FREYA’S MARANI
Persati
Imereti
Ének is a young woman who audaciously moved from her native Massachusetts to Georgia back in 2014, after a totally non-wine first visit in 2013.
With a passion for local and organic produce, Ének quickly gravitated towards the world of natural wines and moved by curiosity, attempted to produce her first wine in the back room of Vino Underground, a wine bar in Tbilisi which she managed for five years. Shortly after, in 2016, she bought a house with a small vineyard on the outskirts of Persati at the foot of the Imereti mountains and so Freya’s Marani was born.
In the vineyard all work is carried out by hand and farming is strictly organic without the use of any additives or chemical substances. In the cellar the approach is as hands-off as it can be but with respect to the ancient ancestral methods. Some producers traditionally burn a bit of sulphur at the top of the qvevri at the start of fermentation, though she never done that nor used any Argon or CO2. Macerations, especially for the whites, can vary massively from one vintage to another though grapes are often de-stemmed as stems very rarely ripen in Western Georgia.
Queen of the Night
Vintage 2024
Style White
Region Persati, Imereti
Varieties Tsolikouri
ABV 11%
Soils Clay, Limestone, Alluvial Pebbles
Farming Organic
Winemaking The Tsolikouri grapes are handed picked, foot crushed and basket pressed into Qvevri. The wine is racked after 24 hours and again in the Spring. There is no skin contact and maturation on the lees takes place for just under a year in the same vessel. No added sulphites. The wine is bottled entirely by using rescued used bottles.
Tasting Note Soft white pear scent blends in with greengage and dried citrus. Lovely energy and elegance without ever losing its character.
Mimoza
Vintage 2024
Style White
Region Tsitelkhevi, Imereti
Varieties Tsolikouri
ABV 11%
Soils Clay, Limestone, Alluvial Pebbles
Farming Organic
Winemaking The Tsolikouri grapes are handed picked, foot crushed and macerated on the skins and stems for 10 days, followed by ageing in Qvevri for just under a year. Lees are racked off in the Spring. No added sulphites. The wine is bottled entirely by using rescued used bottles.
Tasting Note
Wind and Rain
Vintage 2024
Style Orange
Region Persati, Imereti
Varieties Tsolikouri
ABV 12.5%
Soils Clay, Limestone, Alluvial Pebbles
Farming Organic
Winemaking These grapes have been foot crushed spontaneously fermented on the skins and stems for 7 months in the traditional Qvevri. No sulfur additions have been made.
Tasting Note
Ariqa
Vintage 2024
Style Red
Region Tsitelkhevi, Imereti
Varieties Aladasturi
ABV 11%
Soils Clay, Limestone, Alluvial Pebbles
Farming Organic
Winemaking These grapes have been foot crushed spontaneously fermented on the skins, with a maceration of 3 weeks on the skins and stems. The wine is fermented fermented
and aged in plastic (220L) and glass (20L). No sulfites added.
Tasting Note Redcurrant, Pot Pourri, dried rosemary and scrubbed herbs shine through the beautiful crunchy red cherry fruit. Hints of sandalwood and rooibos tea come to mind as well. A lovely elegant and spicy light red.