GEORGIAN WINE
Theoretically, several countries around the world lay claim to the title of “the birthplace of wine.” Alongside Georgia, you will certainly hear similar arguments in Western Europe and even in Moldova. Yet perhaps it is not worth turning this question into a matter of dispute—for debate cannot alter reality. In every potential cradle of wine, people will always believe that the very first grapes were pressed on their soil.
From a Georgian perspective, however, there is one fact that underpins our belief that everything began here: in Georgia, archaeologists have discovered qvevri—large clay vessels used for winemaking—dating back 8,000 years. Qvevri are still used by Georgians to this very day. And if people were already drinking wine here eight millennia ago, it is not unreasonable to suppose that this land was also the first to experience the unique intoxication of this sacred drink. Over thousands of years, this tradition has shaped Georgian viticulture into something uniquely diverse—not only in an abstract sense, but in a tangible one. The Georgian vine family embraces countless varieties, many of them graced with enchanting shades of color.
SHAVKAPITO
One such variety is Shavkapito, an endemic Georgian grape from the Kartli region. Its berries are deep in hue, almost black—as its name suggests. Wine made from Shavkapito, like other Kartlian wines, is less intoxicating and marked by a light, pleasant taste.
In Eastern Georgia, where wines are generally stronger and heavier than in the west, Kartli varieties stand apart. These wines are often called “for feasting” (“saqeipos”), for they allow one to linger at the table, drinking long into the evening without succumbing to overpowering drunkenness, while encouraging lively conversation.
In a sense, Kartli wines resemble the people of Kartli themselves: measured, calm, and reserved. Shavkapito, though proud and striking in appearance, remains faithful to the ancient traditions of its land, carrying with it the quiet dignity of Kartli despite its outward splendor.