What is Chacha? The Spirit of Georgia

Chacha is a Georgian, traditional spirit, originally crafted using the leftover grape pomace (the skins, seeds, and stems) from the winemaking process, providing a way to extract every last drop of flavour and aroma from the region’s lush vineyards. Other famous pomace brandies include the Italian Grappas and French Marcs, like Marc de Bourgogne.

Buy Chacha at Fareham Wine Cellar here.

Chacha is one of the oldest distilled products in the world and is also known as vine or wine vodka, grape vodka or Georgian vodka.

Historically, Chacha was a homemade drink, the recipe enjoyed and passed down through generations. However; as interest in craft spirits has grown globally, Chacha has undergone a major shift. Today, Chacha is no longer just a small-scale, traditional product. It’s now commonly produced by professional distilleries and wineries across Georgia. Some of the best-known producers include Chateau Mukhrani, Teliani Valley and Telavi Wine Cellar.

Chacha is normally double distilled in Charentais type copper stills and then left to rest in either stainless steel vats or old wooden vats before bottling. Commercial styles are normally bottled at around 40% ABV whereas some family-made spirits can be approaching 80% ABV.

Types of Chacha

Barrel-Aged – some producers age their spirit in barrels or barriques which lends the spirit a golden colour and hints of vanilla and spices.

Flavoured – Chacha can also be flavoured using various fruits, such as figs, or honey or honeycomb. 

Varetial  – There are also 100% varietal versions made from 100% Rkatsiteli or Saperavi, for example.

In Georgia, many people swear by Chacha’s medicinal properties and it is believed to help remedy many ailments including blocked ears and indigestion.

How to serve Chacha

Chacha is normally served neat or over ice. It is also used to make toasts at Georgian feasts and can be served with Khinkali (dumplings), Khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and grilled skewered meats, kebabs and shashlik.

It is often also served with “Zakuski”, the Russian word for snacks served whilst drinking  and this can include fruit, sweets, Georgian chocolates and pastries. Chacha is a strong spirit, so it’s best enjoyed in moderation.

Photo by Masha Koko on Unsplash

Grappa Cocktails

It also shines as a versatile ingredient in cocktails. More recently, bartenders and mixologists have embraced Chacha, using its distinctive flavour profile to create innovative and captivating drink recipes that highlight the spirit’s unique qualities.

It can also be used in cocktails that would normally call for Grappa and can be used instead of gin in Negroni recipes, in which case the cocktail is called a Bagrationi. This is named after Russian General Pyotr Bagration and native of Georgia who fought against Napoleon in 1812.

Try in a Chacha-cino Cocktail:

60 ml Chacha

15 ml Tosolini Saliza Amaretto

15 ml Syrup

30 ml Freshly brewed Espresso 

Shake all the ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with some coffee beans.

The Chacha Tower

In 2012, in the Georgian Black Sea resort town of Batumi, a Chacha Tower was opened. This clock tower is 70 feet tall and is designed to attract locals and visitors alike. Perhaps people are mainly attracted by the fact that free Chacha flows from the fountain once a week for 15 minutes and from special dispensers for 10 minutes every day at 7 pm!

Chacha Clock Tower, Batumi by Andrew Milligan sumo
Via Flickr: Chacha Clock Tower, Batumi