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.
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.
Qvevri: the heart of Georgian wine-makingRelated questions
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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.
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Where can you buy good wine in Batumi, and how much does it cost?
In Batumi, good wine is sold in specialist wine shops, winery brand stores and large supermarkets, where a decent bottle costs roughly 15 to 40 GEL.
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How much wine and alcohol can you take from Georgia to Russia?
You can take wine out of Georgia for personal use, but how much you can bring into Russia is set by Russian rules: an adult can bring up to 3 litres of alcohol duty-free.