Saperica's mission is to promote Saperavi and other Georgian grape varieties along with Georgian gastronomy and culture in the Finger Lakes, NY and around the U.S., by organizing and facilitating educational seminars and exchange programs between the regions, for wine and culinary professionals and enthusiasts.
HISTORY of WINEMAKING seminar is the first from the SAPERAVI FESTIVAL seminar series and discusses the topics between co-founders of the organization Erika Frey, Lasha Tsatava and Lado Uzunashvili, international winemaker with PhD in Oenology and the keynote speaker of the Saperavi Festival.
HISTORY of WINEMAKING discussion topics:
- Location of Georgia, ice age and formation of climate for wild grapes to thrive
- How the first wine was made
- What were the insights of decision making in ancient vinification method
- “Technological” development 8,000 years ago
- How the oldest vinification process laid the foundation to modern viticulture and winemaking
Lado Uzunashvili is an oenologist, winemaker and holds a PhD in Oenology. In his past, he has partaken in research project with a faculty of Oenology at the Montpellier University in France, has helped in a research work at the Australian Wine Research Institute and is now designing a research work with the Agriculture University of Tokyo.
Lado has a very strong understanding of scientific aspects for wine production and style design, and the ability to adapt winemaking techniques to required wine styles. Lado’s unique skillset includes working and understanding vinification methods to produce award winning wines from international grape varieties like Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Grenache, as well as native, indigenous Georgian varieties, just to name a few: Saperavi, Rkatsiteli & Mtsvane. He has an excellent working knowledge of viticulture techniques to “make wine on vine” under various climate conditions: including pruning and canopy management techniques. Lado is an expert in setting-up ancient cellar and in vinification method using 8,000 years old techniques in subterranean clay pots: KVEVRI, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage ofHumankind.
Lado’s roots come from the family of vintners and vignerons of 11 generations and over the span of more than 250 years. He has been practicing winemaking from a very young age and experiencing different practices, climate conditions, grape varieties, styles of wines and philosophies around the world, particularly Georgia, Australia, France, Ukraine and Morocco. He has an impressive and extensive working experience, most notably as a winemaker with Hugh Hamilton Wines and Patritti Wines in Mclaren Vale, South Australia, chief winemaker and director at Chateau Mukhrani, Georgian Wines & Spirits Co, of Pernod Ricard and Mukado Wines, his own brand, from Georgia. As a consultant winemaker, he has helped Les Domain Paul Mas, Les Domains de Virginie, Castel Group and Le Domain de Lalande in France, as well as Shabo Wines in Ukraine.
Erika Frey is a wine educator and consultant with over 25 industry certifications including Certified Sommelier and the WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits. She is the Assistant Manager and Wine Buyer at Winestone, a boutique wine shop in Chestnut Hill, MA , where she specializes in building awareness and interest in lesser known wine regions and categories. Erika is also a WSET Certified Educator in Wine and Spirits. She teaches all levels of the WSET Wines program for the Commonwealth Wine School and Grape Experience. Recently, she has also collaborated with the Khetsuriani Sommelier and Wine School in the Republic of Georgia to offer the WSET Level 3 qualification. Erika has been invited as a speaker for Georgian Wine House, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, FLXcursion, the Ghvino Forum and Cornell University.
Lasha Tsatava is a native of the country of Georgia where evidence of winemaking has been found dating back 8,000 years. Although he has spent more than half of his life in the United States, his passion for Georgian wine, gastronomy and culture is as strong as ever. He has been awarded an honorary status of Georgian Gastronomy Ambassador 2021 and completed his WSET Diploma in Wine in the same year. He is the first Georgian to earn a WSET Diploma. Lasha also completed the Italian Wine Maestro program and became a French Wine Scholar. Lasha has been invited as a speaker at Ghvino Forum, Dr Konstantin Frank Winery and Cornell University. He has been serving as one of the Directors of the Boston Sommelier Society since 2019 and is involved in promoting the wines of Georgia around Boston and beyond. In 2022, Lasha co-founded a non-profit corporation, Saperica, to promote Saperavi and other Georgian grape varieties, Georgian gastronomy and culture in the Finger Lakes, NY and around the U.S.
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