Winiveria ★ 4.0
Vardisubani producer outside Telavi with a short list built on Khikhvi, including a qvevri version, plus Goruli Mtsvane, Kindzmarauli and a white chacha.
Where to taste Khikhvi in Kakheti: the estates that grow it, how the region expresses the grape, and how to book a visit.
The cellar
Khikhvi from Kakheti
6 bottles with at least 15% Khikhvi in the blend.
Khikhvi estates in Kakheti
Vazisubani Estate ★ 4.5
Estate at Vazisubani with 35 hectares of vineyard planted to Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi and Mtsvane, fermenting in qvevri, with a hotel and restaurant on the grounds.
Akhmeta Wine House ★ 4.3
A natural qvevri producer founded in 2014 at Akhmeta, a member of the Natural Wine Association Georgia, working skin-contact whites macerated for six months and bottled unfiltered.
Why locals love it: Akhmeta is the municipality most visitors only cross on the way to Alaverdi, and the wine house is a small natural producer rather than a coach stop.
Tip: Their amber range is small and sells through, so check stock on the online shop before making the drive up to Akhmeta.
Ibero Winery ★ 4.2
A Vachnadziani cellar working five dry qvevri wines by the Kakhetian method, with two fortified wines and three chachas, one of them eight years in oak.
Why locals love it: Vachnadziani is off the Telavi to Sighnaghi run, and Ibero's fortified wines and long-aged chacha are a corner of Kakheti most tasting menus skip.
Tip: Tastings are priced and published: a five-variety qvevri flight, a choose-your-own and a full estate flight, with lunch and a Georgian table booked separately.
Wine and cheese
Kakheti cheese with Khikhvi
Sulguni
Our pick Smoked sulguni is a little saltier than plain, with a smoke aroma. Amber Khikhvi from qvevri is full-bodied with medium tannin and medium to high acidity, with the weight to carry the smoke and the acidity to answer the salt.
Amber qvevri Khikhvi, Kakheti: Khikhvi Qvevri · Khikhvi Qvevri · Khikhvi Kakhuri
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