🍷 Imeretian method
Also known as: Imeretian wine, Imeretian-style wine
A Georgian method: only part of the skins, without stems, goes into the qvevri.
The Imeretian method is a Georgian way of making wine. It is named after Imereti, a region in western Georgia. The idea is that grape juice ferments in a qvevri, a large clay vessel buried in the ground, together with only a small part of the skins. Stems, the stalks of the bunches, are not added at all.
In the Kakhetian method, common in the east of the country, all the skins, stems and seeds go into the qvevri. This makes wines tannic and darker. Imeretian wines are softer, lighter and less astringent, because they have less contact with the skins.
Both methods belong to the Georgian wine tradition, one of the oldest in the world. It is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Qvevri buried in the earth keep a steady temperature.
The Imeretian method appears in white and amber versions. For the buyer it means a wine with a soft taste and light structure.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Imeretian method → made in → 🗺️ Georgian wine → kind of → 🗺️ Wines of Europe → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Qvevri wine
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Georgian wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Qvevri wine, 🍷 Kakhetian method
Frequently asked questions
What does Imeretian-style wine mean?
Wine made by the Georgian method in which only part of the skins goes into the qvevri and no stems are added.
Is Imeretian wine softer than Kakhetian wine?
Yes. There is less contact with the skins, so the wines are softer, lighter and less astringent.
Is it true that every wine from a qvevri is dark and tannic?
No. That describes the Kakhetian method; Imeretian wines come in white and amber versions with a soft taste.
Similar
🍷 Kakhetian method · 🍷 Amphora wine · 🍷 Qvevri wine · 🍷 Talha wine · 🍷 Homemade wine · 🍷 Orange wine
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- OIV, International Code of Oenological Practices
- UNESCO: Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making method
- National Wine Agency of Georgia