
• Akhasheni: A semi-sweet red wine with cherry and plum flavors.

• Saperavi is sometimes used to enhance the color and character of other wines.
• It is a parent grape of the hybrid variety Saperavi Severny, known for its cold tolerance.

• In cooler regions, Saperavi can have high acidity, making it more suitable as a blending component.
• Despite being relatively unknown in some markets, Saperavi is gaining recognition for its unique qualities and potential.