Qvevri Wine in Georgia: What It Is and Where to Taste It
Qvevri wine at a glance
- What: wine made, aged and stored in a qvevri, an egg-shaped earthenware vessel
- Where it ferments: in qvevris buried in the ground
- How: juice plus grape skins, stalks and pips, sealed in the qvevri
- How long: fermentation for five to six months
- Recognition: on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list since 2013
- Tradition: knowledge passed down through families
- Where to taste: family cellars and wineries, especially in Kakheti
Facts about qvevri wine come from UNESCO and Wikipedia.
What is a qvevri?
A qvevri (also written kvevri) is a large egg-shaped earthenware vessel used for making, ageing and storing wine. Unlike a barrel or a steel tank, it is buried in the ground, either in a cellar floor or in the earth itself, which keeps the wine at a cool, stable temperature while it ferments. Making a good qvevri is a craft of its own: the clay has to be chosen carefully, and the knowledge of making qvevris and qvevri wine is passed down through families.
In 2013 UNESCO inscribed the traditional Georgian qvevri wine-making method on its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. For many Georgians it is less a technique than a part of family life, and many cellars still make wine this way for their own table.
How qvevri wine is made
After the harvest, the grapes are pressed and the juice is poured into the qvevri together with the grape skins, stalks and pips. The qvevri is then sealed and the wine ferments for five to six months. This long contact with the skins is what gives qvevri wine its character: white grapes produce deep golden or amber wines with texture and gentle tannins, often called “amber” or “orange” wine abroad, while red grapes give dark, structured wines.
| Step | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pressing | Grapes are pressed after the harvest | Juice, skins, stalks and pips are all kept |
| Filling | Everything goes into the buried qvevri | Skin contact gives colour, aroma and texture |
| Sealing | The qvevri is closed | The wine ferments undisturbed |
| Fermentation | Five to six months in the ground | A cool, stable temperature underground |
Where to taste qvevri wine
You can find qvevri wine in wine bars and restaurants in Tbilisi, but the real experience is in a cellar, ideally with the family who made it. Kakheti, the main wine region in the east of the country, is full of small producers and larger wineries that welcome visitors for tastings, and many will show you their qvevris set into the cellar floor.
We recommend booking the winery in advance, asking whether the visit includes the cellar and a tasting of qvevri wines, and keeping the day unhurried. Our Kakheti wine day trip guide suggests a route, and our guide to Georgia’s wine regions explains what is grown where.
How to get to Kakheti from Tbilisi
A private car with driver is the most relaxed way to visit wineries: nobody in your group has to drive after a tasting, the driver waits while you visit, and stops on the way are free. Telavi is a convenient base for Kakheti; send your driver the exact address of each winery when you book. See live prices for your date on this page; the price is shown per vehicle before you book.
See drivers and live prices: Tbilisi to Telavi
Want to see more than wineries? Our Kakheti in one day guide adds monasteries and viewpoints to the route.
Tips for a qvevri wine tasting
- Book ahead: small family cellars may need notice, especially outside the harvest season.
- Ask about the qvevris: most hosts are proud to show their cellar and explain the process.
- Eat while you taste: qvevri wines are made to go with food; a supra-style meal is the classic pairing.
- Pace yourself: Georgian hospitality is generous, and toasts come often.
- Buying bottles: ask the winery about taking wine home and how to pack it for your flight.
Why travel with OrbiTrip
- Free waiting: take your time at every cellar.
- Free stops on the way: monasteries, viewpoints or lunch.
- Free cancellation: change plans without penalty.
- Same price day and night: late returns after dinner cost the same.
- Pay the driver in cash: GEL, USD or EUR, no prepayment.
- Name-sign meeting: the driver meets you with a name sign.
- Child seat on request: mention it when you book.
- Book ahead: at least 90 minutes before pickup.
- Reliability: Your driver is guaranteed to come: if a driver has a valid reason they cannot, we send another driver at the same price.
Frequently asked questions
What is qvevri wine?
Wine made, aged and stored in a qvevri, a large egg-shaped earthenware vessel buried in the ground, following Georgia's traditional method.
How is qvevri wine made?
The juice is poured into the qvevri together with the grape skins, stalks and pips; the qvevri is sealed and the wine ferments for five to six months.
Is qvevri wine on the UNESCO list?
Yes. UNESCO inscribed the traditional Georgian qvevri wine-making method on its intangible cultural heritage list in 2013.
What does qvevri wine taste like?
Because of the long skin contact, white grapes give golden or amber wines with texture and gentle tannins, and red grapes give dark, structured wines.
Where can I taste qvevri wine?
In wine bars in Tbilisi, but best in a family cellar or winery in Kakheti; book the winery ahead.
How do I get to Kakheti wineries from Tbilisi?
A private car with driver is the most relaxed option: the driver waits at each winery and nobody has to drive after tasting. See live prices for your date on this page.
Checked on 30 October 2026. Sources: UNESCO and Wikipedia.
OrbiTrip Georgia — private transfers across Georgia with local drivers. Per-vehicle price shown before booking, no prepayment.