Kisi Qvevri 2024 – Georgian Orange Wine

Kisi, Georgian natural wine from our own organic vineyard in Kakheti, crafted according to 8,000-year-old traditions in a Qvevri (underground clay amphora).

What makes this Kisi special

• Hand-picked grapes from our organic vineyard
• Skin-contact fermentation
• Aged in Qvevri (underground clay amphora)
• 100% Georgian natural wine with zero additives
• Unfiltered, unsulfured, minimal intervention
• Bottled at our own cellar by the winemaker personally
• Complex aromas, full body, and rich tannins

Taste and Style

Produced in Qvevri, this dry orange wine is characterized by its robust body, pleasant tannins, and layered aromas of ripe peach, apricot, and wildflowers. This Kisi amphora wine has great aging potential, allowing its tannins to become rounder and softer over time.

What is Kisi?

Much like Khikhvi, Kisi is an ancient Kakhetian grape variety used to produce white, amber, and orange wines. During the Soviet occupation, Kisi was largely forgotten as the focus shifted to higher-yielding varieties like Rkatsiteli. Over the last 30 years, Kisi has seen a strong resurgence.
Kisi wines are aromatic and complex, often featuring notes of peach, apricot, and other ripe stone fruits, as well as dried herbs and honey. When fermented on the skins, Kisi wines are rich in tannins that grow smoother and more velvety with age.

What is Qvevri Wine?

A Qvevri is a clay amphora buried in the ground used for winemaking. This traditional method is part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. People in the territory of modern-day Georgia were already making wine this way 8,000 years ago.

Characteristics of Qvevri Winemaking

Making wine in a Qvevri is a unique thing that shapes the character of the wines:

• Constant Temperature: Because the Qvevris are buried, they maintain naturally cool and stable temperatures. This allowed the Kisi grapes to ferment slowly and gently.
• Natural Filtration: Thanks to the egg-shaped structure, skins, seeds, and other particles settle at the bottom, naturally filtering the wine.
• Micro-Oxidation: The porous clay allows tiny amounts of oxygen to enter during the process, giving this Kisi its unmistakable character.

Winemaking Process in Qvevri

For this 2024 Kisi Orange Wine, we pressed hand-harvested, carefully sorted grapes and added the entire "mash" (juice, pulp, skins, and seeds) into a Qvevri. As with all our wines, fermentation was triggered by naturally occurring wild yeasts (spontaneous fermentation). After 24 days of 100% skin contact, we separated the wine from the skins and seeds and moved it to another vessel. After eight months in a stainless steel tank, the wine was bottled.

The Producer

Inavarde Wines is a small, owner-managed cellar in Eniseli, a village in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. The winery was founded in 2020 by Swiss expat Fabio Bolognese. Using organic grapes from its own vineyard, Inavarde Wines produces around 4,000 to 5,000 bottles of natural wine per year, including about 1,500 bottles of Kisi.

Our Philosophy

We believe that a thriving vineyard and exceptional grapes are the most important requirements for good wine. That’s why we put so much work and passion into our organic vineyard and only intervene in the cellar when absolutely necessary.

Origin: Kakheti

Located in Eastern Georgia, Kakheti is the country’s most important wine region, home to about 75% of all vineyards. The continental climate—with hot summers and cool nights—and mineral-rich soils provide ideal conditions for the Kisi variety.

Perfect Pairings

Georgian Dishes:

• Dambalkhacho cheese
• Ostri (beef stew)
• Mtsvadi (Georgian barbecue)
• Baked mushrooms with Sulguni cheese

International Dishes:

• Grilled steaks
• Spicy, aged cheeses

Serving Tips

For this 2024 Kisi Qvevri, we recommend a serving temperature of 14–16°C. Decant the wine at least one hour before enjoying to let the aromas fully unfold—two to three hours is even better.

Storage

Skin-fermented Kisi wines have good aging potential. Since this is a natural wine with no added sulfur or preservatives, it is essential to store it in a cool, dark place:

• 11°C to 16°C: Can be stored for several years
• 17°C to 19°C: Can be stored for several months up to 1–2 years
• 20°C and above: Enjoy within a few weeks or months

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2024
• Variety: Kisi
• Country: Georgia
• Region: Kakheti
• Micro-zones: Kindzmarauli, Kvareli
• Vinification: Qvevri
• Aging: Stainless steel
• Bottle size: 0.75 l

Wine Analysis

• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Residual Sugar: 3.4 g/l
• Titratable Acidity: 5.3 g/l
• Contains sulfites (no additional sulfites were added to this wine; the contained sulfites occur naturally)

FAQ: Kisi Qvevri 2024

What are Orange Wines?

Orange wines are made by fermenting white grapes on their skins. The "mash" is the mixture of juice, pulp, seeds, and skins. Since most of the color pigments are in the skins, the wine takes on an amber to orange hue.

Where can I buy this Kisi in Tbilisi?

You can find the Inavarde Wines Kisi Qvevri 2024 at Wine Boutique Tbilisi (17 Eristav-Khoshtaria St) and at WAREHOUSE at Stamba (14 Merab Kostava St).