Kakheti
Continental
Georgia's main wine region, in the Alazani valley in the east, where Saperavi reds and qvevri-made amber whites are produced.
Overview
About Kakheti
Kakheti lies in the east of Georgia, in the Alazani valley between the Greater Caucasus and the Gombori range, and it produces most of the country's wine. Saperavi, a red-fleshed grape, makes dark, acidic reds, and Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane and Kisi are the leading whites.
Here the traditional method is to ferment white grapes on their skins in qvevri, which gives amber wines with tannin and a deep colour.
Kakheti is marked on the map.
Georgia
Shaded: Kakheti. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Continental
Hot summers, cold winters, and dry autumns, with the mountains sheltering the valley from the north.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Alluvial soils, clay and loam on the valley floor, and stonier soils on the slopes.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Pheasant's Tears
Sighnaghi; a pioneer of qvevri wines with an international following.
Teliani Valley
Telavi area; a large modern producer.
Shumi
Tsinandali; produces both modern and qvevri wines.
Schuchmann Wines
Kisiskhevi; a large estate with both styles.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.