Pheasant's Tears Mtsvane-Bodbiskhevi 2024

It’s not an exaggeration to say that John Wurdeman, an American artist, musician, restaurateur, and winemaker, is responsible for igniting global interest in the wines and winemaking traditions of Georgia. Considered by some to be the birthplace of wine, Georgia is one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world, with evidence of vinification stretching back 8,000 years. 

John and his business partner, Gela Patalishvili, opened Pheasant’s Tears in 2007, focusing on tracking down and reviving near-extinct native grape varieties from all around Georgia, which is home to over 500 indigenous varieties. They ferment and age the majority of their wines in qvevris, traditional amphorae that are buried underground. Recently, they’ve also incorporated stainless steel into their winemaking. The winery is based in Tibaani, while their vineyards are located both nearby and across the country, stretching from the western region of Adjara to the volcanic terroir of Meshketi in the south. 

Location: the village of Tibaani, in the eastern Kakheti region of Georgia

Owner & winemaker: John Wurdeman and Gela Patalishvili

Vineyard area: 17 hectares planted across several vineyards in the eastern Kakheti region, the western Adjara region, and Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Aspindza, with more being planted 

Vineyard management: practicing organic 

Soils: clay, granite, sandstone, grey clay, quartz, volcanic

Main varieties: Ancient indigenous Georgian varieties, including Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Tsolikouri, and hundreds more

Winemaking: hand-harvest only, with reds and whites macerated for anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months. Many of the wines are fermented and aged in traditional qvevris below ground, or in stainless steel. No fining, no filtering, low- to no added SO2. 

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