Dear all,

As usual, we are organizing our annual Georgian tasting at Restaurant Choux. This year, we will open around fifty wines from the already familiar dozen Georgian producers, and we will also showcase wines from a new Imeretian producer, Igavi Wines by Aidan Raftery. Read a brief introduction below, followed by the official invitation to the Georgia tasting.

IGAVI WINES (IMERETI & LECHKHUMI)

After years as a sommelier and wine bar owner in Australia, Aidan discovered his passion for Georgian wines and settled in the village of Zeindari in Imereti. His vineyards span two locations in Imereti and Lechkhumi, with old vines up to 120 years old. He focuses on forgotten, indigenous grape varieties such as the red Vanis Chkhaveri and Orbeluri Ojaleshi, and the somewhat better-known white Tsolikouri.

Dick brought Aidan’s wines back in May 2025 after visiting the Zero Compromise wine fair in Georgia, and we were immediately captivated. Even though our Georgian portfolio is already fairly extensive, we couldn’t resist — the reds are nothing short of enchanting, with salty flavors, peppery aromas, and incredible acidity and length. Igavi wines are made traditionally in qvevri, are unsulphured, and are aged on their native yeasts, resulting in elegant, energetic wines full of purity. The name Igavi honors a Georgian folk tale about soldiers carrying grape branches to the front — a fitting metaphor for Aidan’s tribute to Georgian tradition and culture.

We already have the Orbeluri Ojaleshi 2023 available on our website because we simply couldn’t wait, but the other wines will be available after next week.

INVITATION: ANNUAL GEORGIA TASTING

MONDAY 16 FEBRUARY | 12:00 – 16:30
RESTAURANT CHOUX, AMSTERDAM

The tasting will take place on Monday, 16 February, from 12:00 to 16:30. During the tasting, the 2024 (as well as 2023 and 2022) vintages from the producers listed below will be open for sampling. Quantities from many producers are limited, so this may be the only opportunity to taste them this year.

Archil Guniava (Imereti)

Mariam Guniava (Imereti)

Makaridze (Imereti)

Freya’s Marani (Imereti)

Ramaz Nikoladze (Imereti)

Iago’s Winery (Kartli)

Marina’s Wine (Kartli)

Kortavebis Marani & Tamuna’s Wine (Kakheti & Kartli)

Gogo Wine (Kakheti)

Andrias Gvino (Kakheti)

Manavi Wines (Kakheti)

Pheasant’s Tears (Adjara, Meskheti, Imereti, Kartli & Kakheti)

NEW: Igavi Wines (Imereti & Lechkhumi)

RSVP by emailing info@zuiverwijnen.nl with the name of your restaurant/café/bar/shop and the number of guests attending. The tasting is free for all professional clients and open for walk-ins.

We hope to see you all next Monday! Aside from the Loire weekend, it’s been a while since we could taste so many Georgian wines together. Judging by the new releases we recently sampled in France, this release promises to be truly spectacular. See you there!