Food is an integral element of wine tasting experiences in Georgia, mainly due to the tradition of Supra (Persian translation: “tablecloth”). This element of Georgian hospitality has become a favorite attraction for tourists visiting this trending “must-visit” destination. Selecting the best wines to pair with a Supra is an adventure itself.
So what exactly is a Supra? It’s a feast that occurs three times a day, welcoming guests with an abundance of food and drink – and singing.
Supras are led by a Tamada, or toastmaster, who introduces multiple toasts and shares stories throughout the wine-centric feast. Tamadas are required to consume large amounts of alcohol without becoming drunk. Why? Because giving a toast and telling stories have been proven too complex for tipsiness.
Whatever the topic, guests at a Supra raise their glasses, but no one drinks until the Tamada has spoken. Then, toasts circle the table counter-clockwise before the next speaker raises his/her glass and drinks until it’s emptied.
Traditional Georgian toast subjects can range from God and the Virgin Mary, to saints, ancestors, and friends. There’s even a toast for a Supra following a burial.
Georgia’s national dish is khachapuri, a cheesy, delicious bread. But in the image shown, you’ll see its rival, the finger food called khinkali. These traditional dumplings are made of dough wrapped around a savory meat filling such as beef and pork mixed together. You can also stuff the dumplings with lamb, cheese, mushroom, and mashed potato. Who doesn’t love dumplings?
Best wines to pair with a Supra
Rkatsiteli, which literally translates to “red stem,” are grapes with a history that dates back to 3000 BC. Today, this sumptuous, balanced, acidic wine is fermented and aged “skins on” in stainless steel vessels to create a more amber color. Its mixed fruit bouquet leads to a palate of orange, pineapple and stone fruits.
A bottle of Kisi Qvevri, a dry amber wine, offers a luscious mouthfeel. Kisi is a rare grape varietal of Georgia, and the SunWine label was made in a traditional clay vessel called a qvevri. The winemaking technique for qvevri wines is to fill the qvevri with grapes — skins-and-stems-on. The result is a full-bodied amber colored wine with deep citrus notes and hints of black tea on the finish.
Grab a bottle of Saperavi Qvevri and get ready for a mouthfeel of pomegranate with a spice finish. Saperavi, (Georgian translation “to give color”) is an acidic, teinturier-type grape whose red flesh is attributed to anthocyanin pigments stored within the pulp of the grape berry itself. From the vineyards of Kvareli, this Saperavi wine presents an intense, dark pomegranate color leading to an earthy, ripened cherry bouquet. On the palate, a nice tannin structure and medium-bodied mouthfeel of pomegranate finishes with a touch of spice.
If you’d like to learn more about the Supra, an excellent way to get the feel of Georgia, and to absorb the unique concept of the Supra – and perhaps plan your own – is to watch the documentary, Our Blood is Wine on Amazon Prime.
