Best Georgian Wines to Try First: A Buyer's Guide
Ten bottles in, and you'll already know more about Georgian wine than most sommeliers did five years ago. That's not an exaggeration, it's a young category for most of the world, and a short, well chosen list can take you from "never heard of Saperavi" to genuinely understanding what makes Georgian wine different, without any guesswork or wasted bottles.
We picked these ten from our own shelves specifically because, together, they cover every major style Georgia makes: a crisp white, a couple of classic reds, a proper qvevri amber wine, a semi-sweet red, a rosé, and even a sparkling wine. Work through this list and you'll have tasted the full range, not just one corner of it.
1. Friends' Wine Mtsvane
Style: Dry white
Why it's here: If this is your very first Georgian wine, start here. Mtsvane is a fresh, floral, food friendly white grape, and this bottle from Gio's Marani is exactly the kind of easy, approachable pour that eases you in before you tackle anything more intense. No qvevri drama yet, just a genuinely good glass of white wine that happens to come from a grape you've never tried.
From the sun-kissed hills of Akhmeta in East Georgia comes this elegant expression of Mtsvane — one of Georgia's most beloved native grapes. Light, luminous and beautifully aromatic, this is Georgian white wine at its most charming.
Grape Variety 100% Mtsvane — a classic Georgian grape celebrated for its bright acidity, vibrant freshness and aromatic complexity.
Taste Profile Light straw yellow in the glass, with delicate aromas of citrus blossom, wildflowers and green apple. On the palate, white peach, lychee and grapefruit come alive, carried by a crisp, refreshing acidity and a long, clean grape-driven finish.
Craftsmanship Handpicked from the vineyards of Gio's Marani Ltd., this wine is crafted using European techniques that preserve the natural freshness and vibrant character of the Mtsvane grape. Akhmeta's exceptional microclimate adds a distinctive elegance to every bottle.
Serving Suggestions Best enjoyed chilled at 10–12°C. A natural companion to fresh seafood, white fish and light summer salads.
2. Winiveria Kisi
Style: Dry white
Why it's here: Kisi is one of Kakheti's great native white grapes, and this handpicked bottle from Winiveria shows it off at its softest and most fragrant, with pear and lime running through it. It's a good second white to try once you've got your bearings, and a preview of a grape you'll see again once you start exploring Georgian amber wine.
Soft, golden and gently aromatic — this elegant expression of Kisi from Winiveria's own domain in Kakheti is a white wine that seduces with its quiet complexity. Aged on its yeast for a distinctive grapy character, this is a summer wine that feels as warm and inviting as the Georgian sun itself.
Grape Variety 100% Kisi — a rare and noble indigenous Georgian grape from the Kakheti region, prized for its naturally balanced acidity, soft texture and beautifully layered aromatic profile.
Taste Profile Golden yellow in the glass, with inviting aromas of quince, ripe pear, lime and green apple. On the palate, the wine is soft and well-balanced with a pleasant, harmonious acidity and a distinctive grapy character from ageing on the yeast. Fresh, smooth and endlessly drinkable.
Craftsmanship Handpicked from Winiveria's own vineyards in East Georgia's celebrated Kakheti region, this 2016 vintage is crafted using European winemaking techniques. Fermentation takes place over approximately two weeks at a carefully controlled temperature of 13–15°C, preserving the grape's natural softness and aromatic freshness.
Serving Suggestions A perfect summer wine. Pairs beautifully with fresh fish, cheese, mushrooms and light salads. Best served chilled at 10–12°C. Alcohol: 12.5%
3. Winiveria Saperavi
Style: Dry red
Why it's here: No beginner's list is complete without Saperavi, Georgia's signature red grape and genuinely one of the most underrated red wines on the international market. This is a clean, classic expression from Kakheti, where the grape performs best, and it's the single easiest way to understand why Georgians call Saperavi "black wine": the color, and the depth, is that intense.
Bold, dark and deeply rooted in Georgian winemaking heritage — this is Saperavi the way it was always meant to be made. Crafted by Winiveria using traditional Kakhetian Qvevri technology, this award-winning red is a true expression of Kakheti's exceptional terroir. Unfiltered and unprocessed, every bottle carries the raw, authentic soul of one of Georgia's most celebrated wine regions — and the grape that defines it.
Grape Variety 100% Saperavi — Georgia's most iconic red grape and one of the world's rare teinturier varieties, with deeply pigmented skin and flesh. Grown in Winiveria's own vineyards in Kakheti, where the unique microclimate allows Saperavi to develop its fullest potential and most complex character.
Taste Profile Deep, dark and intensely coloured in the glass. Rich aromas of ripe cherry and blackcurrant lead the nose, followed by layers of dark fruit and earthy depth on the palate. Full-bodied, structured and beautifully balanced — with a long, warming finish that lingers long after the last sip.
Craftsmanship Produced using traditional Kakhetian Qvevri technology — ancient clay vessels buried underground — this wine is bottled without processing or filtration, preserving every nuance of the grape and the land. Winiveria's unique microclimate in Kakheti provides the ideal conditions for Saperavi to reach its highest expression. Named the highest quality wine at the prestigious Georgian National Wine Competition.
Serving Suggestions The perfect companion for evening dinners. Pairs beautifully with steaks, Georgian barbecue — Mtsvadi — and hearty meat dishes. Best served at 18–20°C. Available in 0.75L and 1.5L.
4. Villa Mosavali Shavkapito
Style: Dry red
Why it's here: Once you've tried Saperavi, Shavkapito is the perfect contrast: lighter, brighter, more red fruited, with a ruby color instead of Saperavi's near black hue. It's a great everyday red and a good demonstration that Georgian wine isn't a one grape story, even in the red category alone.
Ruby-red and richly aromatic — this is a wine that tells the story of a grape the world is only just beginning to discover. Shavkapito is one of Georgia's rarest indigenous red varieties, and Villa Mosavali has done it full justice. Crafted from handpicked grapes grown across the fertile lands of Kartli and aged in French oak barrels, this is a wine of real elegance, depth and character — a true reflection of Villa Mosavali's award-winning philosophy of blending Georgian tradition with modern craftsmanship.
Grape Variety 100% Shavkapito — a rare and ancient indigenous Georgian red grape from the Kartli region, prized for its naturally vibrant ruby colour, elegant tannins and distinctive aromatic profile of red fruit and subtle spice.
Taste Profile Brilliant ruby in the glass, with an inviting nose of fresh red fruits and warm vanilla. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and well-structured, with firm yet refined tannins and a beautifully balanced depth that speaks to both the quality of the terroir and the skill of the winemaker. Long, elegant and deeply satisfying on the finish.
Craftsmanship Handpicked from Villa Mosavali's 40 hectares of vineyards across Kartli and Kakheti, this 2021 vintage is fermented in European stainless steel tanks before being aged in French oak barrels — a deliberate blend of modern precision and traditional depth. All vineyard operations are carried out by hand, and grapes are transported in small crates to ensure they arrive at the winery in perfect condition. Villa Mosavali's wines are the result of generations of traditional knowledge, elevated by scientific process and modernised technology.
Serving Suggestions A natural match for red meat, lamb, aged cheeses and hearty Georgian dishes. Best served at 16–18°C. Alcohol: 13% — 750ml.
Shop Villa Mosavali Shavkapito →
5. Iago Chinuri
Style: Dry amber/orange (qvevri)
Why it's here: This is the one to try once you're ready for the real qvevri experience. Iago Bitarishvili is considered a pioneer of the modern natural qvevri revival, and this unfiltered Chinuri, made from old vines, is stone fruited, herbal, and structured in a way no conventional white wine is. If you've read about UNESCO recognizing the qvevri method, this bottle is that history, in a glass.
Some wines change the world. This is one of them. Iago Bitarishvili is not just a winemaker — he is a pioneer. In 2009, when only five producers in all of Georgia were still making wine in Qvevri, Iago was one of them. Today, largely thanks to his tireless dedication and the extraordinary quality of wines like this Chinuri, over 80 producers have rediscovered the ancient Qvevri tradition. His winery was also the first in Georgia to receive organic certification for both vineyard and production. What you hold in your hands is not just a bottle of wine — it is a living piece of UNESCO-listed Georgian cultural heritage.
Grape Variety 100% Chinuri — a classic indigenous Georgian white grape from the Kartli region, grown on old vines and cultivated entirely by hand. Harvested and crafted in the same simple, honest way Iago's grandfather made wine — with nothing added, nothing taken away and nothing to hide.
Taste Profile Vibrant and refreshingly alive, with a captivating bouquet of stone fruits, delicate florals and subtle accents of mint and wild herbs. On the palate the wine is rich, layered and subtly earthy — structured and confident, with a pronounced natural acidity and a firm yet beautifully woven tannic structure. The finish is long and invigorating, with an unexpected and memorable hint of sea air that lingers like a memory.
Craftsmanship Crushed without destemming, the grapes ferment with skins, stems and seeds using native yeasts in Qvevri for two to three weeks. The vessel is then sealed with clay and buried in the earth, where the wine matures on fine lees for five to six months — undisturbed, unhurried and completely natural. The result is one of Georgia's most celebrated and recognised orange wines — pure, vibrant energy from one of the world's great living traditions.
Serving Suggestions Wonderfully versatile. Pairs beautifully with sausages, sushi, smoked dishes and fresh salads. Best served at 11°C. Alcohol: 13% — 750ml.
6. Winiveria Kindzmarauli
Style: Semi-sweet red
Why it's here: Semi-sweet red wine sounds unusual if you're used to French or Italian reds, but Kindzmarauli is one of Georgia's most historically famous styles, made from Saperavi grown specifically to retain natural sweetness. Deep ruby, full of cherry and blackberry, and genuinely excellent with dessert or dark chocolate. Try it once with an open mind and you'll understand why it's a Georgian classic rather than a novelty.
Rich, velvety and gloriously indulgent — Kindzmarauli is Georgia's most celebrated semi-sweet red wine, and this expression from Winiveria is one of its finest ambassadors. Named after the prestigious Kindzmarauli appellation in the heart of Kakheti, this wine is crafted from the mighty Saperavi grape using a traditional Georgian method in which fermentation is stopped naturally — preserving a beautiful residual sweetness that is perfectly balanced by the grape's naturally vibrant acidity. The result is a wine of extraordinary harmony, depth and seduction. Deep as a garnet, smooth as velvet and endlessly inviting.
Grape Variety 100% Saperavi — Georgia's most celebrated indigenous red grape and one of the world's rare teinturier varieties, with deeply pigmented skin and flesh that produce wines of extraordinary colour and depth. Carefully selected from the Kindzmarauli appellation — one of Georgia's most prestigious and climatically blessed wine-growing zones — where Saperavi reaches its most expressive and opulent potential.
Taste Profile Deep garnet red in the glass, with an immediately seductive nose of ripe cherries, blackberries and blackcurrant. On the palate the wine is rich and beautifully textured — layers of ripe plum and dark cherry unfolding alongside subtle spiced nuances and a softness that is simply irresistible. The tannins are gentle and refined, the finish long, velvety and deeply satisfying. A flawless balance of natural sweetness and refreshing acidity that keeps every sip alive and memorable.
Craftsmanship Produced using a traditional Georgian vinification method in which fermentation is stopped naturally to preserve the grape's inherent sweetness — no artificial intervention, no added sugars, just Saperavi as nature intended. Winiveria's meticulous selection of fruit from the Kindzmarauli appellation ensures that every vintage delivers the exceptional balance of richness, freshness and depth that has made this wine one of Georgia's most beloved and prestigious semi-sweet reds.
Serving Suggestions Wonderfully versatile and equally enjoyable on its own. Best served lightly chilled at 14–16°C to emphasise its fruity freshness. A magnificent companion to chocolate desserts, fruit pastries and sweet cheeses. Also pairs beautifully with spiced Asian and Middle Eastern dishes where its natural sweetness provides a perfect counterbalance. Alcohol: 12.5% — 750ml.
7. Winiveria Rosé
Style: Semi-dry rosé
Why it's here: A light, fresh, watermelon and berry driven rosé from Kakheti, this is the easiest bottle on the whole list and a good one to keep in reserve for a warm afternoon or a seafood dinner. It's proof Georgian wine doesn't have to be intense or unfamiliar to be worth trying.
Fresh, delicate and effortlessly charming — this is a rosé that captures the very best of Georgian summer in a glass. Crafted by Winiveria in the heart of Kakheti using classic French rosé techniques, this semi-dry Georgian rosé is a wine of pure pleasure. Bright with berries and watermelon, lifted by zesty citrus and underpinned by an elegant mineral backbone — this is the bottle you reach for when the occasion calls for something light, beautiful and a little unexpected.
Grape Variety A classic Georgian rosé crafted by Winiveria in the Kakheti region, produced using traditional French rosé winemaking techniques that preserve the wine's natural freshness, delicate colour and vibrant fruit-forward character.
Taste Profile Pale and luminous in the glass, with a fresh and inviting nose of ripe berries, watermelon and delicate blossom. On the palate the wine is light and lively, with juicy notes of lemon and lime dancing alongside fresh berry fruit and a finely balanced mineral acidity that keeps everything crisp, clean and wonderfully refreshing. Semi-dry, elegant and endlessly drinkable.
Craftsmanship Produced using classic French rosé techniques by Winiveria — one of Kakheti's most celebrated independent producers — this rosé is crafted to preserve the natural freshness, delicate colour and vibrant aromatics that make Georgian rosé so distinctive. A wine made with the same passion and precision that defines everything Winiveria produces.
Serving Suggestions A stunning match for oysters with mirin dressing or seared scallops with Mediterranean vegetables and lemon dressing. Also perfect as an aperitif or alongside light summer dishes. Best served well chilled at 8–10°C. Volume: 750ml.
8. Marbano Saperavi Reserve
Style: Dry red (bold)
Why it's here: Once you know you like Saperavi, this is where to go next. A bigger, more concentrated reserve style, with black plum, black cherry, and a distinct white pepper edge, at a notably higher alcohol level than the entry level bottling. Think of it as the "graduate level" Saperavi, best saved for once you already know you like the grape.
Bold, refined and unmistakably Georgian — this is Saperavi elevated to its fullest expression. The 2021 Reserve from award-winning Marbano Winery in Kartli is not simply a wine — it is a statement. Crafted in small batches by winemaker Levan Bandzeladze, a passionate champion of indigenous Georgian grape varieties, this distinguished vintage showcases everything that makes Saperavi one of the world's great red grapes. Velvety, complex and deeply satisfying, this is a bottle built for those who appreciate Georgian winemaking at its most refined.
Grape Variety 100% Saperavi — Georgia's most celebrated indigenous red grape and one of the world's rare teinturier varieties, with deeply pigmented skin and flesh that produce wines of extraordinary colour, depth and structure. Grown in the heart of the Kartli region, where Marbano's exceptional terroir gives this Reserve its distinctive character and elegance.
Taste Profile Deep and opulent in the glass, with an enticing nose of ripe black plum, dark cherry, subtle white pepper and a whisper of leather. On the palate the wine is full-bodied yet beautifully refined — velvety in texture, balanced in structure and layered with complexity that unfolds with every sip. The finish is long, warm and deeply memorable.
Craftsmanship Produced in small batches at Marbano Winery in Kartli using classic European winemaking techniques, this 2021 Reserve represents the pinnacle of Levan Bandzeladze's craft. Since 2018 Marbano has won double gold, gold, silver and bronze medals at prestigious international competitions including Mundus Vini and the Georgian Wine Challenge — and this Reserve is among their finest achievements.
Serving Suggestions A natural match for rich, hearty dishes. Perfect with Burgundian stew, Georgian kebab and slow-roasted red meats. Best served at 18–20°C. Alcohol: 15% — 750ml.
Shop Marbano Saperavi Reserve →
9. Tsinandali Estate Brut
Style: Sparkling
Why it's here: Most newcomers don't expect Georgia to make sparkling wine at all, which is exactly what makes this one fun to introduce people to. Made from Mtsvane, Tsolikouri, and Tetra grapes with citrus and green apple character, it's a genuinely good bottle for showing skeptical friends that Georgian wine isn't only about qvevri and amber.
Raise a glass to history — and let the bubbles do the talking. From the legendary Tsinandali Estate, where Georgian wine was first bottled over two centuries ago, comes this exceptional blanc de blanc sparkling wine — a wine that brings together three of Georgia's most elegant native white grape varieties in a celebration of Georgian viticulture at its most refined and joyful. Crisp, floral and beautifully precise, this is a sparkling wine with a story as effervescent as the wine itself.
Grape Variety A distinguished blend of three indigenous Georgian white grapes — Mtsvane, Tsolikouri and Tetra — each contributing its own unique character to this elegant blanc de blanc. Mtsvane brings delicate florals and aromatic lift, Tsolikouri adds roundness and citrus freshness, while Tetra contributes structure and a clean, mineral backbone. Together they create a sparkling wine of real complexity and Georgian soul.
Taste Profile Pale and luminous in the glass, with a fine, persistent chain of bubbles that speaks to the quality of the base wine. The nose is fresh and inviting — lemon, lime, grapefruit and crisp green apple dancing together with delicate floral notes from the Mtsvane grape. On the palate the wine is bright and lively, with a pleasant, well-balanced acidity that carries the citrus fruit beautifully through to a clean, long and refreshing finish. Elegant, precise and completely Georgian.
Craftsmanship Handpicked from the historic vineyards of Tsinandali Estate in Kakheti — the birthplace of bottled Georgian wine — this 2020 Brut is produced using classic European sparkling wine techniques that preserve the natural freshness and aromatic complexity of all three native grape varieties. A blanc de blanc in the truest sense — white grapes, white wine, pure expression.
Serving Suggestions Best served well chilled at 10–12°C. A magnificent aperitif and a natural companion to oysters, fresh seafood, sushi and light canapés. Also outstanding alongside soft cheeses and delicate Georgian appetisers. Store in a cool place away from direct sunlight. Alcohol: 12.5% — 750ml.
10. Tamaris Vazi
Style: Dry red (rare)
Why it's here: Save this one for last, on purpose. Tamaris Vazi comes from vines reportedly around 400 years old, made from a wild, near extinct grape variety from the Meskheti region, in genuinely limited production. It's less a "safe first bottle" and more a reward for finishing this list: proof of just how much rare, ancient viticulture Georgia is quietly still sitting on.
Some wines carry history. This one carries legend. According to Georgian tradition, Tamaris Vazi — literally "Queen Tamar's Vine" — was the favourite wine of Queen Tamar the Great, the legendary ruler who led Georgia through its Golden Age between 1100 and 1245, a period of unparalleled cultural and political greatness. For centuries this wild vine was thought lost forever, its vines growing untended in the volcanic mountain forests of South Georgia, forgotten by the world. Giorgi Natenadze found it again. And now, for the first time in centuries, you can taste what a medieval Georgian queen once loved.
Grape Variety 100% Tamaris Vazi — an ancient and almost mythical wild Georgian grape variety, named after Queen Tamar herself. Handpicked from century-old wild vines — some estimated to be between 100 and 400 years old — growing freely in the volcanic mountain forests of Samtskhe-Javakheti at altitudes of 1,000 to 1,650 metres above sea level. One of the rarest wines on earth.
Taste Profile Refined, elegant and deeply complex on the nose — opening with aromas of red currant, pomegranate, a whisper of leather and petrichor, the unmistakable scent of rain falling on dry earth. On the palate the wine is soft, rounded and gently spiced, with elegant natural acidity that carries through to a long, gloriously satisfying finish. A wine unlike anything else in the world.
Craftsmanship Crafted without added yeasts, this 2018 vintage ferments naturally in Qvevri — ancient Georgian clay vessels buried underground — before being transferred to stainless steel tanks after six months and naturally filtered without intervention. Every step of the process honours the wild, untamed origin of the grape. Production is extremely limited — making each bottle a genuinely rare find.
Serving Suggestions A wine worthy of a special occasion. Pairs beautifully with roasted lamb, game, aged cheeses and earthy mushroom dishes. Best served at 14–16°C. Avoid direct sunlight.
How to Actually Work Through This List
If you want a suggested order rather than tackling all ten at once, go roughly in the order above: start with the two whites to calibrate your palate, move into the two everyday reds, take the qvevri amber wine as your first "different" experience, then the semi-sweet red and rosé as lighter palate cleansers, and finish with the reserve red, the sparkling wine, and the rare bottle as your reward round. By bottle ten, you'll have a genuinely well rounded picture of what Georgian wine actually is, not just the one style that happens to be trending.
Keep Exploring
Once you've worked through this list, you'll likely already have opinions on which region and style you gravitate toward. Our guides to Georgian wine regions and what qvevri wine actually is are good next reads to go deeper, and you can browse our full collection to keep building from here.
FAQ: Quick Answers for Georgian Wine Beginners
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A dry Saperavi, like Winiveria Saperavi. It's Georgia's signature grape, widely considered its best red, and it gives you an immediate, clear sense of what makes Georgian red wine distinct.
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No. Amber wine is Georgia's most famous export style, but the country also makes excellent conventional white, red, rosé, semi-sweet, and sparkling wine, all represented on this list.
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Khachapuri (cheese bread), grilled meats, and aged cheeses pair well with the reds and amber wines, while the whites and rosé work nicely with seafood or a light summer meal.
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They work well with dessert or chocolate, but they're traditionally enjoyed as a stand-alone wine too, not exclusively at the end of a meal.
