📜 Akhmeta

Akhmeta wine, also labelled Akhmetis Mtsvane, is a Georgian appellation of origin for white and amber wine made from Kakhuri Mtsvane grapes grown in the Akhmeta micro-zone of Inner Kakheti. It was registered in Georgia on 11 May 2020 under no. 979; the applicant and control body is the National Wine Agency. ¹⁷

Where it is made. The micro-zone lies on the upper Alazani river within Akhmeta municipality, sheltered by the Tsiv-Gombori range to the south and south-west, the Kakheti range to the west and the Caucasus to the north. ¹ Besides the town of Akhmeta it takes in 26 villages, among them Matani, Alaverdi, Zemo and Kvemo Alvani, Babaneuli and Maghraani; vineyards lie at 450–800 m. ¹

Grape varieties. White Akhmeta is made only from Kakhuri Mtsvane harvested in the micro-zone; no other variety is allowed. ¹ The amber wine may add Kisi and/or Khikhvi from the same area, up to 15 % in total. ¹

The white wine. It may be dry, naturally semi-dry or naturally semi-sweet, with up to 4 g/l, 4–18 g/l or 18–45 g/l of sugar. ¹ It is light straw in colour, with yellow fruit, peach, grapefruit and tropical aromas, soft and moderately acidic; alcohol is at least 11 % for dry and 10.5 % for the others, acidity at least 5 g/l. ¹

Amber wine and qvevri. Amber Akhmeta ranges from dark amber to tea colour, with notes of ripe and stewed fruit, dried flowers, spices and dried fruit; it is full-bodied and tannic, with at least 12 % alcohol. ¹ It must ferment only in qvevri on the whole marc, skins and stems included, then the qvevri is topped up and the wine left on the marc until at least 1 February of the following year. ¹

Climate, soils and yields. The micro-zone is moderately humid, averaging 12–13 °C a year and 23–24 °C in July, with 770–820 mm of rain and 2,000–2,200 hours of sun; the Caucasus blocks cold northern air. ¹ Soils are brown, meadow brown, alluvial and humus carbonate. ¹ Yields are capped at 8 t per hectare and 650 l of wine per tonne, and grapes need at least 20 % sugar, 22 % for semi-sweet. ¹

History and rules. In his «Geography of Georgia», Vakhushti Bagrationi singled out the wines of Manavi, Akhmeta and Kondoli; the wine itself was created by «Samtresti» specialists and has been made semi-sweet since 1958. ¹ Grapes must be processed in Kakheti and the wine bottled only in Georgia, and it is sold only in consumer packaging. ¹ Georgian appellations are recorded in the state registry kept by Sakpatenti. ⁶³

Akhmeta vs Magraanis Kisi and Tsarapi. Inside Akhmeta municipality, the separate Magraanis Kisi appellation allows only Kisi and only dry white and amber wines from Maghraani, Pichkhovani, Argokhi and Babaneuri. ⁴ Tsarapi, from Kardenakhi in Gurjaani district, is an amber wine of Rkatsiteli with up to 15 % Kakhuri Mtsvane or Khikhvi. ⁵ Akhmeta is the home of Kakhuri Mtsvane: soft whites and rich ambers. ¹

Why it matters to you. The Akhmeta name on a label means Kakhuri Mtsvane from one micro-zone, checked by the National Wine Agency. ¹⁷ Choose semi-sweet for a soft, fruity glass, or amber qvevri wine for texture and tannin. ¹ Wine contains alcohol: for adults only, in moderation. ¹