Kabis Toni Winery #32
Sip of Exclusivity: Unveiling the Craftmanship of Kabis Toni Wines
Kabis Tony was founded in 2016 with the aim of producing high-quality wine from endemic Georgian grape varieties, focusing on traditional Georgian methods using Qvevri. The company’s name, derived from the rare endemic Georgian grape variety Kabistoni, often grown alongside Aleksandrouli to enhance harvest quality, carries a dual meaning. When split into two words, it translates to “the tone of a woman’s dress,” alluding to the fact that the winemaker is a woman—Keti Jurkhadze.
Keti Jurkhadze is a passionate wine lover and experienced wine judge with nearly 16 years of service on the Georgian Wine Tasting Commission of the Georgian National Wine Agency. She has also participated in various scientific studies and has multiple scientific publications to her name. Supported by her husband Alexander (Aleko), the couple forms a strong partnership, symbolized by the Kabistoni and Aleksandrouli grape varieties. This collaboration was the foundation for their successful family business and inspired the company name.
In addition to the wine company, Keti Jurkhadze owns the Kabistoni Wine School, where students can earn certificates as wine connoisseurs.
Crafting Elegance: The Journey of Saperavi Red and Rare Georgian Varieties at Kabis Toni
The main and only direction of the winery of the winery is the production of exquisite wines from rare endemic Georgian grape varieties, utilizing traditional local winemaking techniques. These methods involve fermenting and aging the wine in qvevri, ancient clay pots used in Georgia for thousands of years. Due to the limited capacity of each qvevri, ranging from 400 to 1500 liters, the winery produces wine in limited quantities – typically 500 to 1000 bottles of each variety.
Kabis Toni: A Symphony of Georgian Terroir, Unique Varietals, and Feline Grace in Kata Marani Wines
In 2016, the company started the producing of its first Saperavi red dry wine, which was bottled in 2018. During the short running period of the winery, the annual production turnover has been increased until 5000 bottles. Such wine varieties of Kabis Toni winery as Saperavi, Chinuri, Tavkveri, Khikhvi and Chkhaveri can be found locally in specialised wine shops, boutiques as well as the in the menus of premium class bars and fine dining restaurants. Every single bottle has a unique number. Besides it, Kabis Toni successfully started to export its products internationally.
In 2021, the company introduced a new brand to the market: “Kata Marani”. The brand name came from a stray cat, named Kato, who decided to settle in the wine cellar (marani in Georgian). The brand only offers Saperavi wines. Translated into Georgian word by word, Kata Marani means catamaran, which differs from other boats as Saperavi differs from other wines, with its unique taste and aroma.