Georgian Wine with Food - Perfect Balance

Georgian wines, go with food perfectly. There is a special word in Georgian, "Supra," which means a big, public feast that plays a massive role in its everyday socio-cultural life.

While making supra, Georgians prepare all the fabulous food from their cuisine, put them on the table-cloth which carries the same name, and they even create layers of food - a dish on another dish to make sure that each and every treasure of Georgian gastronomy appears on the table.

So when Tamada arrives, (a toastmaster who leads the supra) he says: "What a supra, even bird's milk isn't missing," meaning that the host has done a perfect job and didn't leave a single meal from the list, consequently the supra is rich and vast.

And can it all pass without a wine?! Of course not. While wine is a matter of daily basis for most of the Georgians, a supra without wine is like eating raw meat - you are in the process of doing something, but it's unfinished.

Just like courses, the wine diversifies too. One should choose an appropriate drink for its meal according to some simple tips that will make it pair with food.

Appropriate Georgian Wine for Food

If you are new to the wine choosing and generally into Georgian spirit, do not worry; We've got you covered. In today's article, we will talk about general rules that apply to all wines and foods across the globe;

We will guide you through the picking process and address a particular wine that is commonly used to accommodate Georgian supra - Saperavi.

There are some particular characteristics that differ in wines. It's acidity, tannin level, and sweetness. Ever wondered why steaks and high-protein food are commonly paired with red wine?

Well, because that wine with a high level of tannin goes perfectly with dishes like meat, beans, and mushrooms.

However, fish and dry red wine never match as it gives the fish a metallic taste once swallowed. Consider serving fresh, highly acidic wine with salty meals and seafood to create delicious combinations.

As for white wine, it goes smoothly with anything that's been made from fish, eggs, and chicken.

If your dish is sweet or even a dessert, consider serving solely sweet or semi-sweet wines as a dry drink would make it unpleasant to consume.

With all that being said, let's move to the general basics that will ease your commitment ere receiving a guest: serve intense, aromatic red wine with fatty food.

A little bit lighter drink with less fatty food. A soft wine with light fare. Simple as that!

Always remember that in order to avoid dulling a wine, the acidity level of food and the drink shall match each other.

If you are planning to have several entree meals, then you should follow this rule to charm the visitors and serve like a pro: Start from the lightest wine.

For example, a nice, sparkling glass of a drink would do. Then, move to a marvelous rosé, and conclude with a strong, delicious saperavi.

Never reposition these steps as any wine that's being served after a thick one is tasteless for a tongue.

Saperavi - Pride of Georgia

As previously mentioned, we should now move to the Saperavi. Generally speaking, saperavi is the most planted red grape in Georgia as it's used in most of the blends to play with tastes.

Apart from that, it's super inky and acidic. The name Saperavi means "dye" in Georgian, which suits the wine too well.

This particular grape ripens very last and needs to be aged to provide the complex taste it's known for.

Although it's higher than usual in tannin and acidity, most of the degustators find it amazingly well-bodied and pleasant. Due to its aroma, color, and hardness, saperavi resembles the Bordeaux and Burgundian wines, making this sort even more special and appreciated.

Although there is no clear evidence, most Georgians consider it as the oldest kind of grape in Georgia due to its steadiness, dark color, and hairiness.

Saperavi and Food

Apart from being a perfect everyday wine, saperavi is a champion at pairing with some sorts of food. For instance, they can be equally good with boar meat and hard cheese, ragout, and oyster mushrooms.

If you plan to have Italian pasta for dinner, then saperavi would do a perfect glass companion for you. The same joy and taste would be left in your mouth if you were to prepare a pâté for yourself.

Even if you are unable to cook something of a dish kind for dinner and you have to pass it on a sandwich, saperavi would be happy to turn your regular food consuming process into an outstanding experience.

Think it's the end? Well, it's not.

Saperavi is not only a great food pairing drink but a whole ingredient for crafting a perfect meal. You may have heard that people all around the world use wine for cooking meat and adding an exceptional flavor to the dish.

If you are a meat lover and would like to prepare one of the most popular Georgian dishes all by yourself, then grab a pen or screenshot this recipe to let the preparation begin!

Kupati in saperavi wine is a traditional dish that's a composite of meat, Georgian spices, herbs, and garlic.

Add those ingredients according to your likings to the meat, blend them well, form a sausage shape, and place them on a pan filled with saperavi.

Boil for about 20 minutes and turn it from time to time to ensure that it is fried and the wine is absorbed from every part. Once the liquid is halved, your meal is ready for consumption. Enjoy!

As you may have already noticed, Georgian winery has a lot to offer to its amateurs and to those who are yet to discover its spectacular beauty, from vine to wine processing and the love that's put into each and every bottle of the drink.

While the choice weighs heavily on a personal preference, it's evident that no matter which Georgian wine you pick, if you choose it according to the occasion, it will never disappoint you.