The following is a list of Georgian wine appellations. 29 appellations [1] are registered with Sakpatenti, Georgia's national intellectual property center. 18 are described in a book published in 2010, [2] and 11 more have been added since (see current list here [3] ).
Appellation | Region | Municipality | Grape varieties | Color | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akhasheni | Kakheti | Gurjaani | Saperavi | Red | Semi-sweet |
Akhmeta | Kakheti | Akhmeta | Kakhuri Mtsvane | White | Dry |
Asuretuli shala | Kartli | Asureti | Asuretuli Shavi, Takveri, Shavkapito | Red | Dry |
Ateni, Atenuri | Shida Kartli | Gori | Chinuri, Goruli Mtsvane, Aligoté | White | Sparkling |
Bolnisi | Kvemo Kartli | Bolnisi | Rkatsiteli, Chinuri, Goruli Mtsvane, Saperavi, Tavkveri, Shavkapito, Asuretuli Shavi | White, amber, rosé, red | Dry |
Gurjaani | Kakheti | Gurjaani | Rkatsiteli, Kakhuri Mtsvane | White | Dry |
Kakheti | Kakheti | - | Rkatsiteli, Kakhuri Mtsvane | White | Dry |
Kardenakhi | Kakheti | Gurjaani | Rkatsiteli, Khikhvi, Mtsvane | White | Fortified |
Khashmi Saperavi | Kakheti | Sagarejo | Saperavi | Red | Dry |
Khvanchkara | Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti | Ambrolauri | Aleksandrouli, Mujuretuli | Red | Semi-sweet |
Kindzmarauli | Kakheti | Kvareli | Saperavi | Red | Semi-sweet |
Kisi magrani | Kakheti | Kisi | White | Dry | |
Kotekhi | Kakheti | Gurjaani | Rkatsiteli, Saperavi | Red, White | Dry |
Kvareli | Kakheti | Kvareli | Saperavi | Red | Dry |
Manavi | Kakheti | Sagarejo | Kakhuri Mtsvane, Rkatsiteli | White | Dry |
Mukuzani | Kakheti | Gurjaani | Saperavi | Red | Dry |
Napareuli | Kakheti | Telavi | Rkatsiteli, Saperavi | Red | Dry |
Okami | Kartli | Kaspi | Shavkapito, Chinuri, Goruli Mtsvane | Red, White | Dry |
Okureshis Usakhelouri | Racha-Lechkhumi | - | Usakhelouri | Red | Dry, semi-sweet |
Salkhino Ojaleshi | Samegrelo | - | Ojaleshi | Red | Dry |
Sviri | Imereti | Zestafoni | Tsolikouri, Tsitska, Krakhuna | White | Dry |
Teliani | Kakheti | Telavi | Cabernet Sauvignon | Red | Dry |
Tibaani | Kakheti | Sighnaghi | Rkatsiteli | White | Dry |
Tsarapi | Kakheti | - | Rkatsiteli | White | Dry |
Tsinandali | Kakheti | Telavi | Rkatsiteli, Kakhuri Mtsvane | White | Dry |
Tvishi | Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti | Tsageri | Tsolikouri | White | Semi-sweet |
Vazisubani | Kakheti | Gurjaani | Rkatsiteli, Kakhuri Mtsvane | White | Dry |
Zegaani | Kakheti | Zegaani | Saperavi | Red | Dry |
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical boundaries, such as what grapes may be grown, maximum grape yields, alcohol level, and other quality factors may also apply before an appellation name may legally appear on a wine bottle label. The rules that govern appellations are dependent on the country in which the wine was produced.
Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialties, known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG), promote and protect names of agricultural products and foodstuffs. Products registered under one of the three schemes may be marked with the logo for that scheme to help identify those products. The schemes are based on the legal framework provided by the EU Regulation No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs. This regulation applies within the EU as well as in Northern Ireland. Protection of the registered products is gradually expanded internationally via bilateral agreements between the EU and non-EU countries. It ensures that only products genuinely originating in that region are allowed to be identified as such in commerce. The legislation first came into force in 1992. The purpose of the law is to protect the reputation of the regional foods, promote rural and agricultural activity, help producers obtain a premium price for their authentic products, and eliminate the unfair competition and misleading of consumers by non-genuine products, which may be of inferior quality or of different flavour. Critics argue that many of the names, sought for protection by the EU, have become commonplace in trade and should not be protected.
The following four classifications of wine constitute the Italian system of labelling and legally protecting Italian wine:
In Spain, the denominación de origen is part of a regulatory geographical indication system used primarily for foodstuffs such as cheeses, condiments, honey, and meats, among others. In wines, it parallels the hierarchical systems of France (1935) and Italy (1963), although Rioja (1925) and Jerez (1933) preceded the full system. In foods, it performs a similar role, regulation of quality and geographical origin of products from Spain. There are five other designated categories solely for wine and a further three specifically covering food and condiments, all recognised by the European Union (EU). In Catalonia, two further categories – labelled A and Q – cover traditional Catalan artisan food products, but were not recognised by the EU as of 2007. In recent decades, the concept of the denominación de origen has been adopted by other countries, primarily in Latin America. In 2016, the use of the Denominación de Origen (DO) for wines was registered as a European Union Protected Designations of Origin/Denominación de Origen Protegida (PDO/DOP), but the traditional Portuguese term of DO can still be used legally on labels.
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States, providing an official appellation for the mutual benefit of wineries and consumers. Winemakers frequently want their consumers to know about the geographic pedigree of their wines, as wines from a particular area can possess distinctive characteristics. Consumers often seek out wines from specific AVAs, and certain wines of particular pedigrees can claim premium prices and loyal customers. If a wine is labeled with an AVA, at least 85% of the grapes that make up the wine must have been grown in the AVA, and the wine must be fully finished within the state where the AVA is located.
Burgundy wine is made in the Burgundy region of eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here, and those commonly referred to as "Burgundies," are dry red wines made from pinot noir grapes and white wines made from chardonnay grapes.
In France, the appellation d'origine contrôlée(AOC) is a label that identifies an agricultural product whose stages of production and processing are carried out in a defined geographical area – the terroir – and using recognized and traditional know-how. The specificity of an AOC product is determined by the combination of a physical and biological environment with established production techniques transmitted within a human community that, together, give the product its distinctive qualities. These crucial technical and geographic factors are set forth in standards for each product, including wines, cheeses and meats. Other countries and the European Union have similar labeling systems. The European Union's protected designation of origin (PDO and PGI) system has harmonized the protection of all geographical indications and their registration. When labelling wine however, producers may still use recognized traditional terms like AOC, and are not required to display the PDO and PGI logos or terms, mostly for aesthetic purposes.
A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin. The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product's source, is intended as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a good reputation due to its geographical origin.
Table wine is a wine term with two different meanings: a style of wine and a quality level within wine classification.
Bordeaux wine is produced in the Bordeaux region of southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux, on the Garonne River. To the north of the city the Dordogne River joins the Garonne forming the broad estuary called the Gironde; the Gironde department, with a total vineyard area of 110,800 hectares, is the largest wine growing area in France.
Vintners Quality Alliance, or VQA, is a regulatory and appellation system which guarantees the high quality and authenticity of origin for Canadian wines made under that system in British Columbia and Ontario. It is similar to regulatory systems in France (AOC), Spain (DO), Italy (DOC), and Germany (QmP). The VQA system allows for sub-appellations, by which the grapes for wines are sourced from extremely specific geographical locations with different soil and climate. This is in accordance with the concept of terroir.
French wine is produced all throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France is one of the largest wine producers in the world, along with Italian, Spanish, and American wine-producing regions. French wine traces its history to the 6th century BCE, with many of France's regions dating their wine-making history to Roman times. The wines produced range from expensive wines sold internationally to modest wines usually only seen within France such as the Margnat wines of the post war period.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to wine:
Chacha is a Georgian pomace brandy, clear and strong, which is sometimes called "wine vodka", "grape vodka", or "Georgian vodka/grappa". It is made of grape pomace. The term chacha is used in Georgia to refer to grape distillate. It may be also produced from unripe or wild grapes. Other common fruits or herbs used are figs, tangerines, oranges, mulberries or tarragon.
The classification of wine is based on various criteria including place of origin or appellation, vinification method and style, sweetness and vintage, and the grape variety or varieties used. Practices vary in different countries and regions of origin, and many practices have varied over time. Some classifications enjoy official protection by being part of the wine law in their country of origin, while others have been created by, for example, growers' organizations without such protection.
The denominação de origem controlada is the system of protected designation of origin for fruit, wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products from Portugal.
The country of Georgia is the first among the EU neighbourhood countries to take an important step towards protecting its local food and beverages from being copied in other countries. The country has a rich history of local and specialist agricultural production and has long been famed for its wines. Names of as many as 18 premium quality local wines have been protected by the use of appellation system, the appellations usually being the geographical name of the area in which the wine is produced.
Vazisubani is an appellation for wines produced in a 62-square-kilometer zone around Vazisubani village in eastern Georgia.
Tvishi is an appellation for wines produced in a 15 km2 zone around Tvishi village in northwestern Georgia. The zone is on the right bank of the Rioni River and includes Alpana village.
The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union and the United Kingdom aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main purpose is to designate products that have been produced, processed and developed in a specific geographical area, using the recognized know-how of local producers and ingredients from the region concerned.