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Gio Babunidze and Olaf Malver. Photo: Danieli. |
Today Hvino News continues to publish its series of exclusive interviews with leaders of Georgia’s winemaking industry. Our guest today is Mr. Olaf Malver, owner of Danieli Winery. He kindly agreed to answer our questions.
We suggest starting the interview with a brief business outline. Can you tell us several facts about your company today?
Danieli Winery Ltd. is a new wine producer located in Western Kakheti, Eastern Georgia. We started 5 years ago and our first vintages are from 2013.
Our main focus is to grow and market our own varieties and we at this point only produce Georgian varietals using modern European fermentation methodology, i.e. process controlled stainless steel fermentation and maturation in oak. Our estate is about 30 hectares of old and new vineyards around the village of Argokhi ▼Map , and we produce wines from Kisi, Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, and Mtsvane varieties. Our pride is our Kisi vineyards - the Argokhi location is recognized to be the best terroir in Georgia for growing this upcoming white wine grape and we own 65% of all Kisi vineyards in that Kisi terroir.
So far, the quality of our wines has been very well received, both here and abroad. We already export to Scandinavia, the US and the Far East. Our aim is to grow slowly and sustainably - while keeping a superior quality and develop long lasting relationships with our staff, industry colleagues in Georgia and sales channels here and abroad. At this point, we make 30 - 40.000 bottles/year and we aim to grow to a production ceiling of 100.000 - 140.000 bottles/year.
What made you enter into the world of wine?