Appellation
Khvanchkara
Khvanchkara is a protected designation of origin (PDO) in Racha-Lechkhumi, Georgia, registered on July 14, 2005. Under its specification, Khvanchkara is wine from Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli, bottled only inside the zone.
- Registered
- 2005
- In the catalogue
- 49
On the label
What the label should show
- The name Khvanchkara as a protected designation of origin (PDO).
- Grapes allowed by the specification: Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli.
- Bottled inside the zone: the specification does not allow bottling elsewhere.
These are requirements of the specification. A label that meets them complies with the specification; it does not prove that the bottle is genuine.
The zone
What its specification sets.
Racha, Ambrolauri district: both banks of the Rioni — the southern slopes of the Lechkhumi range on the right, the northern slopes of the Racha range on the left — and the south-eastern part of the Lechkhumi municipality. The zone stretches 35–40 km along the gorge and covers thirty villages. The wine comes from two local varieties, Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli, and is red naturally semi-sweet, with no sugar added and at least eleven per cent alcohol.
In the zone's specification
Grapes: Aleksandrouli, Mujuretuli
Alcohol: no less than 11%
Bottling: inside the zone only
Villages of the zone · 30
Khvanchkara, Tsesi, Kvatskhuti, Sadmeli, Ghviara, Bostana, Didi Chorjo, Patara Chorjo, Meore Tola, Pirveli Tola, Chrebalo, Chkvishi, Zhoshkha, Kvishari, Ghvardia, Bareuli, Ghadishi, Baji, Bugeuli, Saketsia, Jvarisa, Itsa, Krikhi, Akhalsopeli, Gori, Khimshi, Abanoeti, Dzirageuli, Alpana, Orbeli
Source: the appellation specification, register no. 1 — National Wine Agency
On the map
- Racha-Lechkhumi — the region
- Khvanchkara — the PDO zone
- Other regions
Authenticity risk
High authenticity risk
Khvanchkara is a naturally semi-sweet red PDO from Racha, made only from Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grapes grown in a small demarcated micro-zone around Ambrolauri. Because these two grapes grow on a very limited area (the core micro-zone is on the order of tens of hectares, within roughly 900 ha of Racha vineyards) while the name is among Georgia's most famous, the volume sold under the name has historically exceeded what the zone can produce, and falsification of the name is well documented in the wine press. What to check: the producer is registered in the Racha/Khvanchkara zone and owns or buys Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grapes there, and the label names the Khvanchkara appellation. The winery's page on getwine shows where it is registered and its vineyards.
No flag
We hold no evidence of elevated risk. Not a guarantee of authenticity.
Elevated authenticity risk
The name travels further than the zone plausibly supplies, and the question is worth asking of a bottle that carries it.
High authenticity riskthis zone
A small zone, varieties grown almost nowhere else, and a shelf volume the zone cannot account for.
The flag says the name on the label guarantees nothing by itself: there is more of this zone's wine on the market than the zone can yield. We do not claim that any particular bottle is fake or that any particular producer is at fault.
Wines of Khvanchkara
What the catalogue holds.
49 wines from Khvanchkara. The price on a card is the median across shops, or the lowest price where there is no median — a reference, not a rating.
Khvanchkara
Mildiani Family Winery
Khvanchkara
Royal Khvanchkara
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Shumi Winery
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Kiskisi
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Naberauli Wines
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Lomtadze Family Wines
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Schuchmann Wines
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Tbilvino
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Teliani Valley
Racha-Lechkhumi
Marani Khvanchkara
Telavi Wine Cellar
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Marani Tsereteli
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Terra Kisi
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Tkeshelashvili Marani
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Veleula
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Ancient Valley
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Gonadze Vineyards
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Monastruli
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Anemo
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Avandi
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Bediani
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Bimbili
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Château Mukhrani
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Dugladze Wine Company
Racha-Lechkhumi
Khvanchkara
Enovani
Racha-Lechkhumi