Wine is one of the most sought-after Georgian gifts. It is the pride of the country, it is an integral part of Georgian culture and history. Winemaking in Georgia is 8,000 years old, and the technology of making wine in clay vessels “Kvevri” is recognized as an object of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO. Honestly – the quality is top notch.
Here are the top 5 most popular brands:
- red semi-sweet wine with rich fruity notes “Kindzmarauli”;
- red tart wine with notes of raspberry, prune, blueberry, cherry and mulberry “Saperavi”;
- red semi-sweet wine with rich flavor of dried fruits and strawberries “Khvanchkara”;
- red wine with the flavor of ripe cherries and black chocolate, “Mukuzani”;
- white wine with a pronounced flavor of peach, apple, citrus and nuts, “Tsinandali”.
Kakheti is traditionally considered to be the most suitable place to buy wine. There are many wineries and private wineries with tasting. The Telavi Wine Cellar, Teleda family winery, Teliani Veli winery, Shumi winery, Marani Numisi wine museum, Schuchmann Wines winery and wine cellars in Tsinandali and Chavchavadze house-museum can be added to this list. Homemade bottled wine costs five Georgian lari per liter, while factory drinks start from eight Georgian lari per bottle.
Supermarkets like Carrefour, Willmart or Goodwill sell wine in beautiful festive packages or in a set with a horn. Locals believe that Georgian wine strengthens health and, most importantly, emphasizes the taste of national dishes.
The country is famous for chacha and brandies. The strength of chacha is usually 50 degrees. Local vodka comes in several flavors: grape, peach, raspberry, lemon and tarhun. A good price for a bottle of the factory drink is 15 Georgian lari for 0.5 liters. The most popular Georgian brandy is “Tbilisi” and “Gremi”. Prices depend on the ageing of the drink, and they start from about 30 Georgian lari. There is a Chachi Fountain in Batumi, and it’s no joke!
Only four liters of wine or three liters of spirits per person are allowed to be taken from Georgia.