OJALESHI

This red grape variety traditionally grows as a maghlari vine—a vine trained to grow up trees. Widespread throughout the Mingrelia region of western Georgia, this variety has its best examples in the Martvili and Senaki districts. Ojaleshi requires a long growing season. With budbreak in mid-April, it is generally not harvested until mid- to late-November. This thick-skinned variety can be vinified into semisweet and dry red wines with incredible depth of character and notes of spice and pepper.