“Oqureshi Usakhelouri” Acquires the Status of an Appellation of Origin

Soon “Oqureshi Usakhelouri” will be added to the State Registry of Appellations of Origin registered in Georgia. The procedure of registration of the new appellation of origin at the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia – “Sakpatenti” is at the final stage. 

On September 20, 2021, the Association for Protection of Vine and Wine Usakhelouri applied to Sakpatenti with a request to register a new appellation of origin “Oqureshi Usakhelouri”. According to the procedure, after carrying out examination, the specification of applicant wine shall be published in one central and one local print media distributed within the geographical area and zones determined for the wine production. Oqureshi Usakhelouri micro-zone is located in Racha-Lechkhumi region, Tsageri administrative municipality. The micro-zone covers the villages situated on the slopes of the right and left banks of river Tskhenistsqali: Zubi, Isunderi, Oqureshi, Opitara, Ladzgveria and Makhura, at a height of 350-650 m above sea level.  

The final stage of the procedure implies publication of the specification in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property. If within 3 months from the publication, no additional information is submitted to Sakpatenti with respect to these materials, a certificate of registration shall be issued for the appellation of origin “Oqureshi Usakhelouri” and the data shall be entered in the State Registry of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications. This confirms the uniqueness of “Oqureshi Usakhelouri”, which is due to the geographical area and zone, grape processing, winemaking rule, link between the exclusive wine quality, reputation and geographical area and other characteristics. 

“Oqureshi Usakhelouri” is a dark cherry-coloured wine with distinctive taste properties, made from grapes of Usakhelouri variety.  According to sugar content it is divided into three different categories: dry, naturally semi-dry or naturally semi-sweet. The local, centuries-old tradition of viticulture and winemaking determines the unique organoleptic properties characteristic only of this wine, whereas the scarcity of the raw materials and great popularity of the wine lead to its exceptionally high market value.