Guardians, Rkatsiteli - 2024

In wine, as in life, first impressions can be deceiving. Georgia is known for natural wines that excite connoisseurs but sometimes confuse lay drinkers. Luckily for us, Guardians, which is made in the Kakheti region an hour east of Tblisi, is committed to making Georgia's history and varieities accessible. The woman on the label is Lela, one of Georgia's famed woman warriors who helped liberate Georgia from foreign warlords in 1659, and the variety, Rkatsiteli (pronounced “Re-KATS-ih-TEL-y”), is known within Georgia as a light, easy-drinking party wine. True to form, the wine, made from organically grown fruit in a low-intervention style, is reminiscent of a mix of Petit Chablis and Pinot Grigio: aromas of ripe honeydew melon and apricot give way that’s fresh, with notes of jasmine, guava, and ripe citrus. Pair with an open mind.