What is the Georgian wine vessel called, and what is a qvevri?
The clay vessel used to make wine for thousands of years.
Short answer
A qvevri is a large egg-shaped clay vessel buried in the ground, in which wine ferments and is stored. The Georgian qvevri wine-making method is on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A small clay jug for serving wine at the table is called a doki or a tungi.
Why
- UNESCO added the traditional Georgian qvevri wine-making method to its list in 2013.
- Buried in the ground, the vessel keeps a steady cool temperature, which matters for fermentation.
- Archaeologists have found traces of wine-making in Georgia dating back about eight thousand years.
Details
Qvevri range from a few dozen to thousands of litres. You can see them in the marani, the wine cellar, of almost any Kakheti winery and at the qvevri museum in Napareuli.
Tip
Taste qvevri wine at a Kakheti tasting, where you can also see a marani with buried jars.
Common misconception
A qvevri is just a decorative jar.
What actually happens
Wine is still made in qvevri buried in the ground, and the method is on the UNESCO heritage list.
People also ask
- What is qvevri wine?
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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