What is Rkatsiteli, and what kind of wine does it make?
A Kakheti white grape in two styles.
Short answer
Rkatsiteli is Georgia's most widely planted white grape, native to Kakheti, and it makes golden wine in two styles: lighter by the European method and richer from qvevri. The name means red stem. It covers about 43% of vineyards.
Why
- Rkatsiteli is the oldest indigenous variety, and its home is Kakheti, especially the Alazani Valley slopes.
- The European method (direct pressing, steel tanks) gives a lighter, milder wine, while qvevri with skin contact gives a richer wine with tannins and a deep golden colour.
- The grape blends well with Mtsvane and is used in several protected-origin wines.
Details
Flavours: golden plum, white mulberry, ripe apricot, peach, tea, dried quince and a touch of earthiness, with citrus freshness. Its best zone is the north-west of the Alazani Valley, including the villages of Tsinandali and Vazisubani.
See also our answers on qvevri and on wines worth bringing home. It pairs with Georgian cheeses, especially sheep's cheese, with salads, mchadi and khachapuri.
Tip
To try both styles, take two bottles: one made by the European method and one from qvevri. The difference is easy to taste.
What may differ
Taste depends on the producer, vintage and ageing. The grape is grown in other countries too, but Georgian fruit is regarded as the benchmark.
Common misconception
Rkatsiteli is always an amber qvevri wine.
What actually happens
No. There are two styles: from qvevri the wine is heavier and deeper in colour, while the European method in steel tanks gives a lighter, milder wine with a soft golden colour.
People also ask
- What is Rkatsiteli wine?
- What does Rkatsiteli taste like?
Sources
- Georgia Tourism: RkatsiteliChecked at:
- National Wine Agency of Georgia: white grape varietiesChecked at:
This answer is for reference. Taste and style depend on the producer and the vintage.
Georgian wine: regions and grape varietiesRelated questions
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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.