Pheasant's Tears
Key Georgian and local wine terms
A Kakheti winery preserving Georgia's ancient qvevri tradition across 117 indigenous grape varieties and beyond.
Pheasant's Tears is a natural winery in Kakheti, Georgia, founded in 2007 by John Wurdeman and Gela Patalishvili. The winery farms 17 hectares across Kakheti, Adjara, and Samtskhe-Javakheti using organic and biodynamic practices. All wines are fermented in traditional qvevri clay amphorae buried underground.
- Founded in 2007 by John Wurdeman and Gela Patalishvili in the village of Tibaani/Sighnaghi
- Operates 17 hectares across multiple regions including Kakheti, Adjara, and Samtskhe-Javakheti
- Works with 117 recognized indigenous Georgian grape varieties plus 40 more under active research
- All wines are fermented in traditional qvevri, clay amphorae buried underground
- Vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic
- Flagship Poliphonia wine is a field blend of up to 417 rare grape varieties
- Name derives from a Georgian folk tale about pheasants shedding tears of joy over exceptional wine
History and Founding
Pheasant's Tears was established in 2007 by American artist John Wurdeman and Georgian winemaker Gela Patalishvili, based in the village of Tibaani near Sighnaghi in the Kakheti region. The name comes from a Georgian folk tale in which pheasants weep tears of joy upon encountering wine of exceptional quality. From its founding, the winery set out to preserve and research indigenous Georgian grape varieties, positioning itself as both a producer and a custodian of Georgia's extraordinary viticultural heritage.
- Founded 2007 by John Wurdeman and Gela Patalishvili
- Located in Tibaani/Sighnaghi, Kakheti
- Name inspired by a Georgian folk tale about pheasants and exceptional wine
- Mission centers on preserving indigenous Georgian grape varieties
Vineyards and Terroir
The winery farms 17 hectares spread across multiple Georgian regions, including Kakheti, Adjara, and Samtskhe-Javakheti. Soils in the Kakheti vineyards are predominantly sandstone and quartz, providing good drainage and a mineral character. The climate is semi-desert, with hot and dry conditions during the day and cool, windy nights that help preserve acidity and freshness in the grapes. All vineyards are managed organically and biodynamically, with no synthetic inputs.
- 17 hectares across Kakheti, Adjara, and Samtskhe-Javakheti
- Sandstone and quartz soils in Kakheti
- Semi-desert climate with hot days and cool, windy nights
- Certified organic and biodynamic farming throughout
Winemaking in Qvevri
Every wine at Pheasant's Tears is fermented in qvevri, traditional Georgian clay amphorae that are buried underground to maintain stable temperatures during fermentation and aging. This method, which Georgia has practiced for at least 8,000 years, results in the amber and orange wines for which the winery is known. Winemaking is minimal intervention throughout, with no additions or adjustments, in line with natural wine philosophy. Extended skin contact is standard practice for the white wines, producing the characteristic amber color and tannin structure.
- All fermentations take place in buried qvevri clay amphorae
- Extended skin contact produces the signature amber and orange wine styles
- Minimal intervention, no additions or corrective treatments
- Qvevri winemaking is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage practice
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Look it up →Grape Variety Research
Pheasant's Tears works with an extraordinary breadth of indigenous Georgian varieties. The winery currently vinifies grapes from 117 officially recognized indigenous varieties and has a further 40 varieties under active research. Key grapes grown include Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi, Mtsvane, Verdisperi, and Tsitska. The flagship Poliphonia bottling takes this commitment to its extreme, incorporating a field blend of up to 417 rare grape varieties in a single wine.
- 117 recognized indigenous Georgian varieties cultivated
- 40 additional varieties under ongoing research
- Key grapes: Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi, Mtsvane, Verdisperi, Tsitska
- Poliphonia contains a field blend of up to 417 rare varieties
Amber and orange whites show dried apricot, quince, walnut skin, and dried herb character with notable tannin grip from extended skin contact. Reds based on Saperavi deliver deep color, dark plum, pomegranate, and earthy spice with firm acidity. All wines reflect the semi-desert terroir through concentration and mineral tension.
- Pheasant's Tears Rkatsiteli$25-35Classic qvevri-fermented amber white from Kakheti showing the winery's signature skin-contact style.Find →
- Pheasant's Tears Saperavi$25-35Deeply colored Kakheti red fermented in qvevri with dark fruit and firm, food-friendly structure.Find →
- Pheasant's Tears Kisi$30-40Rare indigenous variety vinified in qvevri, producing a textured amber wine with quince and dried herb notes.Find →
- Pheasant's Tears Poliphonia$60-80Field blend of up to 417 rare indigenous varieties; one of Georgia's most ambitious single bottlings.Find →
- Pheasant's Tears is a producer, not a region; it is located in Kakheti, eastern Georgia
- Founded 2007; all wines fermented in qvevri (buried clay amphorae), no exceptions
- Works with 117 recognized indigenous varieties plus 40 under research; Poliphonia uses up to 417 varieties
- Vineyards are organic and biodynamic; sandstone and quartz soils; semi-desert climate in Kakheti
- Key varieties include Saperavi (red) and Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi, Mtsvane (white/amber)