Senior Nikoloz Managadze has helped create the sixth edition of Fresno State Winery’s Graduate’s Reserve wine, which is now available for purchase online and at the Gibson Farm Market, according to a May 6 announcement. This marks the first white wine in the series, made with Chardonnay, Albariño, and Fiano grapes by Managadze and fellow seniors Kaylee Manriquez, Juan Lopez, Faith Swope, and Addison Todd.
The release comes as Fresno State prepares for commencement season. Only 60 cases of this special vintage are available from the campus winery. The students processed grapes from 15 vineyards throughout California during a busy year.
Managadze will participate in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology ceremony on May 15 at Save Mart Center. He said his work on this wine provided a contrast to his honors research project analyzing traditional Qveri-style wines from his home country of Georgia. “I gained a wide range of experience at Fresno State,” Managadze said. “It’s one of the best academic universities for enology, while also providing hands-on experience in all parts of the winemaking process. The research part was equally enlightening and helped me better understand the chemistry behind fermentation, and new ways to appreciate all types of wine.” Dr. Qun Sun supervised his research project and said she enjoyed learning about old-world winemaking styles.
Georgia claims more than 8,000 years of winemaking history with over 2,500 wineries and hundreds of native grape varieties using clay vessels called Qveri that influence taste through unique fermentation processes involving grape skins and stems.
Managadze noted that Georgian wineries export over one million bottles annually to the United States. A California winery is also using similar clay vessel techniques inspired by Georgian traditions.
After graduation in May, Managadze plans to show his father—who leads a mobile bottling business—around Fresno State Winery before starting an internship at Chappellet Winery in Napa Valley.
