Anapea

Kvareli, Kakheti, Georgia

Anapea Village is a testament to the belief that great wine is born in the soil. Founded by Khatia Darguashvili and her husband - two former sociologists with no prior background in viticulture - the project began 12 years ago with a radical mission: to revive 25 hectares of disused, chemically "dead" land in the heart of Kakheti. By establishing their own biohumus farm and introducing sheep and geese for natural fertilization and grass management, Khatia has painstakingly restored the ecosystem’s organic matter.

Today, the vineyard is a lush, biodiverse landscape that conventional neighbors perceive as abandoned, but which Khatia knows is simply alive. The approach at Anapea is rooted in indigenous revival. While they work with core Kakhetian varieties like Rkatsiteli, Kisi, and Khikhvi, the soul of the project lies in their "collectible" vines - over 40 rare, near-extinct Georgian varieties rescued from family backyards to preserve the region’s pre-Soviet heritage.

In the cellar, the process is uncompromisingly traditional yet experimental. Fermentation and aging take place exclusively in Qvevri (clay amphorae buried underground), many of which are over 100 years old. Wines typically spend six months on skins - in true Kakhetian tradition - followed by one to two years of aging. Sulfur is used only sparingly at bottling if necessary for stability, with many cuvées bottled entirely without additions.

Despite the intense heat and humidity of the region, Anapea’s wines contain a surprising energy and structural elegance. Moving beyond rigid traditions, Khatia embraces experimentation - producing qvevri whites without skin contact, working with unusual mutations like Vardisperi Rkatsiteli.

More than just a winery, Anapea Village is a reconstructed 19th-century settlement built from recycled stone and wood. It serves as an educational hub dedicated to the soul of Georgian amber wine, which lives alongside a winery that is unmatched in its combination of respect for tradition and ambitious scale.

The wines, like the project itself, embody a deep dedication to Georgia’s heritage alongside a passionate vision for a new future for Georgian wine.