A blend of over 150 indigenous grapes of Georgia
Its 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 Pheasants 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, theyve also incorporated stainless steel into their winemaking. This blend of over 150 grapes was given to Pheasants Tears by the Ministry of Agriculture to help preserve and research indigenous grape varieties. Its a co-plantation and co-fermentation of a mix of yellow, green, pink, red, purple and blue varieties, a dayglow spectrum of color and texture.
Poliphonia is the Greek word for many voices at once, and refers to a style of structured harmonic singing in Georgia. Its also the name of Johns restaurant in Tbilisi! Notes of stewed red fruits in brown butter salty and fresh yet decadent. Vivid, transparent fruit with strong tannic structure. Citrusy, skinsy and wild, with tea-like tannic structure.
