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    Kakheti

    Georgia

    The Alazani valley, Saperavi and Rkatsiteli, and wine made in clay vessels buried in the ground.

    30–50° N30–50° SequatorKakheti
    Country
    Georgia
    Rocks in the profile
    topsoil, alluvium, clay

    The Alazani valley

    The Alazani is the largest valley in Georgia, about 160 kilometres long. Kakheti's soils contain 2.5 to 25% carbonates, more in the upper layers, and rainfall is 600 to 800 mm a year.1

    In the Tsinandali zone the vineyards lie at 350 to 700 metres on the right bank of the Alazani, on very thick heavy-clay alluvial and brown forest soils.2

    topsoilalluviumclay
    Schematic profile based on the sources, not to scale.

    Qvevri

    A qvevri is an egg-shaped earthenware vessel used to make, age and store wine. In 2013 UNESCO inscribed qvevri wine-making on its list of intangible cultural heritage.3

    Tsinandali white wine is at least 85% Rkatsiteli with up to 15% Mtsvane Kakhuri.2 Saperavi is grown mostly in Kakheti and Kartli.4

    Timeline

    1. 2013

      UNESCO inscribes qvevri wine-making on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.3

    Grapes

    Soils

    Sources

    1. Kakheti (geographical indication description). National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia (Sakpatenti), via origin-gi.com. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    2. Tsinandali wine — PDO product specification (applicant: LEPL National Wine Agency of Georgia). UK GOV (GI register publication) / National Wine Agency of Georgia, 2023. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    3. Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making method. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2013. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    4. Saperavi – NPLG Wiki Dictionaries. National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, 2023. level 5 · checked 2026-10-13