Zura Mgvdliashvili – Natural Winemaker & Managing Founder of Georgia’s Natural Wine Association

Zura Mgvdliashvili is the Owner of Nikalas Marani, a traditional wine cellar located in Kardenakhi, Gurjaani region, Kakheti. The Marani (wine cellar) was originally founded by his great-grandfather, Nikala Mgvdliashvili, in 1928. He cultivates organic vineyards and produces additive-free wines using indigenous Georgian grape varieties and traditional qvevri methods. The winery is named after Zura’s great-grandfather, Nikala Mgvdliashvili, who established the original family cellar in 1928, continuing a legacy that now spans four generations.

Vineyards are planted in prime terroirs of Kardenakhi (Tsarapi and Akhoebi), growing traditional Georgian varieties like Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Kisi, Mtsvane, Khikhvi, and Budeshuri Saperavi

Decanter has named Nikalas Marani as a must-visit winery in Kakheti and considered Zurab as one of Georgia’s most respected natural winemakers with wines praised for their “rare vitality and character” and for Zura’s influence in the natural wine segment.

Zura is also the managing founder and director of the Natural Wine Association of Georgia, established in 2017 by 10 pioneering winemakers dedicated to preserving and promoting the country’s natural wine heritage. He also serves as director of Georgia’s leading natural wine fairs — Zero Compromise and Amerimeri — which are organized by the Association and have become essential platforms for connecting Georgian winemakers with global markets. These fairs attract a large number of wine importers, distributors, sommeliers, and other trade professionals from across the United States, Europe, Japan, and beyond — helping many producers successfully expand into international export.

Iago Bitarishvili – Winemaker, Georgia

Based in Chardakhi, Kartli region Georgia. Iago is a natural winemaker working exclusively with the local Chinuri grape, Iago was among the first in Georgia to produce certified organic wine, pioneering a path that inspired many small growers to embrace both ecological farming and authenticity in their work. Together with fellow winemaker Soliko Tsaishvili, he was among the first to export Georgian wine to international markets. Today, his wines are available in 11 countries.

Iago is one of the founders of  the Georgian Wine Club, which launched and ran the “New Wine Festival” from 2010 to 2019. The first ten years were under his direction. He is also a co-founder of the Natural Wine Association and a co organizer of Natural Wine fairs such as “Zero Compromise” and “Amerimeri”.

In 2025, Iago partnered with fellow co-founder Zurab Mgvdliashvili to launch Amber Georgia —the first Georgian natural wine fair in the United States, taking place on November 8 in New York City. Sponsored by the National Wine Agency of Georgia, Amber Georgia will bring together the largest group of Georgian natural winemakers ever assembled in the U.S.

Alexis Percival - Owner, AP Wine Consulting

New York City based CMS certified sommelier, consultant and event planner who puts the art in party. Alexis has 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry as a New York City wine-focused restaurant owner, wine consultant, sommelier and event planner. She has made two trips to the Republic of Georgia in the last five years, where she tasted with dozens of winemakers and visited almost as many wineries. In addition to being WSET Level 3 certified and Vine Pair’s Sommelier of the Year in 2021, her wine experience covers a broad spectrum of the hospitality business. A Managing Partner & Owner of Ruffian Wine Bar and Kindred in the East Village, her business acumen plays out both on and off the restaurant floor. She currently consults for award winning restaurants such as King, Jupiter and Steak Frites and is a long time cheerleader for natural and amber wines.