Enkeni

The Occupation of Lasha Guruli’s family wine cellar “Enkeni” in the field of wine production is linked with the year 2015. Wine-making is the family’s traditional occupation which is hereditary and lasting. However, it has obtained the form of wine production for 5 years now. The main part in it was played by the Wine Festival, where our marani wine “Tsitska-Tsolikouri 2015” entered the list of The 100 Best Home-made Wines. Currently, the brand “Enkeni” consists of 2 types of wine: “Tsolikouri 2021 and Dzelshavi 2021 The vineyards are located in the West Georgia, namely in Imereti, the village “Akhalterjola”. The vineyard is looked after utilizing the traditional methods and the means of drug (insecticide) spraying. The 2015 year harvest wine “Enkeni” was made in European manner. Before pouring into bottles, it was wined and kept in massive, glass vessels. The 2016,2017,2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 year harvest wine is made in traditional ‘’Qvevri’’, the pitcher. The 200-year-old pitchers are kept in pitcher places which still maintain the quality. This wine was made by the pure Imeretian technology. The wine fermentation took place together with the 20 % skin ingredient. For 3 month, the wine-making occurred on skin and the sediment. Only after that the wine was displaced into the pitchers again and kept until pouring into bottles. The name “Enkeni” has two symbolic meanings. First of all, it comes from the word ‘’Enkenistve’’, which is the folk name of September month. In this month, the “Rtveli” (harvesting) takes place in the most regions of Georgia. Thus, the ‘’Rtveli’’ and September symbolically maintain the relationship. The second symbolic meaning is directly linked with the village of “Akhalterjola” and the forgotten tradition of it. Annually, at the end of the month September – the 26th, the public holiday of “Enkenoba” was celebrated that reflected the initiation of Rtveli i. e. picking grapes, completing the Autumn works, harvesting and placing the harvest for keeping. On that day, almost all the families used to host their relatives and friends in order to celebrate “Enkenoba”. The parties often went on for 2 – 3 days. The neighbours used to invite the guests of one another and treated them properly. Tsitska and Dzelshavi vineyards are located in the village of Akhalterjola, Terjola municipality, Imereti region, western Georgia. The vineyards are cultivated on black earth soil, 240 meters above sea level. Tsitska vineyard occupies an area of 0.35 hectares, Dzelshavi vineyard occupies an area of 0.15 hectares. The age of Tsitska vineyard is 40 years. The age of Dzelshavi vineyard is 20 years. Grapes of both varieties yield an average of 2-2.5 kg per root. 2019 was a good years in terms of grape yield and quality. Tsitska vintage was held on October 5, sugar content was 23 %, Dzelshavi vintage was held on October 15, sugar content was 21 %. Tsitska was placed in a volume 1500 liters Qvevri with 20 % skin. Here it made the first and second fermentations, on wild yeast, then filled and sealed. The opening of the Qvevri and the first shooting place 3 months later, on January 28th. Dzelshavi was placed in a volume 450 liters Qvevri, with 5 % skin only 5 days. Here, in Qvevri, it made the first and second fermentations, on wild yeast, then filled and sealed. The opening of the Qvevri and the first shooting place 1 months later and we moved to the second Qvevri, from which we removed in March. All the Qvevri in the cellar are old, about 200 years old. We don’t filter any of the wines.