Bedoba, White
Vintage: 2024
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BD103B24 | 6 x 75 | Diam | Available |
Producer
Bedoba, which translates to `Day of Luck’, is a Georgian winery primarily dedicated to making wines from the countries indigenous Saperavi grape, partially vinified in traditional qvevri vessels.
Bedoba’s Saperavi grapes hail from vines with an average age of 30 years old. These are planted in the renowned wine region of Kakheti (near the eastern border with Azerbaijan) in the Kvareli and Kindzmarauli appellations along the Duruji River valley. The soils here are rich in black shale and the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains provide elevations of over 400 metres, creating fresh acidity and soft tannins. Bedoba embraces sustainable and organic practices, alongside hand-harvesting and careful sorting of the dark-skinned, red-fleshed Saperavi grapes.
The original winery, whose cellars date back to 1737, was founded by the Konchosvilli family who had a close relationship with the church (`koncho` means cross). Winemakers Nugzar Ksovreli and Thierry Fontannaz honour this history on Bedoba’s label, with the icon of Saint Nina, whose apostolic work has contributed to the spread of Christianity in Georgia.
A small percentage of the grapes are whole bunch fermented, while another is left to dry naturally on the vines until November, ensuring a fine balance of the grape's savoury and spicy characteristics. Stainless steel tanks and clay qvevri are used for fermentation, exemplifying the blend of innovation and tradition employed by Ksovreli and Fontannaz. The resulting wine is then aged in second and third fill American oak barrels barrels and 5,000-litre wooden vats, before a further 12 months in bottle, to create a seamless texture.
Bedoba also produce an orange wine from 70% Rkatsiteli and 30% Kisi. The Rkatsiteli, grown on 25-year-old vines planted on blue slate soil, adds richness, while the Kisi, from cooler limestone vineyards, brings freshness to the final blend. Fermented in traditional qvevri and stainless steel, this is a textural, gastronomic wine brimming with notes of dried apricot, honey, orange peel, and wild herbs.
Vineyards
This wine is made from grapes sourced from vineyards located in the classic and traditional microzones of Kindzmarauli and Kvareli, in the Kakheti region. Bedoba White blend is made from 70% Rkatsiteli and 30% Kisi, which are Georgian grape varieties with unique characteristics. The Rkatsiteli comes from 25-year-old vines rooted in the region’s characteristic black slate soil, which reaches a depth of eight meters. This lends the grapes a very strong personality and concentration and distinctive minerality to the wine. The Kisi grapes come from younger vineyards, planted closer to the hill in a cooler microclimate on limestone soil.
Vintage
The 2024 vintage saw the ideal ripening conditions, with just enough rainfall to support the vines. Sunny days and cool nights through the end of harvest allowed for gradual ripening and fully developed aromatics, while maintaining acidity and freshness in the grapes. The harvest started in September and finished at the end of November.
Vinification
The Rkatsiteli and Kisi grapes were hand-harvested, fully destemmed and vinified separately on arrival at the winery. The Rkatsiteli was pressed, settled and fermented in Qvevri without skins, while the Kisi was cold soaked on skins for 24 hours before being pressed and fermented in stainless steel. Following alcoholic fermentation, around 20% of the Rkatsiteli was transferred to 500-litre French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, with the remainder completing malolactic in Qvevri. The Kisi did not undergo malolactic fermentation. The final blend was aged for six months on fine lees in second- and third-use French oak barrels before bottling in April 2025.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Bedoba White opens with notes of ripe pear, baked apple, honeycomb, toasted almonds, and subtle wild herbs. A gentle creaminess, refined oak, and the distinctive Qvevri texture lend depth and elegance to this layered wine.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
5.6 g/l
Residual Sugar
4.5 g/l
pH
3.75