Georgia is the world's oldest wine-producing nation — archaeological evidence places viticulture in the South Caucasus from 8,000 BCE. The qvevri (clay amphora) wine-making tradition, where grapes ferment and age in underground clay vessels, was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. The two primary fine wine regions are Kakheti (eastern Georgia's primary wine zone, home to Rkatsiteli and Saperavi) and Kartli/Imereti (western regions with extended skin-contact whites). Georgia's amber/orange wines — qvevri-fermented Rkatsiteli with extended skin contact — are among the most influential fine dining wine trends of the 21st century, inspiring the global natural wine movement and skin-contact wine renaissance.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 89 | Solid Georgia vintage with above-average quality. Slightly warmer summer affected the freshness of lighter whites but the skin-contact amber wines and Saperavi reds benefited from additional ripeness. Approachable from 2024. |
| 2021 | 90 | Good Georgia vintage — consistent quality across Kakheti's top producers. The qvevri whites show classic dried stone fruit and mineral character; Saperavi reds have firm structure and longevity. Drink 2023-2028. |
| 2019 | 93 | An excellent Georgian vintage with ideal conditions in Kakheti for indigenous varieties. The balance of warm days and cool nights produced Rkatsiteli and Saperavi of fine structure and mineral precision. Pheasant's Tears 2019 is among the finest expressions of their range. Age-worthy for 10-15 years. |
| 2017 | 91 | Warm Georgian vintage with concentrated fruit and generous structure in both Rkatsiteli and Saperavi. The qvevri fermentation balanced the vintage's richness. Best drunk 2020-2025; less mineral tension than cool-climate years but offering immediate pleasure. |
| 2015 | 95 | The standout modern Georgian vintage — a perfect Kakhetian growing season produced qvevri wines of extraordinary concentration and mineral depth. Pheasant's Tears and Iago's Wine 2015 releases are benchmark expressions of Georgian amber wine: rich, phenolic, with exceptional aging potential. The Saperavi 2015 from top producers ranks among the great red wines of Eastern Europe. |