The wine regions of Georgia
Georgia’s diverse natural conditions create the best environment for the development of high quality viticulture-winemaking according to the peculiarities of which the country’s territory is divided into the following viticulture zones and micro-zones:
Imereti
LOCATION:
Imereti (Georgian: imereTi) is a region in Western Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. The Imereti region is known for its remarkable location extending from the humid subtropical, ending 2 850m high up with alpine meadows, numerous health spas and a large number of mineral water springs. Imereti is one of the most diverse regions of Georgian wine making, climatic conditions and soil composition are very different, and so the wines are also different every.
CLIMATE:
Imereti has three different climates and the most prevalent ones are Cfa, Dfb. The Imereti lowland is part of the Kolkheti Valley with a sub-tropical sea climate. Winter here is mild, while the summer is hot. The average annual temperature is 11-15 degrees Celsius. The climate of upper Imereti is humid sub-tropical, with winters that are colder and have more precipitation.
SOIL TYPE:
Raw Humus calcareous-Rendzic Leptosols.
Yellow Brown forest-chromic cambisols and
stagnic alisols. Subtropical podzols.
VITICULTURE & Winemaking
Imeretian wines were mentioned by Georgian historians already in the 17th and 18th C.C. Imereti is one of the most diverse lands for Georgian wines. 70% of it is mountainous. Climate and soil are very different. The wines are correspondingly different throughout the region. The most popular wine in Imereti is Tsitska-Tsolikouri- these two varietals pressed together often result in a very good wine. Among the white wines Krakhuna is also distinguished; red wines made of Otskhanuri Sapere variety have also become quite popular.
Winemaking Methods:
Traditional winemaking here as well as in other regions is linked with Qvevri, which is called Churi in Imereti. Unlike Kakhetian traditional wine here less must is added to chacha. After fermentation, the wine is left in Churi for about 2 months, and then removed the pulp, transfer to the barrels and process. The wine of Imeretian type has beautiful yellow color, full, quite harmonious and cheerful.
PDO Wines / PDO Sviri:
Has been famous from ancient times as the best appellation of Imereti, in which three sorts of grapes – Tsitska, Tsolikouri and Krakhuna are used. Sviri has turned into appellation wines since 1962.
The Key Grape Varieties of the Region:
Whites:
Tsolikauri
Tsitska
Krakhuna
Kvishkhuri
(Goruli Mtsvane)
Kapistoni
Dondglabi
Kundza
Tklapa
Reds:
Argvetuli Sapere
Otskhanuri Sapere
Adanasuri
Bzvanuria
Dzelshavi
Aladasturi
Black Dondghlabi