Tsitska No Skin 2023 Ramaz Nikoladze

Tsitska No Skin 2023

Philosophy in the vineyard

Tsitska No Skin 2023 is born from meticulous peasant care that preserves the biodiversity and ancient heritage of Imereti. The grapes come from two vineyards planted on clay and flint: one over 100 years old, the other younger but farmed with the same artisanal devotion. Every step is manual, from pruning to harvesting, with minimal intervention. The closeness to the Black Sea brings fresh winds that help retain the grapes’ vibrant acidity, the soul of this wine’s crisp character.

Approach in the cellar

In the cellar, Ramaz Nikoladze chooses a vinification without skin contact, highlighting the clean, varietal expression of Tsitska, an ancient Georgian white grape. The bunches are gently basket-pressed, with no maceration, and ferment spontaneously in qvevri, where malolactic fermentation also completes. The wine then matures for 8 months in the same qvevri, with no fining or filtration, giving life to a bright, precise white.

Bright straw yellow in colour, it opens with notes of wild herbs, sea breeze and wet stone. The palate is crisp and tense, with a marked salty vein that makes it irresistibly drinkable.

Technical sheet

• Producer: Ramaz Nikoladze

• Vintage: 2023

• Region: Imereti

• Grape variety: 100% Tsitska

• Format: 0.75 l

• Country: Georgia

• Alcohol: 12%

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Ramaz Nikoladze

A family story reborn

Ramaz Nikoladze is one of the most respected names in Georgia’s artisanal winemaking scene. His winery was founded in 2007 when he decided to revive an old cellar that had historically belonged to his family. This project is not just about wine but about protecting and passing on a heritage that could have been lost. Today, Ramaz is a true reference point for those seeking the most authentic side of Georgian wine — micro-production, native grape varieties and ancient methods.

Philosophy in the vineyard

At the heart of Ramaz Nikoladze’s work is less than one hectare of vineyard, a tiny plot farmed with obsessive care. Two native varieties grow here: Tsiska and Tsolikouri, traditional grapes from the Imereti region. Vineyard management is completely manual, fully respectful of nature and free of aggressive treatments. Ramaz firmly believes that the grower’s role is to be a guardian, not a manipulator, letting the vines follow their own rhythm while absorbing the unique energy and minerality of these ancient soils.

Approach in the cellar

In the cellar, Ramaz Nikoladze works with the same coherence. Vinification is minimalist and traditional, with no shortcuts: spontaneous fermentations with only indigenous yeasts, long skin macerations and the wise use of qvevri, the buried clay vessels that have defined Georgian winemaking for millennia. No filtration, no fining: each bottle tells the story of its vintage, its vineyard and Ramaz’s guiding hand in a direct, vibrant and honest way. His wines, despite being made in tiny quantities, are sought after worldwide by lovers of orange wines and authentic traditions.