Kartli

Central Georgia around Tbilisi: the basin of the Mtkvari with its tributaries the Liakhvi and the Ksani, vineyards at 450–700 m. The climate is continental — cold winters, warm summers and a marked day-to-night swing; limestone and marl subsoils drain well and preserve acidity in the fruit. Administratively this is Shida Kartli, with Gori, Ateni and Kaspi, and Kvemo Kartli, with Bolnisi and Asureti. The local varieties are Chinuri and Goruli Mtsvane among the whites, Tavkveri and Shavkapito among the reds; Aligoté, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon have long been at home here too. Cool nights and high acidity have made Kartli the country's sparkling-wine region — Atenuri was historically bottled lightly sparkling, and the base wine for traditional and tank-method sparklers comes from here. The reds are lighter than Kakhetian ones: Tavkveri gives a light red and rosé rather than dense extract. There are four appellations: Atenuri and Okami in Shida Kartli, Bolnisi and Asuretuli Shala in Kvemo Kartli. The zones are small and no hype surrounds their names — a Kartlian label more often carries the grape or the estate than the name of a zone.