Rkatsiteli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rkatsiteli |
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| Grape (Vitis) | |
Rkatsiteli in Viala & Vermorel
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| Color of berry skin | Blanc |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Origin | Georgia |
Rkatsiteli (/rəˌkɑːt[unsupported input]ˈ[unsupported input]i/) is a special type of grape used to make white wine. Its name comes from the Georgian words "rkats’iteli," which means "red stem" or "red horned." This grape is very old and has been grown for a long time.
Contents
History of Rkatsiteli
A Very Old Grape
Rkatsiteli grapes come from the country of Georgia. Experts believe it is one of the oldest types of grapes used for making wine. It has been grown there for thousands of years!
Popular in the Past
Long ago, Rkatsiteli was the most common grape grown in the Soviet Union. By 1978, it was used to make almost one-fifth of all the wine there. This grape was used for many different kinds of drinks. These included everyday table wines, sweet liqueurs, and even strong wines similar to Sherry. Before a big change in farming, Rkatsiteli might have been the most planted white wine grape in the world.
Sweet Wines from Kakheti
In a region called Kakheti, Rkatsiteli was famous for its sweet dessert wines. These wines were made in a way similar to port wine. People also tried to make sparkling wine from Rkatsiteli. However, it naturally has a high alcohol level, which made it hard to turn into bubbly wine.
Where Rkatsiteli Grows
Main Growing Areas
Most Rkatsiteli grapes are still grown in their original home, Georgia. However, you can also find many plantings in other Eastern European countries. These include Russia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, North Macedonia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine.
Other Regions Around the World
Smaller amounts of Rkatsiteli are also grown in other parts of the world. You can find it in Australia and the eastern United States. In the U.S., it's mainly grown in the Finger Lakes area of New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina. Some experimental plantings have also happened in California, Colorado (in the Grand Valley AVA and West Elks AVA), and China. In China, this grape is known as Baiyu.
Growing Rkatsiteli Grapes
Balancing Sweetness and Tartness
Rkatsiteli grapes naturally have a high acidity. This can make the wines taste very tart. To fix this, winemakers try to pick the grapes as late as possible. Picking them later allows the grapes to get more sugar. This helps to balance the tartness with sweetness. In most parts of Eastern Europe, the grape harvest usually happens in mid-October.
What Rkatsiteli Wine Tastes Like
Rkatsiteli makes white wines that are noticeably acidic but also well-balanced. They often have spicy and floral smells in their aroma.
See also
In Spanish: Rkatsiteli para niños
