Raphael joined our team of winemakers in 2005, bringing in his knowledge and working experience supported by years in France, Spain and Australia. Time of adaptation to the peculiarities of local varietals and wine styles was full of discoveries and shortly he became the creator of multiple innovations, even while making wine with traditional Qvevri.
“At Telavi Wine Cellar, every step on the way from vineyards to the winery and then to the bottle is under a very careful attention. The soil and vineyard management has definitely turned toward a sustainable policy; substantial parts of Kudigora vineyards are already on the way to Organic certification. Each year, we experiment with different techniques, grape maturity levels, temperatures of fermentation, periods of maceration and thus gradually improving overall wine quality, but still our best wines are crafted in the traditional clay jars, the Qvevri”.
Beqa Sozashvili started working at Telavi Wine Cellar right after completing the Secondary School. He practiced literally every position in the cellar, starting from cellar hand assistant and stepping up to the winery chief winemaker. He studied at the State Agriculture University, graduating with the Master's Degree in winemaking.
“Growing up in Kakheti, one is grafted to love wine and everything related to it, so am I. Telavi Wine Cellar is gradually improving its winemaking practices and vineyard management systems and here, through close cooperation of these two directions, I foresee myself as a valuable contributor of the company for its successful future”.