Overview
Meskheti, part of the broader Samtskhe-Javakheti region in southern Georgia, is one of the country's oldest viticultural hearths, with stone wine presses near Vardzia dating to the 11th and 12th centuries. After centuries of decline following the Ottoman destruction of vineyards, local growers have begun restoring ancient terraces and recovering rare native vines from wild mountain forests. Vineyards sit at high altitudes, often above 1,000 meters, on volcanic basalt, limestone, and clay soils.
The climate is strongly continental, with cold winters, long warm summers, and low rainfall that makes irrigation necessary in many sites. Indigenous varieties such as Meskhuri Sapere, Tskhenis Dzudzu, Akhaltsikhuri Tetri, and Shavi Aspindzura are being replanted, producing taut, mineral reds and fresh whites. Many producers use qvevri, continuing Georgia's ancient winemaking tradition in a dramatic mountain setting.
Key Varietals
- Meskhuri SapereA rare Meskhetian red producing vividly colored, taut wines with dark fruit and mineral tension.
- Akhaltsikhuri TetriA white grape from the Akhaltsikhe area, giving fresh, floral, and mineral whites.
- Tskhenis DzudzuA historic Meskhetian variety, both white and black forms, prized for its mountain character.
- Shavi AspindzuraA dark-skinned indigenous red from the Aspindza area, yielding structured, age-worthy wines.