Lagvinari

Organic wine by Eko Glonti

Lagvinari was founded by Eko Glonti, and his road to wine was unusual: he worked as an anaesthetist in cardiothoracic surgery, then took up geology, and only turned to winemaking in 2011. His marani stands in the Kakhetian village of Zemo Bakurtsikhe.

Eko farms about five hectares of vineyards himself and works another five together with tenants, across three regions: Kakheti, Kartli and Imereti. The wine ferments in qvevri with native yeasts and minimal intervention, and the estate is certified organic.

He works with many varieties, some of them rare: besides Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Chinuri and Tsolikouri there are Krakhuna, Tsitska, Goruli Mtsvane, Otskhanuri Sapere, Aladasturi and Chkhaveri. The Tsitska is picked in Imereti, on the left bank of the Kvirila. Lagvinari wines are on the lists of restaurants in the UK, Norway, Austria, France, the US and Germany.