SHUMI Winery Info

SHUMI Winery and Estate is one of the first family wineries established in Georgia. Located in Kakheti, the heartland of Georgian winemaking, and rooted in the deep local wine traditions, we produce wines that embrace 8,000 years of winemaking history and the future of our great terroirs. The name “SHUMI” comes from ancient Georgian and means “the best wine”. Today, it is SHUMi’s commitment to producing the best expression of Georgian wines. The Griffin (Phaskunji in Georgian mythology) is the symbol of SHUMI. According to legend, the Griffin brought the first bunch of grapes to mankind, leading to the cultivation of the first vineyards on Earth. SHUMI is a family-owned winery established in 1997, making it one of the first wineries in Georgia. It is located on a historic site adjacent to the A. Chavchavadze National Park and Museum in Kakheti. With 200 hectars of vineyards, in parts organic and biodynamic, in selected PDOs, SHUMI was the first in Georgia to use these cultivation methods. The winery focuses on pairing the right terroirs with the right indigenous grape varieties. The vineyards are located in the most important PDOs and microzones of Georgia, including Mukuzani, Napareuli, Kindzmarauli and Tsinandali. The Qvevri, a clay vessel traditionally buried in the ground, has been used for winemaking for over 8000 years. In 2013, UNESCO recognized this ancient Georgian method as a monument of intangible cultural heritage. The ovoid shape of the Qvevri is ideal for wine fermentation and long aging. At SHUMI, the winemaking operations are performed manually, including crushing, mixing, removing stems and pips, and pressing. As a result, SHUMI’s amber and red wines are rich in antioxidants and minerals, and have expressive flavors and aromas. Our winemaking approach associates traditional Georgian winemaking methods (Qvevris) with European techniques, creating wines that represent our terroir, passion and heritage. In 2003, SHUMI established the First Private Comprehensive Varietal Collection Vineyard in Georgia to preserve the genetics of the country’s indigenous grape varieties. This collection, which is the largest private collection in the world, has saved several dozen native Georgian grape varieties from total extinction. Currently, the collection includes 2000 varieties from 47 countries, including 33 previously unknown varieties. The collection is listed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with its own unique code, GEO036, and has significant scientific and research value. The Classical Shumi Collection aims to take wine lovers on a journey of discovery through tradition, terroirs, modernity, and typicity. It seeks to help wine adventurers discover the world of Georgian wine and its values, regardless of their location. Autochthonous grape varieties, selected by people over centuries, are used in the production of SHUMI Classical Collection. The grapes are harvested in SHUMI’s own vineyards, surrounded by wild nature. We are low intervention winery, meaning that careful methods are chosen to minimize the impact on the ecosystem. The wine’s terroir, variety and complex aromas are preserved through vinification to maintain its typicity. The Iberiuli Collection demonstrates that Georgian terroirs and grapes have a rich history and are poised to become a major player in the world of wine. The uniqueness of the wines in the Iberiuli collection lies in the use of high quality grapes low intervention winemaking, based on free run juice. To obtain grapes of the highest quality, green harvest and/or sorting are carried out in the vineyards. During manual sorting, only high- quality, unblemished bunches are collected. Winemaking is an assemblage of Georgian and European winemaking, using Qvevris and Vicard oak barrels, creating complex, and expressive wines. These priciples are applied for the whole Iberiuli range (varietals, PDOs, Organic, Qvevris and single vineyards alike).