What is Kisi, and what wine is made from it?
A rare white grape of Kakheti.
Short answer
Kisi is a native white grape of Kakheti, made into straw-coloured wines with a floral nose by the European method and into amber wines in qvevri. The grape had nearly disappeared by 2000 and is now being replanted.
Why
- The grape is indigenous to Kakheti and is blended with Mtsvane or Rkatsiteli.
- European-style wine is straw-coloured with pear, citrus and green tea, while the qvevri style shows more apricot, mango, lime, orange and walnut.
- Marghaani Kisi is among the wines with a protected name of origin.
Details
Some producers believe Kisi can make finer, more expressive wines than Rkatsiteli. Vines 50–60 years old survive in the Telavi district, and new planting continues.
For the traditional method see our answer on qvevri, and for choosing wine see which wines to bring home.
Tip
To compare styles, ask a wine shop for Kisi in both versions: European and from qvevri.
What may differ
Production is small, so what is on sale depends on the shop and the vintage. Taste depends on the producer.
Common misconception
Kisi is always an amber wine.
What actually happens
No. There are two styles: a straw-coloured European one and an amber qvevri one.
People also ask
- What is Kisi wine?
- What does Kisi wine taste like?
Sources
- National Wine Agency of Georgia: white grape varietiesChecked at:
- Georgia Tourism: The Cradle of WineChecked at:
This answer is for reference. Taste and style depend on the producer and the vintage.
Georgian wine: regions and grape varietiesRelated questions
-
What is amber wine in Georgia?
The Georgian Law on Vine and Wine divides wines by colour into white, amber, rosé and red.
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What is the horn Georgians drink wine from called?
The drinking horn in Georgia is called a kantsi; it is made of animal horn, and the richer ones are decorated with gold and silver.
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How many Georgian wines have a protected designation of origin?
On 11 November 2026 Georgia has 33 protected designations of origin (PDO) for wine.
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What is Bolnisi wine?
Bolnisi is a protected designation of origin for dry white, amber, red and rosé wines from the Bolnisi micro-zone in the south of Kvemo Kartli.