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.
What may differ
The same wine's price differs noticeably between brand shops, supermarkets and the airport.
Common misconception
Good Georgian wine is always expensive.
What actually happens
Many good wines from family wineries are inexpensive; region and producer matter more than price.
People also ask
- What Georgian wine should I bring home?
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.
Best Georgian Wines: Varieties, Production and TastingRelated questions
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What is chacha, what is it made from, and how strong is it?
Chacha is a strong Georgian spirit distilled from the grape pomace left over from winemaking.
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What should you eat with Georgian semi-sweet red wine?
Georgia's semi-sweet reds, such as Khvanchkara, Kindzmarauli, Akhasheni and Ojaleshi, go well with fruit, desserts, churchkhela, nuts and mild cheeses like sulguni and Imeretian.
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What do people drink in Georgia, and how do Georgians drink wine?
Wine is Georgia's main drink, enjoyed at the table with toasts led by the tamada, from glasses or, on special occasions, a horn.
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Where can you buy good wine in Tbilisi, and how much does it cost?
In Tbilisi, good wine is sold in specialist wine shops and wine bars in the Old Town and Sololaki, in winery brand stores and in large supermarkets.