GEORGIA — THE CRADLE OF WINE

8,000 Years of Wine

Georgia is one of the oldest known homelands of wine. Archaeological and scientific evidence shows that people in the South Caucasus were producing wine as early as 6000–5800 BC — approximately 8,000 years ago.

The discovery was made through a multidisciplinary study of archaeological sites in the villages of Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveri Gora, in the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia. Excavations uncovered ancient clay vessels associated with winemaking. Scientists detected organic compounds characteristic of wine, including tartaric acid, one of the most important chemical markers of grape wine. Radiocarbon dating placed the material at approximately 6000–5800 BC.

The research combined archaeology, chemistry, paleobotany, radiocarbon dating and the study of ancient grape remains. The results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in 2017 and provided some of the earliest direct scientific evidence of winemaking anywhere in the world.

This is why Georgia is often described as the “Cradle of Wine”.

THE QVEVRI — WINE BORN FROM THE EARTH

Perhaps the most distinctive expression of Georgia’s ancient wine culture is the Qvevri — a large, egg-shaped vessel made from clay and traditionally buried in the ground.

Unlike a barrel or a conventional wine tank, the Qvevri becomes part of the earth itself. Grapes are crushed and placed into the vessel together with skins, seeds and, traditionally, stems. The Qvevri is then sealed and buried, allowing fermentation, maturation and storage to take place in a naturally stable underground environment.

The Qvevri is not simply a container. It represents an entire philosophy of winemaking — one in which grape, clay, earth, vineyard and winemaker become part of the same process.

The archaeological history of clay wine vessels in Georgia reaches back thousands of years. The form of the Qvevri known today developed over time, while the knowledge of making and using these vessels was transmitted from generation to generation.

This living tradition has survived for millennia and remains part of Georgian wine culture today.

RECOGNIZED BY UNESCO

The ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making method was inscribed in 2013 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

UNESCO recognized not only the vessel itself, but the entire living tradition surrounding Qvevri winemaking: the knowledge of making the clay vessels, cultivating vines, harvesting grapes, making wine, and passing these skills from one generation to the next.

For Georgian communities, wine is much more than a drink. It is deeply connected with family, agriculture, celebration, religion, hospitality and cultural identity.

The Marani — the traditional Georgian wine cellar — has historically been one of the most important places in the Georgian household.

A LAND OF VINES

Georgia’s uniqueness is not only its ancient history. It is also the extraordinary diversity of its vines.

More than 500 indigenous Georgian grape varieties have survived and been identified. This remarkable genetic diversity developed across Georgia’s varied landscapes — from humid western valleys to dry eastern plains and high mountain regions.

Different soils, elevations, climates and local traditions created a remarkable mosaic of grape varieties, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.

Among these varieties are famous grapes such as Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi and many lesser-known local varieties that remain closely connected to particular villages and regions.

The survival of such diversity is one of the most important treasures of Georgian viticultural heritage.

MESKHETI — A LOST WINE WORLD

Among Georgia’s historic wine regions, Meskheti holds a particularly remarkable place.

Located in the southern highlands of Georgia, Meskheti developed a distinctive form of viticulture adapted to its mountainous landscape. Vineyards were traditionally planted on terraces and, in some places, vines were trained onto fruit trees.

Vineyards existed at elevations reaching approximately 900–1,700 metres above sea level, making Meskheti one of the highest historic viticultural regions in Georgia.

Centuries of political upheaval, invasion and social change severely damaged Meskhetian viticulture. Many vineyards disappeared, traditional wine villages were abandoned, and numerous local grape varieties were lost or forgotten.

Yet not everything disappeared.

Today, 24 indigenous Meskhetian grape varieties have been identified and preserved through research and revival efforts.

Their survival offers a rare opportunity to rediscover a forgotten chapter of Georgian viticultural history.

A LIVING HERITAGE

Georgia’s wine story is therefore not simply a story about the past.

It is a living tradition.

The same land that supported some of the earliest known winemaking communities continues to produce wine today. Ancient grape varieties remain in cultivation. Qvevris are still made by hand. Traditional maranis continue to operate. Knowledge is still passed from one generation to another.

This continuity — from ancient archaeological evidence to living vineyards and working Qvevris — is what makes Georgian wine truly unique.

At Natenadze Winery, we believe that preserving this heritage means more than remembering it.

It means searching for what was lost, identifying forgotten vines, multiplying endangered varieties, restoring ancient vineyards and giving these grapes a place in the future.

Our work in Meskheti is part of that journey: to rediscover the vines, wines and stories of a region whose ancient wine culture deserves to be heard again.