| Rkatsiteli | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
 Rkatsiteli in Viala & Vermorel | |
| Color of berry skin | Blanc |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Origin | Georgia |
| VIVC number | 10116 |
Rkatsiteli (/rəˌkɑːtsɪˈtɛli/;Georgian:რქაწითელი,romanized:rkats'iteli; literally "red stem" or "red horned") is a kind ofgrape used to produce whitewine.
This ancientvinifera originates inGeorgia and is believed to be one of the oldestgrape varieties.[1]
Rkatsiteli was the most widely planted grape variety in theSoviet Union and, by 1978, was responsible for 18% of all Soviet wine production.[2] There it was used to make everything fromtable wine toliqueurs toSherry-likefortified wine. BeforePresident Gorbachev'svine pull scheme, it was possibly the world's most widely planted white wine grape.[3]
InKakheti it was particularly known for itssweetdessert wines fashioned in the same manner asport wine. There were many attempts to create asparkling wine from the grape, but its naturally highalcohol levels prevented it from being much of a success.[1]
In Georgia, Rkatsiteli is not only widely cultivated but also featured in wine tourism experiences, especially in the Kakheti region. Many vineyards offer tastings and educational tours focused on traditional qvevri fermentation using Rkatsiteli grapes.
The grape is mostly planted in its ancestral home of Georgia, though there are still sizable plantings in otherEastern European countries likeRussia,Armenia,Bulgaria,Moldova,Romania,Serbia, andNorth Macedonia,Azerbaijan andUkraine.[1]
It is also planted, in small amounts, inAustralia and the easternUnited States, mainly in theFinger Lakes region ofNew York state,Massachusetts,New Jersey,Virginia andNorth Carolina.[4] There have also been some experimental plantings inCalifornia, theGrand Valley AVA andWest Elks AVA of Colorado andChina (where the grape is known asBaiyu).[1]
The highacidity of the grape is prone to make the wines excessively tart, so winemakers try to pick the grapes as late as possible to maximize the sugar balance to offset the acidity. In most regions of Eastern Europeharvest is typically in mid-October.[1]
Rkatsiteli makes a noticeably acidic,balanced white wine with spicy and floral notes in the aroma.[1]
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