Okureshi Usakhelouri

Specification

Registration  No. 983

Registration date : 30 /0 8 / 2022

Place of Origin :  Okureshi Usakhelouri

Name of the goods for which the designation of origin is registered: Wine

Name and address of the applicant :  Usakhelouri Vine and Wine Protection Association ; Tsageri Municipality, Okureshi Village, Georgia

1. Name : Okureshi Usakhelouri

2. Additional notes

3. Type , color and basic requirements

"Oqureshi Usakhelouri" is a red wine that can be classified into three different categories based on sugar content: dry, naturally semi-dry, or naturally semi-sweet.

Its organoleptic and physico-chemical characteristics must meet the following requirements:

· Color – dark amber ;

· Aroma and taste – notes of tart red fruit (plum) and red currant , full on the palate , with lively acidity and rounded , well - balanced tannins ;

· The actual alcoholic strength by volume for dry wines must not be less than 13.5 % , and for semi-dry and semi-sweet wines - less than 11.0% ;

· Sugar content in dry wine should not exceed 4 g/l, in semi-dry wine it should be from 4 to 18 g/l, and in semi-sweet wine – from 18 to 45 g/l ;

· Titrate acidity should not be less than 5 g/l;

· Volatile acidity should not exceed 1.2 g/l ;

· The total mass concentration of sulfur dioxide must not exceed 150.0 mg/l in dry wine and 200.0 mg/l in semi-dry and semi-sweet wines ;

· The mass concentration of the sugar-free extract should not be less than 22 g/l.

4. Geographical location and zones of production

The Okureshi Usakhelouri microzone is located in the Racha-Lechkhumi region, in the Tsageri administrative municipality. The microzone includes the villages scattered on the slopes of the right and left banks of the Tskhenistskali River: Zub, Isunder, Okureshi, Ofitara, Ladzgveria and Makhura at an altitude of 350–650 m above sea level. In the north and east, the Tskhenistskali River territory is protected by the Khvamli mountain range, and from the west the valley is protected by the Askhi mountain.

The border of the “Okuresh Usakhelouri” microzone runs from the confluence of the Tskhenistskali and Lashkodia rivers south of the village of Okureshi, first east, then north along the dividing line between the Upper and Lower Okureshi at a height of 650 meters above sea level, then turns to the northeastern Tskhakuri territory and joins the Zubi-Khvamli road at an altitude of 650 meters, after which it follows the road first north, then northwest to the Tskhenistskali bridge, and then north along the Tskhenistskali river to the confluence of the Kvereshula river.

Then the border continues west of the Kvereshula River to the 650-meter mark, from here the border turns south and passes through the territories of the villages of Zubi, Isunderi, Makhuri and Ladzgveria, at the 650-meter mark. Then the border turns east to the confluence of the Tskhenistskali River and the Cheula River, then follows the Cheula River in the east to the 650-meter mark, bypasses the village of Ofitara from the east and north to the 650-meter mark and goes to the Tskhenistskali River, then follows the Tskhenistskali River in the north to the confluence of the Lashkodia River.

5. Grape varieties

Okureshi Usakhelouri can only be made from Usakhelouri grapes grown in the microzone, and the use of other varieties is not permitted.

6. Vineyard cultivation , pruning - formation and maintenance

· In the Okureshi Usakhelouri microzone, commercial vineyards intended for the wine "Okureshis Usakhelouri" must be cultivated at an altitude of 350-650 meters above sea level ;

· The distance between rows in a vineyard can be 1.3-2.35 meters ;

· The distance between vines in a row is 0.8-1.40 m ;

· Stem height – 50-80 cm ;

· Shape of the graft – unilateral or bilateral Georgian, or free .

7. Grape maturity , harvest , transportation

Okureshi Usakhelouri is made only from ripe grapes. The sugar content of the grapes at the time of picking must be at least 23.0%.

· Grapes may only be transported in wooden or plastic boxes , in containers made of stainless steel or painted with special paint ;

· It is prohibited to use polyethylene bags and/or sacks when transporting grapes ;

· During transportation, grapes should be protected as much as possible from possible damage .

8. Grape harvest and wine production :

The grape harvest per 1 hectare of vineyard should not exceed 6 tons.

The wine solution should not exceed:

· 650 liters – from one ton of grapes;

· 390 0 liters – from one hectare of vineyard.

9. Grape processing , winemaking and bottling :​

Grapes intended for the production of "Oqureshi Usakhelouri" wine must be harvested only from vineyards cultivated in this microzone.

"Okureshis Usakhelouri" is made through complete or incomplete alcoholic fermentation of durdo.

In the production of “Okureshis Usakhelouri”, only those operations, materials and substances that are permitted under the Technical Regulation No. 524 of the Government of Georgia of November 6, 2018 “ On the General Rules of Wine Production and the Determination of the List of Permitted Processes, Materials and Substances ” are permitted.

Grape processing and winemaking are permitted only within the region, while bottling is permitted outside this zone, only on the territory of Georgia.

In addition, the export of grapes from the Okureshi Usakhelouri microzone for processing within the region and the export of wine from the region for bottling are permitted only under strict accounting and control.

Okureshi Usakhelouri is allowed to be placed on the consumer market only in consumer packaging.

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

Climate

The Okureshi Usakhelouri microzone is a kind of crater, surrounded on all sides by rocky ridges, which creates a special microclimate characterized by a humid climate, moderately cold winters, and long warm summers.

The annual duration of sunlight is 1900–2000 hours. The average annual air temperature is 14.2 ° C. The average temperature of the warmest month  (August) is – 22.2 ° C , and the coldest month (January) is not less than +0.5 ° C.

The duration of the growing season in the microzone is 181 days.

The sum of active temperatures reaches an average of 3500–3700 ° C .

The annual total precipitation is 1095 mm.

According to their granulometric composition, they belong to heavy loams and light clays. The soils are of varying degrees of porosity, with high porosity being characteristic of soils developed on limestones, while soils with low porosity and non-porousness are mostly found on marls.

The southern, southeastern and southwestern exposure of the vineyards in the microzone, the large number of sunny days balanced with precipitation, the high temperatures of July and August, and the hot days and cool nights in September and October contribute to a sharp increase in the concentration of sugars in the grapes, which is a very important factor for the production of this type of wine (grapes are harvested at a sugar content of at least 23%).

Soil

All of this, in combination with clayey and sandy humus-carbonate soils, leads to the best ripening of grapes, a balance of acidity and sugar content, and the accumulation of polyphenols. Anthocyanins, polyphenols, and sugars give the wine balance and complexity.

Lechkhumi is considered one of the best viticulture and winemaking regions in Georgia. According to some historical sources, it can be concluded that these branches of agriculture have played an important role in the economic life of this region since ancient times. This is indicated by the diversity of local grape varieties and the abundance of winemaking products that local residents prepared using various methods.

Human factor

Famous Georgian scientists – Niko Ketskhoveli, Maksime Ramishvili and Dimitri Tabidze – in their 1960 ampelography confirm the opinion of Ivane Javakhishvili the Great that Usakhelouri originated from the local center of origin of cultivated grape varieties, and its name comes from the village of Usakhelo, located on the right bank of the Lajanuri River in Lechkhumi.

The industrial production of Usakhelouri, this excellent semi-sweet wine, became possible as a result of the famous events of 1942 and the development and implementation of technology for producing naturally semi-sweet wines.

The "Usakhelouri" flute has received 5 awards, including 2 gold medals, at various international competitions in the second half of the 20th century .

The scarcity of the raw material base and the great popularity of wine determine its exceptionally high market value.

11. Special labeling rules :

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

1 Bondo Kalandadze, “Samtrest and the Samtrestians”, p. 111.

In Georgian – Okureshi Usakhelouri

Protected designation of origin

In Latin script – OKURESHI S USAKHELOURI

Protected Designation of Origin and/or PDO

In Russian font – OKURESHIS USAKHELOURI

Protected designation of origin

12. Registration and notification :

The registration and reporting of technological processes for the production and storage of wine "Okureshis Usakhelouri" is carried out in accordance with the "Rules for Registration and Reporting of Technological Processes in Viticulture and Winemaking Practice" approved by Order No. 2-78 of the Minister of Agriculture of January 24, 2019 .

13. Basic control parameters :

During the control of the production process of the protected designation of origin wine "Oqureshis Usakhelouri", the producer must confirm to the LEPL - National Wine Agency the compliance with the following parameters:

Control parameters

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 site, winemaking 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 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 equipment

14. Production control body :

State control over the observance of production specifications and the use of designations of origin is exercised by the LEPL - National Wine Agency in accordance with the rules established by the legislation of Georgia .

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