Eristavi Law Group Expands Practice to Batumi

1. 4 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT TO GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 2011 ISSUE #7
The Kvevri wine-making technique secures a
niche for Georgian wine on the world market
the other hand, it acts as a marketing tool Last year, the company exported
which helps to boost product sales,” 300,000 bottles of wine, which is a 50
Khalvashi said. percent increase in comparison with its
At the moment, [Binekhi] employs 2009 figures. In the reported period,
about 40 people and produces more than about 60 percent of wine exports were
11 varieties of red and white wines, three of the red variety.
types of chacha and a cherry liqueur Last year, it exported 76 percent of
Binekhi. its production to Ukraine, while the rest
The white wine varieties of Binekhi was distributed to South Korea, Japan,
includes Alazani Valley, Tsinandali, Germany, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and
Gurjaani, Kakhuri Rqatsiteli Qvevri and the Baltic nations.
Bunekhi, which is an exclusive product
of the company. It is made from the
Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane and Khikhvi grape
varieties grown in the Napareuli and
Eniseli micro zones, in the wine-produc-
ing region of Kakheti.
The red wine varieties of Binekhi
include Khvanchkara, Kindzmarauli,
Alazani Valley, Mukuzani, Saperavi and
Kakhuri Saperavi Qvevri.
Additionally, wines bottled in ceram-
ic vessels of various shapes occupy a
special place in Binekhi’s collection.
“Thankfully, there is enough space left
for innovation, as well as enough space
Binekhi, a Georgian-based wine pro- groundwork has already been laid,” he In 2011, Binekhi semi-dry wine received to create new ceramic vessel designs
ducing company was one of the first to noted. silver medal at MUNDUS VINI, one of while also maintaining the old Georgian
start restoring the tradition of making He added that wine making countries the most prestigious international wine tradition of bottling the wine,” Khal-
wine in Amphorae (or Kvevri), a tech- such as Italy and Hungary have already award ceremonies held annually in vashi noted during the interview.
nique specific to Georgia twelve-years started producing wines in kvevris. Neustadt an der Weinstraße in Germa- Binekhi boasts the names of strong
ago. A kvevri is a clay vessel which is ny. drinks such as Chacha Binekhi Classic,
“Kvevri-making and the kvevri in buried in the ground where its contents In the same year, Chacha Binekhi Chacha Binekhi Gold and Chacha
general, is an integral part of traditional are fermented and the wine matures. The Estragon has became distinguished for Binekhi Estragon.
Georgian wine making and we decided fermentation process takes about 7 receiving the silver medal at the Mun- According to Khalvashi, the compa-
to conduct a small experiment with four months. Its oval shape with its pointed dus Vini. Chacha is traditionally a clear ny has been pursuing one goal since its
Kvevri’s,” Bachana Khalvashi, the bottom insures the natural filtration of strong liquor, which is sometimes called foundation: quality instead of quantity.
founder and director of Binekhi, told the wine – slag flows down to the bot- “vine vodka,” “grape vodka,” or “Geor- “This can only be achieved if one is able
Invest Today. The test was so success- tom without the chemical or mechani- gian vodka.” Chacha Binekhi Estragon to mediate the two opposites: tradition
ful that currently the company has near- cal interference that is used in the Euro- has also won the silver medal at the In- and innovative technology,” he noted.
ly 30 kvevris with a capacity of 45 tons. pean technology; the fact that the kvevri ternational Spirits Competition in Ger- Binekhi’s administrative offices and
According to Khalvashi, in the fu- is laid in the ground insures a stable stor- many in 2007. its bottling plant are located in
ture the company plans to invest in the age temperature; the fermentation of tan- The company has taken part in vari- M’tskheta, one of the oldest cities in
kvevri wine production infrastructure nin also retains all the useful substanc- ous wine exhibitions and has won vari- Georgia just outside Tbilisi. The initial
and double its capacity. “Binekhi’s es in the wine that usually are lost dur- ous prizes in the past. On May 2, 2008, manufacturing plant is in Napareuli, in
Kvevri wines are highly praised by con- ing the filtration process that takes place Binekhi took part in the second annual the Kakheti region.
sumers and sommeliers and provide the in the European model. The technology Georgian National Wine Competition The company owns 90 hectares of
perfect combination of tradition, bio- has been practiced for 8 thousand years entitled - Georgia Cradle of Wine. Ala- land in Kakheti, including the Artana,
product and ample choice of varietals,” in Georgia without changes. zani Valley, a red-semi sweet wine and Kisiskhevi, Kindzmarauli and the Tsi-
he added. In the Binekhi wine cellar, they have Chacha Binekhi Gold won gold medals nandali micro zones. They also have
Khalvashi is confident that the key stored more than 3,000 bottles of Kvevri while Khvanchkara, a red-semi sweet land in Zugdidi, a city in the western
to the development of the Georgian wine wines. These include Kakhuri Rqatsite- wine and chacha Binekhi-Estragon won region of Georgia.
industry lays in the production of Kvevri li Kvevri, a white dry wine and Kakhuri silver medals. The company is manly oriented in
wines, as this will secure a niche for Saperavi Kvevri, a red dry wine. “One the one hand, receiving a sil- exportation and as is the case in past
Georgian wine on the world market. Set up by Georgian businessmen in ver medal [provides a lesson] for the years, their prime objective in 2011 is
“This will not happen in a year or two, 1995, Binekhi’s production has grown wine producer that helps him improve the diversification of their export desti-
it requires hundreds of years but the and now exports 99% of its production. [on] in the manufacturing process. On nations and volume.
Eristavi Law Group News
Expands Practice to Batumi Through October 4-6, a delegation
EXPO REAL
mercial Property and Investment held in market orientation and valuable busi-
Eristavi Law Group ish-speaking specialists from the Georgian National Invest- Munich, Germany. ness contacts. Across the 64,000
(ELG), a leading law on staff, thus easing ment Agency (GNIA) will participate The largest B2B trade fair for com- square-meter site, 1,645 exhibitors will
firm headquartered in business dealings be- at EXPO REAL 2011, the mercial real estate of its kind in Europe, present their real estate product port-
Tbilisi, has opened its tween Turkish and 14th International Trade Fair for Com- EXPO REAL focuses on networking, folios. Exhibition participants cover
new full-service branch Georgian businesses the entire spectrum of the real estate
office in Batumi. and facilitating a more industry: project developers and man-
ELG’s Batumi of- productive business di- agers, investors and financiers, con-
fice, located at 6 Dum- alogue between the two sultants and agents, architects and
badze Street, in the countries in Adjara. planners, corporate real estate manag-
heart of the city, will In addition, Western ers and expansion managers, as well
offer legal representa- Georgia will now have as representatives from economic re-
tion for both individuals and business access to joint legal and business plan- gions and cities.
entities across a wide range of practice ning services from Eristavi Law Group George Tsikolia, GNIA Deputy Di-
areas and will cater to clients in West- and its American partner law firm Hall rector will make a presentation on cur-
ern Georgia, including the cities of Poti, Booth Smith & Slover, P.C. (HBSS), a rent real estate development opportu-
Zugdidi, Kutaisi, Ozurgeti and others. US legal powerhouse with headquarters nities in Georgia with the main focus
This office will be led by Mr. Zurab in Atlanta, Georgia. ELG and HBSS placed on the privatization of govern-
Garuchava, formerly head of the legal have been working together since Oc- ment-owned sites, the Anaklia Free
department for the RAKIA Free Indus- tober 2010, when the two law firms tourism Zone, Mestia’s annual skiing
trial Zone in Poti. Mr. Garuchava brings signed a memorandum of understand- resort and the Tskaltubo spa resort to
with him over a decade of legal experi- ing in Atlanta. name only a few. In the framework of
ence and expertise in international and Established in 2009, Eristavi Law the event, GNIA executives will hold
transportation law. Group continues to be a recognized lead- B2B meetings with the decision-mak-
Eristavi Law Group’s Batumi branch er in the Georgian legal field, both for ers in the real estate sector.
will be working closely with Georgia’s its diverse scope of quality legal servic- The event will be accompanied by
free industrial zones, including RAKIA, es as well as for its ground-breaking an extensive conference program:
and will be providing legal support for products and advisory services in the across five forums, 400 speakers will
the international companies that have area of corporate and business law. discuss the current trends and innova-
already registered with the industrial For more information about Eristavi tions in the real estate, investment and
zones. ELG Batumi will also have Turk- Law Group, please visit www.elg.ge financial markets.