Georgian Wine

Georgia has a real place in history for wine. It is widely believed that this is where wine production first began, over 8000 years ago. The word “wine” is actually derived from “gvino” – the Georgian word for wine. Archaeological remains suggest that as early as 4000 BC grape juice was being placed in underground clay jars, or Qvevri (also known as Kvevri), to ferment during the winter. You'll see these terms on many Georgian wines as they make wines in the methods of the ancients. It even has UNESCO heritage protection.

Wine is so entwined with Georgian culture that many families have their own mini vineyard from which they make wine to produce at home. There are over 500 grape varieties in Georgia, currently with around 40 of these grape varieties being used for popular consumption. Around 150 million litres of wine are produced each year in Georgia, with around 45,000 hectares under vine.

There are a number of wine regions: Kakheti and Kartli in the east, and Imereti, Samegrelo, Guria, Ajaria, and Abkhazia in the west. The best known is Kakheti, which produces 70% of all production. The map below shows where these can be found, along with the most important Specific Viticulture Areas.

It is a country still largely unexplored on the international scene, but popularity is growing thanks to their use of ancient techniques and rich wine tradition. Explore our range below and discover where wine all began.