Blind Wine Tasting #1 – from Australian Saperavi to Imeretian Krakhuna

The first blind wine tasting event, initiated by Anano Vekua, took place at Lamiskana Estate and brought together winemakers, sommeliers, and wine professionals in a playful yet revealing format.

The idea was simple: to taste wines without seeing the labels, relying solely on aroma and flavor. This setup not only challenged perceptions but sparked vibrant discussions around style, grape identity, and origin.

A total of 12 participants attended the tasting, exploring 10 very different wines:

1. Krakhuna 2021 - Dolidze Vineyards

2. Etna Bianco DOC 2020 - Sul Vulcano

3. Chinuri-Goruli Mtsvane 2023 - Lamiskana estate

4. Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 - Antinori

5. Saperavi 2019 - PATRITTI, Barossa Valley

6. Saperavi Qvevri 2016 - Binekhi

7. Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 - Catena

8. Pinot Noir 2022 - SCHUG Winery

9. Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 - Irvine

10. Saperavi Qvevri 2014 - Binekhi

The surprise of the day? A bold and expressive Australian Saperavi 2019 — deep in color, with vibrant cherry and bourbon-vanilla oak aromas. While shaped by New World winemaking, several tasters intuitively suspected it was Saperavi — proof that even when the label is hidden, intuition can speak loud and clear.