Rkatsiteli Qvevri 2024 – Georgian Orange Wine

Georgian natural wine crafted from organic Rkatsiteli grapes according to 8,000-year-old traditions in an underground clay amphora (Georgian: Qvevri).

What makes this Rkatsiteli special

• Hand-picked grapes from our organic vineyard
• Fermented with pulp, skins, and seeds
• Aged in Qvevri (underground clay amphora)
• 100% Georgian natural wine with zero additives
• Unsulfured, minimal intervention
• Bottled at our own cellar by the winemaker personally
• Expressive, with a pleasant acidity

Taste and Style

This dry Qvevri orange wine unfolds spring-like, floral notes and aromas of pear and other fruits. Thanks to its pleasant acidity, it feels fresh, fruity, and relatively light for a Kakhetian amphora wine.

What is Rkatsiteli?

Rkatsiteli is one of Georgia's oldest grape varieties and—unlike Kisi and Khikhvi—one of the most widespread, especially in Kakheti. Rkatsiteli wines are known for their pleasant acidity and complex composition of aromas. You can often detect notes of green apple, citrus, and floral undertones.

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 this Rkatsiteli:

• Constant Temperature: Because the Qvevris are buried, the interior maintains naturally cool and stable temperatures. This allowed the Rkatsiteli 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 Rkatsiteli its unmistakable character.

Winemaking Process in Qvevri

For this 2024 Rkatsiteli 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 five weeks with 70% skin contact, we separated the wine from the skins and seeds and moved it to another Qvevri, where it aged underground for five more months. After another 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 1,000 bottles of Rkatsiteli.

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 Rkatsiteli variety.

Perfect Pairings

Georgian Dishes:

• Chakhokhbili (chicken stew)
• Chakapuli (spring lamb/plum stew)
• Dishes with walnut sauces (Satsivi/Baje)
• Adjapsandali (vegetable stew)

International Dishes:

• Grilled chicken
• Grilled fish and seafood
• Aged cheese and fresh bread

Serving Tips

For this 2024 Rkatsiteli Qvevri, we recommend a serving temperature of 14–16°C. Decant the wine at least 30 minutes before enjoying to let the aromas fully unfold.

Storage

Skin-fermented Rkatsiteli 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: Rkatsiteli
• Country: Georgia
• Region: Kakheti
• Micro-zones: Kindzmarauli, Kvareli
• Vinification: Qvevri
• Aging: Stainless steel
• Bottle size: 0.75 l

Analysis

• Alcohol: 12.6%
• Residual Sugar: 3.4 g/l
• Titratable Acidity: 6.4 g/l
• Contains sulfites (no additional sulfites were added to this wine; the contained sulfites occur naturally)

FAQ: Rkatsiteli 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.

What does Rkatsiteli mean?

Rkatsiteli means "Red Horn." The name comes from the Georgian words Rka (horn/stem) and Tsiteli (red), referring to the reddish color of the grape stems.

Where can I buy this Rkatsiteli in Tbilisi?

The Inavarde Wines Rkatsiteli Qvevri 2024 is not available in shops in Tbilisi. You can enjoy it directly at our wine cellar or order it here online.