Georgian wines - always there, now even better

Because Georgian wine is a cultural asset - today as it was then - and has recently turned its attention to the international wine landscape. With autochthonous grape varieties, traditional production and small concentrated vineyards, wine from Georgia enriches every wine cellar. Always there and come to stay - Georgian wine at VINELLO. Here's to the next 7000 years.

Georgian wines - tradition and identification

At every corner you can see the significance that Georgian wine has for the people of this small country in the Caucasus. Churches are decorated with reliefs of grapes, the universally revered patron saint Nino wears her grapevine cross and wine is the dominant drink at every festival. Wine is part of Georgia's culture. But even if the traditional production of Georgian wine with the help of the Kvevri, amphorae sunk into the ground for the fermentation of wine, is hardly used any more, there is still a lot of character in the bottles. Ancient vines on ancient vineyards, deeply rooted in mineral soils, harvested by hand and aged either in amphora or Caucasian oak. After the capers of the past, Georgian wine is coming on strong, promising true experiences with every drop.

Georgian wine of the modern era

As a vineyard of the Soviet Union, Georgia experienced an unrivalled flowering, although the wines were of rather mediocre quality. Georgia experienced first turbulences for the wine industry by the anti-alcohol campaign, brought to life by the Soviet president Michail Gorbatschow. At the latest after the country's independence in 1991, exports lay fallow, followed by Russian sanctions in 2006. The downfall was followed by a rethinking and reflection on the country's tradition and strengths. With the development of new European markets and foreign investments, viticulture in Georgia is doing well again, but has not yet reached the size of former days. During the Soviet era, the area under vine was about 128,000 hectares; today, about 60,000 hectares remain, but they produce high-quality wines from Georgia.

The vines and areas of Georgia

Georgia has innumerable autochthonous grape varieties, about 38 of which are permitted for viticulture. Among them are local treasures like Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Tsolikouri and Siska - hard to pronounce, easy to enjoy. But varieties such as sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, merlot and malbec also grow and thrive on the alluvial or calcareous soils of Georgia's four growing regions.

Kakheti

The most important region for high-quality viticulture in Georgia is undoubtedly Kakheti, with the capital of the region Telavi as its centre. Two thirds of the grapes come from here, especially the indigenous varieties Saperavi and Rkatsiteli are widely cultivated. Both conventional and traditional viticulture is practiced locally. Almost every farmer owns vines, town names are brand names for local wine, donkey carts transport wine from A to B - Kakheti lives wine.

Kartlien

The region of Kartlia northwest of Tbilisi also plays an important role for wine from Georgia. In the sunny climate and spared from rainfall, grape varieties for Georgian wines in the European style grow here. A large part of the grapes is also used for the production of sparkling wine or brandy.

Imeretia

A little more to the west lies Imeretia on the rivers Qwirila and Rioni. All sorts of autochthonous varieties are grown on the alluvial soils and some are vinified in kvevris, with fewer grape skins and no stems entering the amphora as in Kakheti.

Ratscha-Letschchumi

The two growing regions cover much of the region and are scattered in the valleys and on southern slopes. The rare grape varieties Tsolikouri, Mudjuretuli and Aleksandrouli enjoy the warm and sunny climate and produce a lot of sugar. Thus, many semi-dry and sweet wines from Georgia can be found in Racha-Lechumi.

Traditional production of Georgian wine

The traditional production with the help of amphorae, called Kvevri or Quevri in Georgian, has been known to Georgians for thousands of years. Embedded in the earth and sealed with stone slab, clay and wood ash, these vessels are used only for the aging of the foot-stomped wine. Such kvevris hold 10 to 2000 litres and enrich the wine with a loamy clay. The wine is unsulphured and resembles orange wine. On the other hand, wines from traditional production are slightly oxidative and tannic.

Georgian wines buy cheap online

Georgian wine - an exotic and long-established at the same time. Order your Georgian wine and taste the future. Because for Georgia it goes in the next years only uphill. Wine from the Caucasus is everything that wine in other countries would like to be. Modern, traditional, high quality. Therefore, buy your Georgian wine online cheap and uncomplicated on VINELLO. We send you exotic wines from Georgia climate neutral and insured to your four walls. Buy new old Georgian wines from ancient tradition and experience an endless history.