Winiveria
Kakheti's most visited wine destination — where ancient tradition and modern craft meet in the Alazani Valley.
The story
Winiveria began in 2005 as a simple marani — a traditional Georgian wine cellar — in the small village of Vardisubani, just outside the city of Telavi in the heart of Kakheti. Founder George Piradashvili saw early on what the region had to offer: old vines, fertile soils along the Alazani River, and a winemaking tradition stretching back thousands of years.
The first Rtveli — the Georgian grape harvest — took place in 2006. What started as a boutique operation grew quickly. In 2008, construction began on Chateau Mere, one of the very first chateaus in Georgia. When it opened in 2011, the complex rapidly became one of the most visited wine destinations in all of Kakheti.
Today, Winiveria offers up to 15 different wines and exports to countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the United States and Australia. The philosophy remains the same as in 2005: showcase Georgia's indigenous grape varieties with as much respect for tradition as possible, complemented by modern precision where it genuinely improves quality.
Vineyard & terroir
Winiveria works with local grape growers throughout the Alazani Valley, whose vineyards average between 20 and 25 years of age.
The grapes grow at elevations of 400 to 600 metres, on calcareous and alluvial soils along the riverbanks. Kakheti's climate — warm summers, cool nights and shelter provided by the Caucasus Mountains — gives the grapes their deep colour, ripe tannins and natural concentration.
The grape portfolio covers a broad range of indigenous Georgian varieties: Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi, Kakhetian Mtsvane, Goruli Mtsvane and Tsolikouri, alongside rarer varieties such as Chinebuli and Pirosmani.
Winemaking style
Winiveria works with two parallel approaches — and that duality is precisely their strength.
Their traditional Qvevri wines are made according to the Kakhetian method: grapes are crushed and placed together with their skins and seeds into underground clay vessels (qvevri), where a maceration of six to seven months takes place. The result is amber-coloured, tannic wines with no filtration or additives — pure and unmanipulated.
Alongside this, Winiveria produces wines in the classic European style, with controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks at lower temperatures to preserve freshness and fruit. Both styles are bottled with minimal intervention.
Winiveria also produces two varieties of chacha — Georgian grape spirit: a classic expression and one aged in oak barrels.
From the cellar of Winiveria
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.
Georgia's fire, bottled. Chacha is not just a spirit — it is a Georgian institution, a centuries-old tradition distilled into every drop. Made from the grape pomace left after pressing — the skins, seeds and stems that give Georgian wine its extraordinary character — this white Chacha from Winiveria in Kakheti is a spirit of raw authenticity and unmistakable Georgian soul. Distilled the traditional way, drunk the Georgian way — neat, proud and among good company.
What is Chacha? Chacha is Georgia's answer to grappa — a pomace brandy distilled from the remnants of the winemaking process. Long before it was produced commercially, Chacha was made at home by Georgian families — a deeply personal tradition passed down through generations. Strong, clear and fiercely Georgian, it is the spirit that fuels every feast, every toast and every celebration from the mountains of Racha to the vineyards of Kakheti.
Character Clear and brilliant in the glass, with the warm, clean intensity that defines a well-crafted pomace spirit. Winiveria's Kakheti Chacha carries the unmistakable character of the Saperavi and native Georgian grapes it is distilled from — bold, authentic and unapologetically strong. Best enjoyed neat at room temperature or as the base of a classic Georgian cocktail.
Craftsmanship Produced by Winiveria in the heart of Kakheti — one of Georgia's most celebrated independent wine producers — this Chacha is distilled from the grape pomace remaining after winemaking, honouring the full and sustainable cycle of Georgian viticulture. Not a drop of the harvest is wasted. Every bottle is a testament to Winiveria's commitment to Georgian tradition in its purest and most spirited form.
Serving Suggestions Best served neat at room temperature or very lightly chilled. A traditional Georgian toast demands Chacha — but it also pairs beautifully with strong cheeses, cured meats and dark chocolate. Alcohol: 50% — 750ml.
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.
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.