Behind every successful idea lies a unique vision. There is a special kind of person drawn to challenges—those who are captivated by complexity and the extraordinary. This is their calling. Zaza Kapanadze, our winemaker and viticulturist, is one of those people.
Capno is a family-owned winery dedicated to crafting sparkling wines using the traditional metheod since 2014. Led by Zaza Kapanadze, grower and winemaker, our family works together to uphold this passion. Nino Kirtadze, Zaza’s wife, is the head of marketing, ensuring to share our journey with the world.
Our sons, Nuko and Daniel, are deeply involved in every step. Daniel, a student of enology at GTU, represents the future of Capno, bringing fresh insights and energy.
For us, Capno is more than wine—it’s a labor of love, tradition, and authenticity we’re proud to share.
Behind every successful idea lies a unique vision. There is a special kind of person drawn to challenges—those who are captivated by complexity and the extraordinary. This is their calling. Zaza Kapanadze, our winemaker and viticulturist, is one of those people.
When he discovered that Tsitska could be cultivated on our estate in the village of Kalvata, Upper Imereti, the idea of Capno was born: “Tsitska should make exceptional sparkling wine—on par with French Champagne!”
The first Tsitska vines were planted in 2011. The winery was established, riddling racks were installed, and a special grape press was imported from France to press whole clusters. Zaza mastered the traditional Champagne method—complex, but the only path to exceptional quality.
After three years of hard work, the family harvested their first crop, celebrated the first vintage, and bottled their first sparkling wine. A 36-month wait began.
In 2017, the first sparkling wine made from Tsitska, using the traditional method, was uncorked. Capno was finally born. Every effervescent bubble celebrated joy, Zaza’s achievement, and the family’s victory. Each bottle of Capno is infused with this triumph and emotion, ready to celebrate your successes and moments of pure happiness.
“Is it a field or a mountain?” According to Simon Kapanadze, a winemaker’s grandfather, the geography of our estate was somewhat peculiar. There were hilly mountains, yet there were also flat lands called “kaloebi” (places for threshing grain). So, was it a field or a mountain? Perhaps both. That’s how it came to be called Kalvata.
Kalvata is located in the Sachkhere district of Upper Imereti. The village belongs to the Kapanadze family, descendants of the legendary “Wolf-Eater” (see the legend in our blog), who have lived here for over ten generations. The centuries-old stories of the village, both simple and fascinating, are preserved by a 500-year-old oak forest.
The village is distinguished by its clay-rich soil, rolling hills, and a small stream flowing near our vineyard, creating an ideal terroir for Capno’s exceptional sparkling wines.
The vineyard is the cornerstone of the Capno family, the foundation of everything—the birthplace of Capno. They are rooted in the rich terroir of Upper Imereti, in the picturesque village of Kalvata, Sachkhere district.
Our first vineyard, established in 2011, thrives on a sunlit hillside bordered by mighty oak groves, offering stunning views of Sachkhere’s legendary Modinakhe Fortress and traditional Imeretian homes. This 1-hectare vineyard is harvested with the heartfelt support of our village, standing alongside our family sometimes from dusk till dawn with shared laughs and warmth around the vines.
Our second vineyard, planted in 2014, lies closer to home, nestled in our winery’s courtyard. Spanning half a hectare, it reflects our intimate connection to the land.
Both vineyards primarily grow Tsitska, with about 5% planted with Tsolikouri and a few individual vines of other black and wild grape varieties.
Our vineyards are our pride—a symbol of life and joy, a triumph we celebrate annually under the Capno name, shared with every sip and bottle.
At Capno, Tsitska represents the very soul of our craft. Each sip reveals its essence: a perfect balance of tradition and artistry, encapsulated in the airy, delicate bubbles of our sparkling wine.
Tsitska, historically known as “Shanti,” is a grape variety native to central and upper Imereti. As one of the oldest cultivars in western Georgia, it traces its roots to ancient Colchis, where kings filled their golden goblets with Tsitska wine. Today, it remains a symbol of exceptional quality.
For our winemaker and viticulturist, Zaza Kapanadze, the unique qualities of Tsitska have been a profound source of inspiration. Revered as the finest choice for sparkling wine, Tsitska is celebrated for its vibrant acidity and bold, delightful flavors—qualities that once earned it the name “Shanti” (meaning fire and branding iron).
At the heart of exceptional sparkling wine lies the traditional method, a time-honored process that transforms simple grapes into an elegant symphony of bubbles. This method, known as Méthode Traditionnelle or Champenoise, demands precision, patience, and artistry at every step.
It begins with a careful harvest, selecting only the finest grapes. The base wine is fermented, blended, and bottled with a mixture of sugar and yeast. Here, the magic happens: a second fermentation occurs within the bottle, creating the delicate bubbles that define high quality sparkling wine.
The bottles are then aged on their lees (spent yeast) for months or even years, developing complex flavors of brioche, citrus, and minerality. Each bottle is meticulously riddled (turned) by hand or machine to collect sediment, which is finally removed in a process called disgorgement.
The traditional method isn’t just winemaking—it’s a craft steeped in dedication, tradition, and remarkable complexity. The only way we achieve the fine sparkling wine quality called Capno.
