Wine Tour and Wine Culture in Georgia

Introduction of the Wine Culture in Georgia.

Georgian unique tradition of wine making might be one of the reasons you are travelling and spending your holidays in Georgia, but before your  trip to Georgia  If you are interested in wine grapes and wine itself, we would like to tell you about Georgian part in wine grape heritage. 

The total number of wine grapes in the world counts to 10.000 varieties,  some of which are pure type and many varieties have been developed by grafting and other methods for producing new hybrids. There are wine grape varieties only grown in certain countries and places.
Thought it may seem obvious but grapes can be utilised for the following:

- Wine grapes
- Table grapes
- Raisin grapes
- Juice (non-alcoholic)
- Jelly/Jams
- Rootstock

From the 10.000 varieties from all over the world you can find 500  endemic varieties in Georgia. 62 varieties, of these, are included in the standard assortment, including 29 wine grapes and 9 table grapes.Of the 500 grape varieties cultivated in Georgia, approximately 40 are currently in commercial production.

Georgia has 6 zones growing wine grapes and producing wine in their unique way:

Kakheti region, Out of all regions the most popular with its  grape varieties wine production is Kakheti, 80 different grape varieties are recorded in Kakheti, including perhaps the two most important ones Saperavi and Rkatsiteli and more than 70% of Georgian wine is exactly produced in Kakheti region,The best quality The wine-giving vineyards will be located on the river Alazani and Iori basins, At an altitude of 400-700 meters, but some  unit vineyards extend to 800-900 meters.

Kartli is one more  distinguished region of winemaking in Georgia, famous for classic European types of wine and high quality sparkling wines. Vineyards are located around the river Mtkvari and its tributaries - Liakhvi and Ksani, 450-700 meters above sea level
Imereti Located in Western Georgia is one of the diverse region in Gerogian wine cultureThere are different climatic conditions and soil composition,In separate microzones we have aboriginal ancient varieties: Tsolikouri, Tsitska, Krakhuna, Otskhanuri Sapere,Dzelshavi, Kapistoni White and Red, Aladasturi, etc.

Racha-Lechkhumi  zone is located in the north of Imereti, On both banks of the rivers Rioni and  Tskhenistskali.The area is a kind of cave that is bordered on each side and protected by rocky ridges that form special heat mode - microclimate.

Black Sea Shore zone ( including Ajara,Samegrelo, Guria and Abkhazia)Viticulture and winemaking is located In the black coastal zone, where the vineyards start from 2-4 meters above sea level And extends to a height of 500 m.

Meskheti - not only in Georgia, but probably all over the world,  the most mountainous region of viticulture. Here winegrapes can be found at an altitude of 900-1700 meters above sea level .

Georgia has wine grapes which are grown only in certain small microzones, 20 microzones from mentioned regions produce origin wines with the name of the microzone.  Here is some of them:

- Ateni (Atenuri) specific viticulture zone is located in Shida Kartli, in Gori administrative district. In the microzone, the vineyards are within 620 meters to 750 meters

- Akhasheni Specific Viticulture Zone is located in Shida Kakheti (inner Kakheti),In the microzone, the vineyards are within a height of 350-700 meters.

- Mukuzani in Kakheti region of Georgia. On the southern slopes of river Alazani valley. This area is considered as one of the best place for production of Saperavi grapes and famous dry red wine.

- Gurjaani - specific Viticulture Zone is located in the middle bank of the Alazani River.The heights of the extreme points of the microzone vary within 250-1000 m above sea level. Includes villages of
Shida Kakheti (inner Kakheti).

- Manavi is located in Gare Kakheti, Sagarejo administrative district,The vineyards are mainly located within 450-800 meters above sea level.

- Kindzmarauli is located in Eastern Georgia, Shida Kakheti (inner Kakheti), Kvareli administrative district,The vineyards are mainly located within 250-550 m above sea level.

- Napareuli is located in Kakheti region,Viticulture areas vary within 400-500 meters above sea level.

- Khvanchkara is located in Racha, Ambrolauri administrative district.The vineyards are mainly located at 450-750 meters above sea level.

To learn more about Georgian wine and wine Tours visit Colour Tour Georgia's webpage www.colourtourgeorgia.com and read more about touristic destinations that you can visit during the Wine Tour. For more questions contact us by email at info@colourtourgeorgia.com or call us +995 599 555 242.