Georgia has adopted the European Union’s regulatory structure that defines wines associated with a specific place. To date, Georgia has registered 24 Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs — Protected Designation of Origin for Georgian wines). Most of these are in the eastern part of the country; see the table below for the associated regions and wine styles.
| CHOP | REGION | THE MAIN TYPES OF WINE |
|---|---|---|
| EAST GEORGIA | ||
| Akhasheni | Kachetie | Semi-sweet red |
| Akhmeta | Kachetie | Dry white, semi-dry white, semi-sweet white, dry amber |
| Akhoebi | Kachetie | Dry red |
| Gurjaani | Kachetie | Dry white |
| Kachetie | Kachetie | Dry white, amber |
| Kardenakhi | Kachetie | Fortified white (sweet amber) |
| Kindzmarauli | Kachetie | Semi-sweet red |
| Kotekhi | Kachetie | Dry red, dry white |
| Quarrel | Kachetie | Dry red |
| Manavi | Kachetie | Dry white |
| Mukuzani | Kachetie | Dry red |
| Napareuli | Kachetie | Dry white, dry red |
| Saperavi Khashmi | Kachetie | Dry red |
| Teliani | Kachetie | Dry red |
| Tibaani | Kachetie | Dry white, amber |
| Tsarapi | Kachetie | Dry amber |
| Tsinandali | Kachetie | Dry white |
| Vazisubani | Kachetie | Dry white |
| CENTRAL GEORGIA | ||
| Atenuri (or Ateni) | Kartli | Sparkling white |
| Bolnisi | Kartli | Dry white, dry red, dry amber |
| WESTERN GEORGIA | ||
| Khvanchkara | Racha | Semi-sweet red |
| Salkhino Ojaleshi | Samegrelo | Dry red |
| Sviri | Imereti | Dry white |
| Tvishi | Lechkhumi | Dry to semi-sweet white |
EASTERN AOC WINES IN GEORGIA
AKHASHENI
A naturally semi-sweet red wine made from Saperavi grapes. It is characterised by its dark pomegranate colour, harmonious taste, velvety sweetness, fruity notes and varietal aromas.
AKHMETA
White and amber wines. White wines, made exclusively from Kakhuri Mtsvane grapes, can be dry (characterised by a light straw colour, delicate flavours, floral aromas and fruity notes that develop with ageing); naturally semi-dry (characterised by a light greenish-gold colour, harmonious flavours and floral aromas); or naturally semi-sweet (similar in appearance and aroma to semi-dry but with a higher sugar content). Jantar is a dry wine made from Kakhuri Mtsvane grapes, although it may contain up to 15 % Kisi and/or Khikhvi grapes; it is characterised by a medium to dark amber colour, a vigorous and extracted bouquet and moderate tannins. This PDO is sometimes called Akhmetis Mtsvane.
AKHOEBI
A dry red wine made from Saperavi or Saperavi Budeshuri grapes. It is characterised by its dark red colour, round, harmonious taste and intensely fruity bouquet.
GURJAANI
A dry, full-bodied white wine made from Rkatsiteli grapes. It is characterised by a light straw colour, harmonious, refined and full-bodied flavours with a varietally specific aroma and a well-developed bouquet.
KAKHETI
A dry white wine made from Rkatsiteli and Kakhetian Mtsvane grapes, fermented with must. It is characterised by its amber colour, fruity aromas and velvety bouquet.
KARDENAKHI
A fortified white wine that is created by leaving crushed grapes of the Rkatsiteli, Khikhvi and Kakhuri Mtsvane varieties during the fermentation process. It is characterised by its amber colour, varietal-specific aromas and honeyed fragrance.
KINDZMARAULI
A naturally semi-sweet red wine made from Saperavi grapes. It is characterised by its dark garnet colour and full, velvety fruit notes.
KOTEKHI
Dry white and dry red wines. The white wine is produced from Rkatsiteli grapes and is characterised by its light straw colour, varietally specific aroma and pleasant taste. The red wine made from Saperavi grapes is characterised by its striking red colour, varietal aromas and pleasantly velvety taste.
KVARELI
A dry red wine made from Saperavi grapes, with complete fermentation with must. It is characterised by its deep red colour, varietal aromas, balance and a distinctive bouquet.
MANAVI
A dry white wine made from Mtsvane grapes, although it may contain up to 15% Rkatsiteli grapes. It has a light to medium straw colour with a greenish tinge, a delicate flavour and harmonious and subtle fruit notes.
MUKUZANI
A dry red wine made from Saperavi grapes. It is characterised by a dark pomegranate colour; a full-bodied flavour; harmonious, velvety, fine, well-expressed varietal aromas and bouquet; and highly extractable flavours.
NAPAREULI
Dry white and dry red wines. The white wine is produced from Rkatsiteli grapes and is characterised by its light straw colour, well-defined bouquet and hints of wild flowers. The red wine is produced from Saperavi grapes and is characterised by a deep red colour, a varietally specific aroma and a well-developed, velvety bouquet.
SAPERAVI KHASHMI
A dry red wine made from Saperavi grapes. It is characterised by its deep red colour, full character, velvety and harmonious notes and pronounced varietal aromas.
TELIANI
A dry red wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. It is characterised by its deep red colour, pure varietal-specific aromas and a spicy, harmonious, well-developed bouquet.
TIBAANI
A dry white wine made from Rkatsiteli grapes. It is characterised by its dark amber colour, well-defined and extracted bouquet, velvety taste and raisin notes.
TSARAPI
A dry amber wine made from Rkatsiteli grapes, although it may contain up to 15% Kakhuri Mtsvane or Khikhvi grapes. It is medium to dark amber in colour, with a richly distinctive flavour and intense aroma.
TSINANDALI
A dry white wine made from the Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane varieties. It is characterised by its light straw colour, harmonious, refined bouquet and distinctive varietal aromas.
VAZISUBANI
A dry, fully fermented white wine made from Rkatsiteli and Kakhetian Mtsvane grapes. It has a light straw colour, harmonious flavours and a cheerful, well-developed floral bouquet.
CENTRAL AOC WINE OF GEORGIA
ATENURI
White sparkling wine made from Chinuri and Gori Mtsvane varieties. It is characterised by its straw colour, harmonious taste, fruity notes and energetic flavour.
BOLNISI
Dry white, dry red and dry amber wines. The white wine is made from the Rkatsiteli, Chinuri and Goruli Mtsvane varieties and is light beige in colour with a delicate, harmonious flavour, notes of wild flowers and a distinctive fruity bouquet. The red wine is made from the Saperavi, Tavkveri, Shavkapito and Asuretuli Shavi varieties and is bold, velvety and harmonious with a distinctive, fruity bouquet. The amber wine is made from the Rkatsiteli, Chinuri and Goruli Mtsvane varieties and is complex and expressive, with energetic, extractive fruit notes and a velvety, well-developed bouquet.
WEST AOC OF GEORGIA
KHVANCHKARA
A naturally semi-sweet (non-dry) red wine made from the Aleksandreuli and Mujuretuli grapes. It is characterised by its deep red colour and harmonious, velvety taste, with distinctive fruit notes and varietal aromas.
SALKHINO OJALESHI
A dry red wine made from Ojaleshi grapes. Characterized by its dark garnet color, fine structure, extracted fruit notes, and expressive bouquet that reflects its subtropical microzone.
SVIRI
A dry white wine made from Tsolikouri and Tsitska grapes. It is characterised by a dark straw colour with a yellowish tinge, fruity notes and an extracted fruity bouquet.
TVISHI
A dry to semi-sweet white wine made from Tsolikouri grapes. Light straw to straw in colour with a soft, delicate flavour, fruity notes and distinctive varietal aromas.