Idyllically located in the romantic city of Signangi, perched atop a hill in the heart of the city center, is John Okro's tiny restaurant and winery. This charming spot looks out over the sublime Caucasus Mountains and the rolling Kakhetian farmland below.

Since 2004, John has been vinifying natural wines in clay qvevri right in the center of town. In 2009, John opened his restaurant just next door, where he serves classic Kakhetian dishes, such as fresh tomato salads with sunflower oil and pork grilled over grape vines, all of which are paired with his very own wines, brought straight from the qvevri.

John farms 5.5 hectares of land spread throughout Georgia to accommodate the different terroirs of the endemic grapes he uses. Tsolikouri in the west, Mtsvane and Tavkeveri in central Georgia, and Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, and Kisi in the east. What sets John’s wines apart from most Geogian producers is how long he lets his wines rest before releasing them to the public. Even now, his newest release was in 2018. This allows the rambunctious wines to settle down and become more elegant, while the subtle flavors become more apparent. Savory, aromatic and textural--these are some of the most soulful and well-rounded wines from this incredible region.

The pleasure of meeting John Okro is one of a kind as his hospitality knows no bounds. If you ever find yourself in his part of the world, I can only recommend you pay him a visit and experience it for yourself.

- Jean-Paul

Here is what we currently have in stock:

Rkatsiteli 2018: A macerated orange wine from eastern Georgia. $20
Tsolikouri 2017: A direct press white wine from western Georgia. $23
Sister's Wines Kisi: A deep orange wine made by John's sister Jenny. $23