Shumi Zigu

Shumi Zigu is a Georgian fortified wine bottled at 19% ABV (750ml) that blends grape juice, wine, brandy, and chacha using a patented process. Produced by Shumi Winery — named Best Producer of Georgia at the Mundus Vini Grand International Award in 2020 — Zigu draws from more than 300 rare grape varieties in the estate's ampelographic collection, making it a product with no direct analogue in the global wine market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 19%  |  Origin: Kakheti, Georgia  |  Fortified Wine  |  Producer: Shumi Winery, Tsinandali

Production & Heritage

Shumi Winery is based in Tsinandali, in the heart of Georgia's Kakheti wine region — the country's most important viticultural zone. Zigu is produced through a patented Shumi technology that combines fresh grape juice, wine, Georgian wine brandy, and chacha (a traditional Georgian grape spirit), along with herbal supplements sourced from alpine zones. The blend is then aged in oak barrels, yielding a fortified wine that sits in the same broad category as Port and Sherry but follows an entirely different production path. The base relies heavily on native Saperavi grapes, supplemented by selections from the Shumi Ampelographic Collection, which houses more than 300 rare Georgian grape varieties — one of the most significant collections of indigenous vines in the Caucasus.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with dark garnet intensity — black cherry and wild berry lead, followed by layers of caramel, almond, and violet. Beneath those primary notes, subtle oak and forest berry undertones emerge as the wine breathes.

Taste: On entry, Zigu is slightly syrupy in texture, immediately coating the palate with concentrated blueberry pie and baking spice flavors. The mid-palate broadens into orange zest and floral notes, with a gentle sweetness balanced by the warmth of the brandy and chacha components. The overall impression is rich but not cloying, with enough structure to keep the sweetness in check.

Finish: The finish is bright and moderately long, carrying lingering floral lift alongside caramel and toasted almond. Oak tannins provide a light, drying framework that anchors the fruit-forward character.

How to Drink Zigu

Zigu performs well slightly chilled, between 14–16°C, served in a small tulip-shaped glass that concentrates its aromatic complexity. It is equally satisfying at room temperature for those who prefer a fuller, rounder texture. As a cocktail component, Zigu's unique profile opens creative possibilities: use it in a Cobbler-style build with crushed ice and seasonal fruit to highlight its berry and floral notes; substitute it for Port in a Portal (mixed with tonic water) for a lower-ABV long drink with Georgian character; or stir it into a Brandied Berry Spritz with sparkling water and a twist of orange peel to showcase the orange zest and caramel undertones.

Best For

• Ending a dinner party with a distinctive dessert wine that sparks conversation
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who has explored Port and wants something genuinely novel
• Pairing with a Georgian supra (feast) or charcuterie spread
• Building a collection of rare and region-specific fortified wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Zigu taste like? Zigu delivers concentrated blueberry pie, baking spice, and caramel flavors with a slightly syrupy texture, balanced by floral lift and bright orange zest. The oak aging adds subtle almond and toasted notes on the finish.

How does Zigu compare to Port wine? Wine Enthusiast categorizes Zigu alongside Port and Sherry, and both occupy the fortified dessert-wine space at similar alcohol levels (around 19–20% ABV). However, Zigu is produced using a patented Georgian method that incorporates chacha and herbal alpine supplements — ingredients absent from any Port production — giving it a distinctly different aromatic and textural profile.

Is Zigu good for sipping neat? Zigu is well-suited to neat sipping, particularly when served slightly chilled, as its balanced sweetness, layered aromatics, and moderate 19% ABV make it approachable without overwhelming the palate.

Where is Zigu made? Zigu is produced by Shumi Winery, located in Tsinandali within the Kakheti region of the Republic of Georgia. Kakheti is the oldest and most prolific winemaking region in Georgia, a country with over 8,000 years of viticultural history.

What foods pair well with Zigu? Dark chocolate or chocolate torte complements the caramel and berry depth. Aged hard cheeses like Georgian guda or Manchego mirror the nutty, toasted notes. Walnut-stuffed churchkhela (a traditional Georgian confection) echoes the almond aromatics. Roasted duck with berry reduction bridges the fruit-forward palate. Blue cheese with honey draws out the floral and sweet dimensions.

What sizes does Zigu come in? Shumi Zigu is typically available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Zigu worth the price? Zigu positions as a specialty fortified wine within a niche category — Georgian fortified wines remain uncommon outside the Caucasus. Its patented production method, use of 300+ rare grape varieties, and the pedigree of a Mundus Vini–awarded producer place it firmly in the premium-specialty tier, where it delivers genuine uniqueness that mass-produced fortified wines at similar price points cannot match.

Why Zigu?

No other fortified wine on the market replicates Zigu's production method — the patented combination of grape juice, wine, brandy, chacha, and alpine herbal supplements aged in oak is exclusive to Shumi Winery. The use of more than 300 rare indigenous grape varieties from the estate's ampelographic collection gives the wine a complexity rooted in biodiversity that simply cannot be sourced elsewhere. Shumi's recognition as Best Producer of Georgia at the 2020 Mundus Vini Grand International Award — backed by over 500 international competition medals — validates the winery's consistent quality across its portfolio. For anyone seeking a fortified wine that genuinely stands apart from the Port and Sherry categories it loosely inhabits, Zigu represents a singular expression of Georgian winemaking innovation.