Kakheti
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Kakheti is the most important wine region in Georgia in every sense. It has the biggest number of wineries, appellations of origin, diverse styles and terroirs. It is the birthplace of the Kakhetian winemaking method, recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
And what a heritage it is. Archaeological excavations confirm that grapes have been cultivated in Kakheti for at least 7,000 years. In 2012, archaeologists discovered clay vessels dating back to 5000 BC in the village of Dzegvi. Over the centuries, local winegrowers have fought to preserve and prosper their vines, and today, Kakheti's vineyards account for 65% of the total number of vineyards in Georgia and produce 80% of the country's wine volume.
Perhaps the most iconic wines for the region are amber wines made from white grapes fermented with the skin, which gives them a signature color, aroma, and rich tannic taste for those who try them for the first time.
Terroir Features
Kakheti terroir is exceptionally diverse. In this large region in the east of Georgia, vineyards are grown on the plains along the Alazani River and partly right terraces of the Iori River, on the hills, and in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. Thus, there is a great diversity of soils and climatic features in each micro-zone of Kakheti, and the sheer variety of wines produced is outstanding.
Kakheti is quite distant from the Black Sea, so it experiences a transient continental climate characterized by a relatively dry and hot summer and most precipitation falling during winter. Most of Kakheti's vineyards are 200–750 meters above sea level. The prevailing soil type is black brown, humus-like, reddish-colored, calcareous clay with high iron content. All of it contributes a depth of flavor and rustic, earthy notes to the local wines.
The Kakhetian Method
The traditional Kakhetian winemaking method involves fermenting both white and red grape must in qvevris, large clay vessels, with the skins and stems of the grapes. The skins give the wine a rich and complex aroma, while the stems add structure and tannins. During fermentation, the must and pomace are regularly mixed, but after the skins, seeds, and stems settle to the bottom, the qvevris are sealed with a lid and left untouched for about 6 months until spring or even longer, depending on the winemaker's decision.
Districts & Micro-zones (PDOs)
Kakheti is divided into several municipalities, with 20 designated micro-zones with PDO status (European Union certification of Protected Designation of Origin) —more than in any other region of the country.
While wines made using the Kakhetian method are the calling card of the region and are produced everywhere, some PDOs specialize in wines made using the European method, such as Tsinandali for whites and Teliani for reds.
List of PDOs
- Akhashenisemi-sweet red
- Akhmetadry, semidry, semisweet white
- Akhoebidry red
- Gurjaanidry white
- Kakheti (Kakhuri)white, amber, rose, red with
- Kardanakhidry amber or fortified white
- Kindzmaraulisemi-sweet red
Main grape varieties
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Wine Gardens Winery Kisi2023
- Regular price
- €11.55
- Sale price
- €11.55
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Wine Gardens WineryVintages2023 / qnt.5000Wine type
Amber | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – AkhmetaGrape Kisi
In Stock 5000 -
Wine Gardens Winery Rkatsiteli2023
- Regular price
- €7.00
- Sale price
- €7.00
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Wine Gardens WineryVintages2023 / qnt.5000Wine type
White | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – AkhmetaGrape RkatsiteliIn Stock 5000 -
Wine Gardens Winery Tsinandali2023
- Regular price
- €9.48
- Sale price
- €9.48
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Wine Gardens WineryVintages2023 / qnt.5000Wine type
White | Alc. 12.0% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Tsinandali PDOGrape Rkatsiteli
In Stock 5000 -
Wine Gardens Winery Rose2023
- Regular price
- €8.66
- Sale price
- €8.66
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Wine Gardens WineryVintages2023 / qnt.5000Wine type
Semi Dry
Rose | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – AkhmetaGrape Vardisperi Rkatsiteli 65% · Saperavi 35%In Stock 5000 -
Wine Gardens Winery Akhasheni2023
- Regular price
- €10.31
- Sale price
- €10.31
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Wine Gardens WineryVintages2023 / qnt.5000Wine type
Semi Sweet
Red | Alc. 11.8% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Akhasheni PDO – AkhasheniGrape Saperavi
In Stock 5000 -
Wine Gardens Winery Kindzmarauli2023
- Regular price
- €10.31
- Sale price
- €10.31
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Wine Gardens WineryVintages2023 / qnt.5000Wine type
Semi Sweet
Red | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Kindzmarauli PDOGrape Saperavi
In Stock 5000 -
Wine Gardens Winery Saperavi2023
- Regular price
- €9.07
- Sale price
- €9.07
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Wine Gardens WineryVintages2023 / qnt.5000Wine type
Red | Alc. 12.3% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – TelaviGrape Saperavi
In Stock 5000 -
Wine Gardens Winery Mukuzani2023
- Regular price
- €11.55
- Sale price
- €11.55
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Wine Gardens WineryVintages2023 / qnt.5000Wine type
Red | Alc. 12.0% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Mukuzani PDO – MukuzaniGrape Saperavi
In Stock 5000 -
Lionidzis Zvari Tsinandali2019
- Regular price
- €7.45
- Sale price
- €7.45
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Lionidzis ZvariVintages2019 / qnt.440Wine type
White | Alc. 13.0% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Tsinandali PDO – KondoliGrape Rkatsiteli 85% · Mtsvane 15%
In Stock 440 -
Lionidzis Zvari Kindzmarauli (Premium)2019
- Regular price
- €12.87
- Sale price
- €12.87
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Lionidzis ZvariVintages2019 / qnt.1340Wine type
Semi Sweet
Red | Alc. 11.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Kindzmarauli PDOGrape Saperavi
In Stock 1340 -
Lionidzis Zvari Akhasheni2021
- Regular price
- €7.45
- Sale price
- €7.45
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Lionidzis ZvariVintages2021 / qnt.500Wine type
Semi Sweet
Red | Alc. 11.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Akhasheni PDO – AkhasheniGrape Saperavi
In Stock 500 -
Mukuzani Wine Cellar Saperavi Rose2023
- Regular price
- €5.76
- Sale price
- €5.76
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2023 / qnt.1700Wine type
Rose | Alc. 12.0% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Gurjaani – MukuzaniGrape Saperavi
In Stock 1700 -
Mukuzani Wine Cellar Khikhvi Pet-Nat2023
- Regular price
- €8.47
- Sale price
- €8.47
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2023 / qnt.1000Wine type
Sparkling
White | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Telavi – SanioreGrape Rkatsiteli
In Stock 1000 -
Mukuzani Wine Cellar Gurjaani2023
- Regular price
- €5.08
- Sale price
- €5.08
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2023 / qnt.1500Wine type
White | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Gurjaani PDOGrape Rkatsiteli
In Stock 1500 -
Lomiauri Estate Vazisubani2023
- Regular price
- €4.74
- Sale price
- €4.74
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2023 / qnt.2000Wine type
White | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Vazisubani PDO – VazisubaniGrape Rkatsiteli
In Stock 2000 -
Lomiauri Estate Mtsvane Qvevri2023
- Regular price
- €7.45
- Sale price
- €7.45
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2023 / qnt.1200Wine type
Amber | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Gurjaani – VazisubaniGrape Mtsvane
In Stock 1200 -
Mukuzani Wine Cellar Rkatsiteli Qvevri2020
- Regular price
- €8.47
- Sale price
- €8.47
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2020 / qnt.1500Wine type
Amber | Alc. 13.0% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Gurjaani – MukuzaniGrape Rkatsiteli
In Stock 1500 -
Mukuzani Wine Cellar Alexandreuli Qvevri2020
- Regular price
- €13.55
- Sale price
- €13.55
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2020 / qnt.500Wine type
Red | Alc. 13.0% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – GurjaaniGrape Aleksandrouli
In Stock 500 -
Mukuzani Wine Cellar Pinot Noir Qvevri2021
- Regular price
- €10.16
- Sale price
- €10.16
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2021 / qnt.2000Wine type
Red | Alc. 13.5% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Gurjaani – VazisubaniGrape Pinot Noir
In Stock 2000 -
Mukuzani Wine Cellar Saperavi Qvevri2021
- Regular price
- €11.85
- Sale price
- €11.85
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Winery Mukuzani Wine CellarVintages2021 / qnt.3000Wine type
Red | Alc. 14.0% | Vol. 750ml
Terroir Kakheti – Gurjaani – MukuzaniGrape Saperavi
In Stock 3000
Amber | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
White | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Semi Dry
Rose | Alc. 12.5% | Vol. 750ml
Semi Sweet
Red | Alc. 11.8% | Vol. 750ml
