Assyrian shawl

Registration  No. 984

Registration date :  24/11/ 2022

Place of Origin :  Assyrian Shala

Name of the goods for which registration of the appellation of origin is requested : Wine

Name and address of the applicant :  A(A)IP Asureti Regional Development Center; Tetritskaro Municipality, Asureti Village, Shvabebi Street No. 28 , Georgia

1. Name : Assyrian Shala

2. Additional designation : Assyrian

3. Type, color and basic requirements:

“Asuretuli Shala” is a dry red wine that must meet the following requirements:

• Color: light ruby ​​to dark ruby;
• Aroma and taste: Extractive, refined. Pleasant, lively acidity, with notes of blackberry and blackcurrant. When matured, a pronounced bouquet develops with notes of spices (pepper, cloves) and dried fruits (dried black plums);
• The actual alcoholic strength by volume shall not be less than 11%;
• The mass concentration of the reduced extract must not be less than 24 g/l;
• Sugar content should not exceed 4 g/l;
• Titrate acidity should not be less than 4 g/l;
• Volatile acidity, calculated as acetic acid – no more than 1.2 g/l;
• Total mass concentration of sulfur dioxide – no more than 150 mg/l.

4. Geographical area and zones of production

The Asuretuli Shala microzone is located in the village of Asureti, Tetritskaro Municipality, on the left bank of the Algeti River. The microzone includes the settlements of the village of Asureti.

5. Grape varieties

"Asuretuli Shala" can be made only from Asuretuli Shali grapes grown in the Asuretuli Shala microzone. It is permissible to use Tavkveri and Shavkapito together with Asuretuli Shali within the limit of 15%.

6. Vineyard cultivation, pruning, shaping and maintenance

In the Asuretuli Shala microzone, commercial vineyards intended for the wine “Asuretuli Shala” must be cultivated at an altitude of 400-750 meters above sea level;

• The distance between rows in a vineyard can be from 1 to 2.5 meters;
• The distance between vines in a row is 0.8-2 meters;
• Stem height 50-80 cm;
• Pruning form – unilateral or bilateral Georgian, or free;
• Vine cultivation, its pruning-forming and protection from pests and diseases, as well as soil cultivation, its fertilization and other operations are carried out taking into account the methods introduced and tested in viticulture practice. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the flowers of the Asuretuli Shavi and Tavkveri varieties are functionally female and when growing them, it will be necessary to select pollinators.

7. Grape maturity, harvest, transportation

• "Asuretuli Shala" is made only from ripe grapes. The sugar content at the time of picking must be at least 19%;
• Grapes may only be transported in wooden or plastic boxes, in containers made of stainless steel or painted with special paint;
• The use of polyethylene bags and/or sacks when transporting grapes is prohibited;
• During transportation, grapes should be protected as much as possible from possible contamination.

8. Grape harvest and wine production

The grape harvest per 1 hectare of vineyard should not exceed 10 tons.

The wine yield should not exceed 650 liters from 1 ton of grapes and 6,500 liters from 1 hectare of vineyard.

9. Grape processing, winemaking and bottling

Grapes intended for the production of "Asuretuli Shala" must be harvested only from vineyards cultivated in the Asuretuli Shala microzone.

Grape processing and winemaking must be carried out only within the borders of the Asuretuli Shala microzone, while bottling is permitted outside this microzone, on the territory of Georgia.

"Asuretuli Shala" is made through complete alcoholic fermentation of Durdo.

In the production of “Asuretuli Shala”, only those operations, materials and substances permitted by Georgian legislation are permitted (Technical Regulations “On the General Rules of Wine Production and the Determination of the List of Permitted Processes, Materials and Substances” approved by Resolution No. 524 of the Government of Georgia of November 6, 2018).

10. The connection  between the exceptional quality of wine, its reputation and its geographical location

Climate – characterized by moderately cold winters and long warm summers. The average air temperature is 15°C, the average temperature of the warmest month (August) ranges from 20°C to 24°C, and the average temperature of the coldest month (January) ranges from -0.7 to -3°C. A steady transition of the average daily air temperature above 10°C occurs in the first decade of April (April 5-10), while a drop in temperature below 10°C is observed in the first decade of November (November 5-10). The sum of active temperatures in the microzone is 3069°C.

The average annual precipitation ranges from 450 to 500 mm. The maximum precipitation is in May, and the minimum is in December.

Soil – The soil cover prevalent in this viticulture zone is mainly represented by brown, low humus soils.

According to the mechanical composition, the soils belong to the type of loamy soils and are represented by medium-thick soils. The structure of the upper humus horizon is coarse-grained. A relatively loose, less structural layer is distinguished from the surface.

CaC03 is not observed in the upper 70-80 cm layer of the profile. Its content in the 80-130 cm layer is within 29-33%.

The humus content in the arable layer is within 3.09-3.17%.

The total nitrogen (N) content is 0.150-0.175%, and phosphorus (P2O5) is 0.08%.

The soil solution reaction in the upper layer is 7.25-7.75, and in the lower layer is 8.13-8.45.

Thus, the soils of the viticulture distribution zone are characterized by a medium supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and a high supply of potassium, and are also quite saturated with absorbed nutrients.

Human factor – From the 1920s, Tsarist Russia began to resettle German colonists (Swabians) in Georgia, most of whom settled in the vicinity of Tbilisi. Thus, in 1818, the German settlement “Elizabettal”  (present-day Assyria) was established[1].

By the end of the 19th century, "Elisabettal" was a well-developed and, from an economic point of view, a model village. The Germans pursued viticulture, cattle breeding, agriculture, and crafts.

German colonists created important social and cultural institutions in Assyria, which played a major role in the socio-economic and cultural life of the population. Unique material monuments of their existence have survived to this day: a unique wine cellar, a sulfur bath, a Lutheran church built in the Gothic style, and residential buildings built in the Old German architectural style.

It is noteworthy that the old endemic grape variety Assuretuli Shavi was found in the forest near the ancient settlement of Assureti by the German Otto Schall, who cultivated and propagated it. The Germans made wine from it, which was later named “Shala” in honor of Otto Schall. Special shops were opened in Tbilisi, Baku, and Yerevan for the sale of wine produced in Assureti. Vineyards were planted 7 kilometers from the village, on the banks of the Algeti River, which ensured a high-quality harvest.[2] The Germans built a unique three-story wine cellar, where they stored about 5,000 tons of wine. It is noteworthy that in 2017, the unique wine cellar located in Assureti was granted the status of a cultural heritage monument.

Thus, the vineyards in the Asuretuli Shala microzone are mainly cultivated on clay soils, which are distinguished by their coarse-grained structure and, in combination with the mesoclimate, are very favorable for viticulture and give the wine a rich taste and complexity, full-bodiedness, balance of sweetness and acidity, roundness and a well-balanced tannin structure. All this determines the special organoleptic characteristics of the wine “Asuretuli Shala”.

11. Special labeling requirements

The following will be included on the label, packaging, accompanying documents and advertising materials for the wine:

In Georgian: Asuretuli Shala   Protected Designation of Origin Wine

In Latin script: ASURETULI SHALA Protected Designation of Origin and/or PDO

კირილიცით: ASURETULI SHALA  Protected designation of origin

12. Registration and notification

The recording and reporting of technological processes for the production and storage of “Asuretuli Shala” is carried out in accordance with the rules established by Georgian legislation (“Rules for Recording and Reporting Technological Processes in Viticulture and Winemaking Practice,” approved by Order No. 2-78 of the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia of January 24, 2019).

13. Key Control Points

During the control of the production process of the protected designation of origin wine “Asuretuli Shala”, the producer must confirm to the LEPL – National Wine Agency the compliance with the following parameters:

Main checkpoints​

Evaluation methods

Vineyard location

Cadastral map , on-site inspection

Area

Vineyard registration journal , cadastre

Grape variety

Vineyard accounting journal , on-site inspection

Cultivation methods

Agrotechnical activities registration journal, medication journal . On-site inspection

Harvesting and transportation​

Vintage magazine

Grape yield per hectare

Vintage magazine

Total grape harvest

Vintage magazine

Grape processing and winemaking

Grape receipt log , grape processing log , product turnover log, laboratory analysis logs , notifications , on- site inspection

Place and conditions for bottling , packaging and storage of wine

Casting journal , finished goods warehouse product movement journal, laboratory analysis journals

Physico - chemical characteristics of wine during the winemaking process, before and after bottling

Laboratory analysis logs

Organoleptic characteristics of wine

Tasting Commission Minutes

Traceability

Technological and laboratory records

14. Production control body

The LEPL - National Wine Agency exercises state control over the observance of production specifications and the proper use of the designation of origin .

15. Microzone map

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[1] https://tetritskaro.gov.ge/ghirsshesanishnaobebi/423-sofeli-asureti.html

[2]https://tetritskaro.gov.ge/ghirsshesanishnaobebi/423-sofeli-asureti.html

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