Georgian Wine for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

Georgia isn't just a wine country — it's THE wine country. Archaeological evidence from 6000 BC makes it the oldest known wine-producing region on Earth. That's not marketing. That's 8,000 years of continuous winemaking, predating France, Italy, and everyone else by millennia. And they're still doing it the old way — fermenting in clay vessels buried underground. If you've never tried Georgian wine, you're missing an entire dimension of what wine can be.

## What Makes Georgian Wine Different? ### The Qvevri Method The defining feature of Georgian winemaking is the **qvevri** (ქვევრი) — a large egg-shaped clay vessel, lined with beeswax, buried in the ground up to its neck. Grapes go in — juice, skins, seeds, sometimes stems, everything. The qvevri is sealed with a stone lid and the wine ferments underground for 5-6 months, maintained at a constant temperature by the earth itself. This method was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. It's not a novelty — it's how wine has been made in Georgia for 8,000 years. **What this produces**: Wines with more body, more tannin (even whites), and more complexity than conventional wines. The extended skin contact gives Georgian white wines their distinctive amber color and tannic structure — characteristics that are almost nonexistent in Western winemaking. ### Skin-Contact White Wine (Amber Wine) This is Georgia's most distinctive contribution to the wine world. When white grapes are fermented with their skins in a qvevri for months, the resulting wine is deep amber or orange in color. It has tannins, body, and complexity closer to a red wine — but with the aromatic profile of a white. **If you've had "orange wine" in a trendy bar**: That's inspired by Georgia, but often made in stainless steel with much shorter skin contact. Real Georgian amber wine from a qvevri is a different beast — deeper, more structured, sometimes challenging, always interesting. **Don't expect it to taste like any white wine you've had.** Approach it like a new category entirely. It pairs brilliantly with food — especially rich, meaty, walnut-heavy Georgian cuisine. ## The Grapes Georgia has over **525 indigenous grape varieties** — more than any other country. Most are found nowhere else on Earth. You don't need to know all of them. Here are the ones that matter: ### Red Grapes **Saperavi** (საფერავი) — The king. Georgia's most important red grape, one of the few "teinturier" varieties (the flesh is red, not just the skin). Produces deep, dark, tannic reds that can age for decades. Young Saperavi is fruity and bold. Aged Saperavi develops leather, tobacco, and dark fruit complexity. If you try one Georgian wine, make it a good Saperavi. **Aleksandrouli** — Grown primarily in the Racha region. Semi-sweet red wines with berry notes. The famous Khvanchkara wine is made from Aleksandrouli blended with Mujuretuli. Stalin's alleged favorite wine. **Otskhanuri Sapere** — An ancient variety experiencing a revival. Lighter than Saperavi, with floral notes and bright acidity. Interesting if you prefer lighter reds. ### White Grapes **Rkatsiteli** (რქაწითელი) — Georgia's most planted grape, also grown across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Versatile: makes crisp modern whites, rich amber qvevri wines, and everything in between. A well-made Rkatsiteli amber wine is one of the great wine experiences. **Mtsvane** (მწვანე) — "Green grape." Often blended with Rkatsiteli, sometimes vinified alone. More aromatic and floral. In qvevri style, it produces an amber wine with herbal, honeyed notes. **Kisi** (კისი) — Smaller production, interesting grape. Amber wines from Kisi tend to be rounder and more approachable than Rkatsiteli. Good entry point for amber wine skeptics. **Tsolikouri** — The main white grape of western Georgia (Imereti region). Makes crisp, minerally whites in modern style. Less commonly seen in qvevri. ## The Regions ### Kakheti (Eastern Georgia) The heartland. Over 70% of Georgia's wine comes from Kakheti. Rolling hills, continental climate, hot summers. The best Saperavi and Rkatsiteli come from here. **Key appellations**: - **Tsinandali** — Classic white blend (Rkatsiteli + Mtsvane), European-style, oak-aged. Georgia's first attempt at Western-style winemaking (19th century). - **Mukuzani** — Premium Saperavi, minimum 3 years oak aging. Rich, structured, age-worthy. - **Kindzmarauli** — Semi-sweet red from Saperavi. Hugely popular domestically, and better than you'd expect from a sweet wine. - **Napareuli** — Both red (Saperavi) and white (Rkatsiteli) wines. Reliable quality. **Visit**: Kakheti is a 1.5-hour drive from Tbilisi. The small town of **Sighnaghi** (the "City of Love") is the most charming base — a hilltop town with views of the Alazani Valley and dozens of wineries within walking distance. ### Kartli (Central Georgia) Around Tbilisi itself. Gorі, Ateni, Mukhrani. Historically important — Château Mukhrani is one of Georgia's grand estates with European-influenced winemaking. Chinuri grape is the local specialty. ### Imereti (Western Georgia) Milder, more humid climate. More restrained, elegant wines. Tsolikouri and Tsitska are the main white grapes. The qvevri wines here tend to have shorter skin contact — lighter amber, more delicate. ### Racha-Lechkhumi (Northwestern Georgia) Small, mountainous, prestigious. Home to Khvanchkara (naturally semi-sweet red) and Tvishi (naturally semi-sweet white). These naturally sweet wines come from grapes that freeze on the vine in Racha's cold autumns, concentrating the sugars naturally. ## How to Taste ### In Tbilisi **Vino Underground** (Tabidze Street, Old Town) — The ground zero of Georgia's natural wine movement. Tiny, crowded, passionate. They pour wines by the glass from small producers you won't find anywhere else. The staff will guide you through everything. Essential stop. **Wine Gallery** (8 Bambis Rigi) — More upscale, wider selection. Good if you want to taste systematically across regions. They offer structured tasting flights. **G.Vino** (Erekle II Street) — Restaurant and wine bar with an excellent Georgian wine list and food to match. Good for a proper dinner with wine pairing. **Tbilisi Wine Museum** — Small but informative. Gives context to what you're tasting. Includes qvevri displays and historical artifacts. ### In Kakheti (Wine Country) Most Kakheti wineries welcome visitors — some require appointments, many don't. Here's a starting point: **Pheasant's Tears** (Sighnaghi) — American-founded, Georgian-method. Beautiful wines, great food, stunning location. Probably the most famous Georgian winery internationally. Book ahead. **Shumi** — Large, modern, educational. Free tours and tastings. Good for understanding the basics. **Alaverdi Monastery** — Monks making wine in qvevri inside an 11th-century cathedral. The wine is simple but the experience is profound. **Any family winery** — The best experiences in Kakheti are the unplanned ones. Drive down any village road, see grapevines and a hand-painted sign, and stop. You'll be invited in. You'll taste wine from the family's qvevri. You'll eat. You'll leave with a bottle and a story. ## The Wine You Should Buy If you're in Georgia and want to bring wine home, here are reliable producers across styles: | Wine | Producer | Style | Price (Georgia) | |---|---|---|---| | Saperavi | Teliani Valley | Modern, clean red | $5-8 | | Saperavi Reserve | Château Mukhrani | Oak-aged, rich | $10-15 | | Rkatsiteli Amber | Pheasant's Tears | Qvevri, complex | $12-18 | | Mtsvane | Orgo | Amber, natural | $15-20 | | Kisi | Lagvinari | Amber, approachable | $12-16 | | Khvanchkara | Various | Semi-sweet red | $10-15 | | Tsinandali | Shumi | European white style | $5-8 | **Budget tip**: Excellent everyday wine in Georgia costs $3-5 per bottle. You can drink very well for very little. The premium bottles listed above are for when you want something special to take home. ## Common Questions **Is Georgian wine "good"?** Yes. The best Georgian wines are world-class by any standard. But "good" here means different — if you expect everything to taste like Burgundy or Napa, you'll be confused. Approach it as its own tradition and you'll be rewarded. **I don't like tannic wine. Will I like amber wine?** Maybe not at first. Start with a Kisi or a short-maceration Rkatsiteli — they're lighter and more approachable. Work your way up to the full-bodied six-month qvevri wines. **What's the deal with semi-sweet wines?** Georgians love them. Kindzmarauli and Khvanchkara are bestsellers domestically. They're not "cheap sweet wine" — they're naturally semi-sweet due to cold fermentation and residual sugar. Give them a chance, especially with spicy food. **Can I bring wine home in my luggage?** Yes. Georgia doesn't restrict wine exports. Pack bottles carefully (wrap in clothes, put in shoes). Most airlines allow alcohol in checked luggage. Consider buying a wine shipping box at Tbilisi airport. --- *Last updated: February 2026. Wine prices, venue details, and recommendations are current as of this date.*