Kakheti

Kakheti wine is built on two grapes — the bold red Saperavi and the widely planted white Rkatsiteli — and if you want wines that taste like nothing from France, Italy, or Spain, this is where to start. Located in eastern Georgia, Kakheti is the country's dominant wine region, and its ancient clay-vessel tradition sets it apart from every neighbouring area. The styles on offer range from deep, grippy reds to skin-contact whites that no other region quite replicates.

Why choose Kakheti wine?

Choose Kakheti when you want a wine with a provenance you can actually taste. The qvevri winemaking method — whole berries, skins, pips, and stems fermented together in buried clay vessels — was recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2013, which means the tradition is both ancient and officially worth preserving. That process delivers tannins and flavour complexity you simply do not find in equivalent bottles from, say, Kartli or Imereti. Saperavi reaches its most serious form in the PDOs Mukuzani, Napareuli, and Kindzmarauli — named appellations that act as a reliable buying signal for quality and style. And because Kakheti accounts for roughly 80% of all Georgian wine production, the range here is broader than anywhere else in the country, from food-friendly dry reds that pair brilliantly with lamb or slow-roasted meats to amber Rkatsiteli whites for adventurous drinkers tired of Chardonnay. If you want uniquely tannic, characterful wines backed by UNESCO-recognised craftsmanship, our Kakheti selection starts here →

What makes Kakhetian qvevri wines taste different from ordinary whites?

Extended maceration of up to six months in clay qvevri gives Kakheti whites their golden or amber colour, tannic grip, and aromas of hay and chamomile — a profile no stainless-steel fermentation can replicate.

What style is Rkatsiteli, and which should I pick?

Rkatsiteli comes in two styles: traditional amber wines vinified on skins with apple-skin flavours, or a European style with stone-fruit, quince, crisp acidity, and a lightly floral character — choose by how adventurous you feel.

Does Kakheti produce any sweet wines?

Yes. Kindzmarauli specialises in semi-sweet reds from Saperavi, and Khikhvi produces full-bodied dry and sweet whites with soft acidity and distinctive box-leaf aromas.