Tsitska, Archil Guniava, Imereti, Georgia, 2018

Vital Signs: All Tsitska all the time. Tsitska is part of the Imereti family of indigenous Georgian vines. Tsitska is traditionally made direct-press. Archil uses an old school tree trunk press which is over 100 years old – the juice from the press runs directly into the qvevri (underground clay vessel).Ali’s Assessment: Because Tsitska typically does not see any skin contact, it a welcome breadth of bright acid sans tannin – a departure from the traditional style of Eastern Georgia. Tstiska often has a bright, granny smith apple crispiness that I dig - a moderate level of kombucha-ish funk, but in an invigorating not off-putting way.