Georgian Wine: History, Grape Varieties and Wine Routes

When elsewhere in the world people were barely cultivating the first seeds, the inhabitants of the Caucasus were already making wine. Georgia is the cradle of viticulture: the oldest known archaeological remains of wine production in the world —over 8,000 years old— have been found on Georgian soil. Wine here is not a simple product: it is the backbone of the country's cultural identity.

Qvevri enterrado en Georgia — método ancestral de elaboración de vino
Qvevri, clay amphorae buried in the earth, are the ancestral method of winemaking in Georgia, declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Qvevri Method: the World's Oldest Winemaking Technique

The secret of Georgian wine lies in the qvevri (or kvevri): a beeswax-lined fired clay amphora buried up to its neck in the ground. Inside the qvevri, wine ferments and matures in contact with the grape skins, seeds and often stalks for months or years. The constant ground temperature regulates the process naturally.

The result is what are known as amber wines (orange wines): whites of an intensely golden colour, with marked tannins, complex aromas of dried fruit, herbs and spices, and a structure that sets them radically apart from any Western wine. UNESCO declared the qvevri method an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.

Georgian Grape Varieties

Georgia is home to over 500 indigenous grape varieties, more than any other country in the world relative to its size. The most important ones:

  • Saperavi: Georgia's great red grape. It produces wines of very intense colour (even the pulp is red), with aromas of dark fruits, spices and mineral notes. It is the backbone of exported Georgian wine.
  • Rkatsiteli: The most widespread white grape. Versatile, it produces fresh wines using the European method or complex amber wines in qvevri.
  • Mtsvane: An aromatic white grape, often blended with Rkatsiteli to add freshness and a floral bouquet.
  • Kisi: A niche variety that produces amber wines of great complexity.

Wine Regions of Georgia

Kakheti: the Heart of Wine

Kakheti, in eastern Georgia, produces more than 70% of the country's wine. The Alazani valley, with its clay soils and the continental climate moderated by the Greater Caucasus mountains, is the country's finest terroir. The towns of Telavi and Signagi are the centres of wine tourism in Kakheti.

Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi

Imereti uses the qvevri with less maceration than Kakheti, producing lighter wines. Racha-Lechkhumi, in the mountains, is famous for Khvanchkara, a naturally semi-sweet red wine that was Stalin's favourite.

Viñedos de Kakheti Georgia en otoño — paisaje del enoturismo georgiano
The Kakheti vineyards in autumn offer one of the most beautiful landscapes in Georgia during the harvest season (Rtveli).

Wine Tourism in Georgia: Wine Routes

The Kakheti Wine Route is one of the most complete experiences in the Caucasus: visits to historic and modern wineries, qvevri tastings, participation in the harvest (Rtveli, September–October), samplings of local cuisine and nights in guesthouses with their own cellars. The Tbilisi Wine Festival (May) and the Rtveli Festival (October) are the most notable events on the wine calendar.

To discover another great wine tradition of the Caucasus, don't miss our guide on Armenian wine and the Tushpa Winery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Georgia called the cradle of wine?

Because the oldest known archaeological remains of winemaking in the world have been found in Georgia: seeds of domesticated grapes and wine residues in clay vessels over 8,000 years old, discovered in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region. No other territory in the world has such ancient evidence of viticulture.

Where can I buy Georgian wine in the UK or US?

Georgian wine is increasingly available in specialist natural and imported wine shops. Brands such as Pheasant's Tears, Alaverdi, Schuchmann and Château Mukhrani can be found in some specialist retailers and online. You can also purchase wine directly at the wineries during your trip.

What is Georgian amber wine (orange wine)?

Amber wine is a white wine made with prolonged maceration of grape skins in the must, for weeks or months. The result is a wine of an intensely golden-orange colour, with tannins (unusual in whites), aromas of dried fruit and spices, and a complexity that surprises anyone who tries it for the first time. Georgia has been producing it using the qvevri method for millennia.