{{Short description, Georgian wine
Mukuzani ( ka, მუკუზანი ''muk’uzani'') is a dry red
Georgian wine
Georgia (country), Georgia is one of the oldest List of wine-producing countries, wine-producing countries in the world. The fertile valleys and protective slopes of the South Caucasus were home to grapevine cultivation and neolithic wine product ...
made from
Saperavi
Saperavi ( ka, საფერავი; literally "paint, dye, give color") is an acidic, teinturier-type grape variety native to the country of Georgia, where it is used to make many of the region's most well-known wines. It is also grown in ...
grapes in Mukuzani,
Kakheti
Kakheti (; ) is a region of Georgia. Telavi is its administrative center. The region comprises eight administrative districts: Telavi, Gurjaani, Qvareli, Sagarejo, Dedoplistsqaro, Signagi, Lagodekhi and Akhmeta.
Kakhetians speak the ...
. Mukuzani is distinct from the other wines made from the same grapes in that it is aged in oak casks for a longer time – at least three years.
Mukuzani has a deep red color with a soft smoky scent of
oak
An oak is a hardwood tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' of the beech family. They have spirally arranged leaves, often with lobed edges, and a nut called an acorn, borne within a cup. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisp ...
and
berry
A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples of berries in the cul ...
. The taste begins dry but the oak and fruit flavors quickly come through. As a result of its longer aging, Mukuzani has more complexity than the other wines made from Saperavi grapes. It goes particularly well with
steak
A steak is a cut of meat sliced across muscle fibers, sometimes including a bone. It is normally Grilling, grilled or Pan frying, fried, and can be diced or cooked in sauce.
Steaks are most commonly cut from cattle (beefsteak), but can also ...
s and
dark meat
In gastronomy, red meat is commonly red when raw (and a dark color after it is cooked), in contrast to white meat, which is pale in color before (and after) cooking. In culinary terms, only flesh from mammals or fowl (not fish) is classified ...
s.
The matured wine contains 10.5–12.5% alcohol and has 6.0–7.0% titrated acidity. It has been produced since 1888.
Mukuzani is considered by many to be the best of the Georgian red wines made from Saperavi. It has won 9 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 3 bronze medals in international competitions.
See also
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Georgian wine
Georgia (country), Georgia is one of the oldest List of wine-producing countries, wine-producing countries in the world. The fertile valleys and protective slopes of the South Caucasus were home to grapevine cultivation and neolithic wine product ...
*
Sweetness of wine
The subjective sweetness of a wine is determined by the interaction of several factors, including the amount of sugar in the wine, but also the relative levels of alcohol, acids, and tannins. Sugars and alcohol enhance a wine's sweetness, while ...
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List of Georgian wine appellations
The following is a list of Georgian wine appellations. 29 appellations are registered with Sakpatenti, Georgia's national intellectual property center. 18 are described in a book published in 2010, and 11 more have been added since (see current li ...