Which Georgian wine is best, and which should you take home?
The main grapes and wine names, dry and semi-sweet.
Short answer
The best Georgian wine depends on your taste, but the most popular to take home are dry reds from the Saperavi grape such as Mukuzani, dry whites like Tsinandali and Rkatsiteli, and semi-sweet Kindzmarauli and Khvanchkara. Also try qvevri wines, made with the traditional Georgian method. Buy from winery shops and specialist wine stores.
Why
- Saperavi is Georgia's main red grape; Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane are the main whites.
- Names like Kindzmarauli, Mukuzani and Khvanchkara are protected and tied to specific micro-zones.
- Khvanchkara costs more than many wines because it comes from a small micro-zone in Racha.
Details
Protected designations of origin are registered by Georgia's National Wine Agency. Qvevri wines are aged in clay vessels, often with the grape skins, which gives white qvevri wines their amber colour.
Tip
Read the label: the micro-zone name and the producer matter more than a pretty bottle.
People also ask
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Sources
This answer is for reference only. Alcohol is sold only to people over 18, and check import limits against your destination country's rules.
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