Georgian wine PDO

Introduction

Georgian wine is shaped by more than grape varieties or winemaking techniques - it is deeply rooted in place. Across the country, vineyards are organized into defined geographic zones known as Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs), each reflecting a specific combination of soil, climate, and long-standing tradition.

Much like France's AOC or Italy's DOC systems, Georgian PDOs protect the meaning behind a wine's name. When a label reads Mukuzani, Tsinandali, or Khvanchkara, it signals not just origin, but a shared understanding of how that wine should be made and what it should express.

At the same time, Georgia's wine story extends beyond formal PDOs. Well-known names such as Alazani Valley or Pirosmani exist outside the official system, continuing older traditions and remaining an important part of everyday Georgian wine culture.

What is a PDO?

A Protected Designation of Origin identifies wines that are grown, produced, and bottled within a clearly defined geographic area, following established production standards.

Each PDO sets out clear rules, including:

• Geographic boundaries - defining exactly where the grapes must be grown
• Authorized grape varieties - most often indigenous to the region
• Production methods - covering yields, alcohol levels, aging, and style
• A recognizable profile - shaped by local climate, soils, and tradition

Together, these rules protect both producers and drinkers, ensuring authenticity, preserving heritage, and maintaining trust in what a wine's name represents.

PDOs of eastern Georgia

Eastern Georgia - particularly Kakheti - forms the heart of the country's PDO system. This region is best known for powerful reds and structured, expressive whites:

• Tsinandali PDO - dry white wines from Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane, known for balance, freshness, and subtle minerality
• Mukuzani PDO - dry oak-aged Saperavi, one of Georgia's most respected and age-worthy red wines
• Kindzmarauli PDO - naturally semi-sweet Saperavi from the Kvareli zone, rich yet vibrant
• Akhasheni PDO - semi-sweet red Saperavi, softer in structure and fruit-forward in style
• Napareuli PDO - dry red and white wines based on Saperavi or Rkatsiteli
• Gurjaani PDO - dry or semi-sweet Rkatsiteli, typically full-bodied and warm
• Kvareli PDO - concentrated dry Saperavi with depth and aging potential
• Kardenakhi PDO - dry and dessert-style wines from Rkatsiteli and Khikhvi
• Vazisubani PDO - a refined dry white blend of Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane

Together, Kakheti's PDOs form the backbone of Georgian wine exports - consistent, recognizable, and firmly rooted in place.

PDOs of central Georgia (Kartli)

Central Georgia, known as Kartli, produces wines with a cooler, more restrained character, shaped by altitude and limestone-rich soils:

• Atenuri PDO - dry and sparkling wines from Chinuri and Goruli Mtsvane, prized for their precision and freshness
• Bolnisi PDO - an emerging area producing modern dry reds from Tavkveri and Saperavi

Kindzmarauli PDO - naturally semi-sweet Saperavi from the Kvareli zone, rich yet vibrant

PDOs of western Georgia

Western Georgia's PDOs favor elegance over power, highlighting freshness, minerality, and aromatic expression:

• Sviri PDO (Imereti) - dry white blends of Krakhuna, Tsitska, and Tsolikouri, known for balance and food-friendly character
• Tvishi PDO (Lechkhumi) - naturally semi-sweet white Tsolikouri, floral and gently textured
• Khvanchkara PDO (Racha) - naturally semi-sweet red from Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli, celebrated for its velvety elegance
• Usakhelauri PDO (Lechkhumi) - a rare naturally semi-sweet red from a very limited growing area

Napareuli PDO - dry red and white wines based on Saperavi or Rkatsiteli

Non-PDO appellations - Georgia's traditional names

Alongside official PDOs, Georgia maintains a long tradition of widely used geographic and stylistic names that predate modern regulation. While not legally protected, they remain deeply embedded in Georgian wine culture.

• Common non-PDO examples include:
• Alazani Valley - a broad Kakhetian designation for approachable red and white wines, often semi-sweet
• Pirosmani - semi-dry red or white wines named after the Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani
• Racha Red - a traditional local style, often semi-sweet and produced outside PDO limits
• Black Sea Coastal - a general term for wines from Adjara, Guria, and Samegrelo, typically lighter and fruit-driven

These names help keep Georgian wine accessible, offering familiar styles for everyday enjoyment while still reflecting regional character.

PDOs and modern winemaking

Modern Georgian wineries often move between both worlds. Larger producers rely on PDO wines for consistency and export recognition, while smaller maranis may choose to work outside PDO rules to preserve flexibility and experimentation.

Together, these approaches strengthen Georgia's wine identity - combining credibility and structure with creativity and local expression.

The geographic rhythm of wine

Every PDO exists within a living landscape of rivers, slopes, and microclimates that shape how wines taste:

• The Alazani Valley - fertile Kakhetian plains producing structured whites and bold reds
• The Ateni Gorge - limestone hills in Kartli known for mineral-driven wines
• Racha-Lechkhumi highlands - steep mountain terraces yielding aromatic, naturally semi-sweet reds
• The Imeretian basin - rolling clay-limestone hills balancing freshness and body
• The Black Sea coast - maritime breezes shaping light, aromatic styles

This diversity explains why Georgian wine resists uniformity - it is defined not by a single style, but by the individuality of place.

Summary

Together, Georgia's PDOs and traditional appellations form a mosaic - regulated and free-form, historic and experimental. PDOs provide structure and protection, while non-PDO wines preserve familiarity and creative freedom.

Whether it's a structured Mukuzani, a honeyed Tvishi, a floral Atenuri, or an easygoing Alazani Valley wine, each name tells part of the same story: Georgian wine belongs to the land it comes from.