GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Sulori Wine Region

Where Imereti's ancient vines still sing

Sulori Wine Region

Why go

Sulori is one of Georgia's most venerable wine regions, a pocket of Imereti where viticulture predates recorded history. Unlike the famous qvevri regions of Kakheti, Sulori's winemakers historically favored wooden casks and lighter, crisper styles. The region gave its name to the Sulori Valley, where Tsitska and Tsolikouri—two of Georgia's most elegant white grapes—find their purest expression. These are wines of restraint: floral, mineral, with acidity that reflects the cooler, wetter climate of western Georgia. Visiting means entering a landscape where family cellars still work with pre-Soviet equipment, where the wine carries the specific humidity of the Rioni River basin. It is worth the journey for drinkers seeking Georgia's less celebrated but equally profound tradition.

On the ground See

  • Visit family cellars in the villages of Sviri and Obcha to taste tank-fermented Tsitska from the 2020s and compare against Soviet-era vintages
  • Walk the terraced vineyards above the Rioni River where Tsolikouri vines climb chestnut stakes in the old maghlari training system
  • Explore the remains of the Sulori State Winery, established in the 1930s, whose concrete tanks and Italian presses still stand as testament to Imereti's Soviet wine industry

Practical Know before you go

Best visited May through October; the region is accessible via Kutaisi (30km), with local marshrutkas running to Sviri village, though English-speaking cellars require advance arrangement.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly