The Miracle of the Vine - Grape Seed Oil from the Homeland of Wine
The beneficial nature of grape and grape seed oil has been recognized since the Middle Ages. The Greeks and Italians long ago realized what a treasure the grape seed was, and have been using it in cosmetics and cooking for centuries.
Grape seed oil factory "Chateau Zegani" is located in the heart of Georgian viticulture, in the Kakheti region, on the historical territory of Alexander Chavchavadze's Gurjaani residence.
For two years, the owners of the company traveled all over Europe to experience the recycling of waste products from wine-making, and the methods used to make grape seed oil. Eventually, they decided on a method of cold-pressing to process raw materials and make oil. Grape seed oil is produced from unique Rkatsiteli grapes, which have no analogues in their tannins and composition, produced in the unique climatic conditions determined by the Kakheti region and its geography.
The grape seeds are pressed at low temperatures and are not fragmented before pressing. The cold pressed oil retains all the nutrients that are valuable in medicine and cosmetology.
Cold pressure produces much less oil, making the procedure more energy efficient and less time consuming than hot extraction methods. Oil residue is processed on modern expellers designed by the Agrosol Firm, which boasts international quality certificates.
"Chateau Zegani" prepares wine seed oil from red and white grape beans separately, the only company in the world to do so. Cold-pressed grape seed oil is rich in vitamins and trace elements: potassium, calcium, sodium, and iron. With its anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties, it is an effective immune-stimulant.
Grape seed oil contains components such as tocopherol (vitamin E), linolenic acid, and resveratrol. You may have heard that drinking a glass of red wine daily is good for your health, and this is largely due to the antioxidant resveratrol in grapes. Quercetin protects the liver and blood vessels, and is diuretic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor. Phytosterol, which is abundant in grape seed, is a chemical of natural origin that has the unique property of controlling cholesterol levels as well as arachidonic acid, known as vitamin P.
The daily recommended dose is 4 mg, being essential for normal growth and regeneration of the skin epithelium, and for maintaining vitamin A supply to lower blood cholesterol levels.
French studies have shown that grape seed oil, with its antioxidant properties, exceeds vitamin C by 18.4 times and vitamin E by 50 times. Grape seed oil contains a large number of phenolic compounds, which has a filter role in plants, protecting the tissue from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. Grape seed oil is thus a beneficial product for human health.
Grape seed oil produced by “Chateau Zegani” is on sale in chain markets and in the company's wine shop ‘Reserve.’ Grape seed oil is an endemic product, because Georgia was and will forever be the homeland of grapes and wine.
By Mariam Merabishvili