Terroir
Between mountains and rivers
Kakheti is defined by mountains, river systems, and varied elevations. The majestic Caucasus moderates temperature and slows ripening, while rivers flowing toward the Black and Caspian seas carry water and rich alluvial deposits through the valley floor.
Within a single vineyard, the land can change quickly. Limestone gives way to clay. Elevation rises. Exposure shifts. These differences shape structure, freshness, tannin, and aromatic profile within the wine itself.
In search of terroir
Discovery
We search for sites capable of producing wines with identity and longevity from the vineyard itself.
The work combines close study of the land with repeated tasting across vintages. Parcels are selected for the character hold year after year and how clearly that carries through to the wine.
Local knowledge shapes how each vineyard is farmed, harvested, and understood through the growing season.
Kakheti has everything needed to produce the world’s great wines. What has been missing is the commitment to take it to that level.
— Irakli Gilauri
Lineage
and return
Vineyards
Many of the world’s established grape varieties trace their deeper origins to this region, as part of the early spread of Vitis Vinifera.
Georgia remains both a place of origin and a place to understand how these varieties behave in their source environment. Alongside Saperavi, varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are being evaluated in Kakheti.
Cultivars
Saperavi is the foundation of the project. It was selected for its ability to express site clearly while maintaining structure and acidity over time.
A teinturier variety, Saperavi carries color in both skin and flesh, contributing depth, tannin, and longevity. Its long history of cultivation in Kakheti offers multiple clones and material to work with.
Over time, plant material and farming methods are refined so that each parcel performs more consistently with each vintage.
Indigenous
varieties,
managed
precisely
Kakheti as
foundation
Regional focus
The project begins in Kakheti and remains the reference point for all decisions.
Current vineyard sources are concentrated in established appellations, where differences in soil and elevation allow for clear comparison across sites. Any expansion follows the same criteria: distinct site character and the ability to produce structured, age-worthy wines.
New sites are held to the same standard. The vineyard determines the wine.
Kakheti
The home of Georgian wine
Invest In Legacy
Join The List
Gilauri is produced in limited quantities from selected vineyard parcels. Each release is shaped by the conditions of the year and offered in small allocations through The List.
The wines are made to be collected, shared and returned to over time.
