Today, approximately 530 different varieties of grape are approved in nine regions for winemaking in Georgia. Over 425 of them are still preserved, and the rest are being sought after. Some of the varieties are widespread; however, the majority is very rarely grown, mostly in vine collections or in experimental vineyards. In recent years, vine-growers and winemakers have been very actively involved in the cultivation and industrial processing of the ancient and rare varieties of vine and wine.
Georgian grapes varieties
Krakhuna is an Imeretian variety of white grape, which tends to ripen late, and from which some of the strongest and most full-bodied Imeretian white wines are produced
Tsitska Grown throughout upper and central Imereti, Tsitska means “variety with small grapes the village of Tsitske or Tstiskiuri.
Tsolikouri is a Georgian variety of white grape, belonging to the Imeretian family of aboriginal varieties of grape
The Variety is mostly planted in the alluvial soils along the river Mtkvari including the Aten Valley
Orginating in Kaktli, but also grown in Kakheti, Chinuri, with its naturally high avidity, is most famous for the sparkling PDO Atenuri wine
Kisi is indigenous to Kakheti. It ripens before Rkatsiteli, typically in the last 2 weeks of September, and is made both in the European and Georgian manner
The Variety grows widely in eastern Georgia, especially in Kakheti where it originated. It is recommended for higher-altitude, cooler mountain plantings along with Mtsvane Kakhuri
Literally, ‘green from Kakheti’, this variety grows well on the calcareous soils in Kakheti, south-eastern Georgia, particularly in PDOs of Tsinandali, Manavi, Gurjaani, Vazisubani and Kardenakhi
Rkatsiteli, whose name means “red stem” (rka meaning vine cane; tsiteli meaning red) is the leading white grape variety in Georgia, comprising 43% of all vineyard plantings across 20000 hectares
Meaning “strong,” or “powerful,” this variety is also known as Jani Bakhvis (Jani Bakhvi, a village in western Georgia). Native to western Georgia, and known to make high-quality wine, Jani previously was widely planted throughout the province of Guria
.png)
Dzelshavi is a variety of red grape that mostly grows in the regions of Racha and Imereti. Dzelshavi is believed to be one of Georgia’s most archaic varieties of grape
Another grape with the same linguistic root, but genetically distinct Saperavi, Otskhanuri Sapere is linked to Otskhana, a village in western Georgia hence meaning “Otskhana’s colorful.” Considered to be one of the oldest Georgian varieties, Otskhanuri Sapere grows only in the western part of the country, mostly in Racha-Lechkhumi and Imereti
One of Georgia’s Oldest vine varieties, Ojaleshi, means ‘growing on a tree’ in the Megrelian dialect of Georgian (ja meaning tree)
Aladasturi vines were widespread throughout central Georgia – dominantly Guria and central Imereti – but were largely wiped out by fungal diseases and phylloxera.
A western Georgian variety, Chkhaveri is mostly planted near the Black Sea coast in Ajara and especially in Guria, but also in Imereti
.png)
Literally, the ‘grape with no name”, Usakhelouri is indigenous to western Georgia, Lechkhumi. Usakhelouri produces best on loamy, calcareous hillsides
Mujuretuli is a variety of red grape that is mostly found in the Racha region
Aleksandrouli is a variety of red grape, which is mostly found in the Racha region and it ripens later than average. Wines produced from Aleksandrouli grapes are dry or semi-sweet and are amazingly soft, with aromas of raspberry and black cherry
Tavkveri is a variety of red grape from the region of Kartli
Saperavi is the most widespread Georgian red grape variety, which can be found in every vineyard of the Kakheti winemaking region as well as in almost all other regions of Georgia.
