Teliani Valley Winery – Rethinking Georgia’s Wine Tradition

In the heart of Georgia, in the Kakheti region, Teliani Valley Winery is writing a modern success story – balancing deeply rooted wine tradition with innovative winemaking. At VINELLO we present to you selected wines from this outstanding estate, dedicated to the diversity of autochthonous grape varieties, the terroir, and the harmonious interplay of soil, climate, and winemaking artistry.

History, Mission & Philosophy

Teliani Valley was founded in 1997 by young, passionate winemakers who pursued one goal: to liberate and renew the ancient Georgian wine culture with modern methods. The winery was established on the site of an old wine cellar that already existed in the 19th century, and step by step it developed into one of Georgia’s most important producers. Today Teliani Valley is not only a wine producer but also a supporter of new talent from all over the country – with projects such as “Wine People”, which support micro-wineries.

The philosophy: wine is not just a product, but a cultural bridge that connects people, tells stories, and awakens emotions. Georgia’s terroir – soils, altitudes, microclimate – should express itself in the wine, not be masked by excessive technology.

Location & Terroir – Where Georgia’s Wine Originates

The vineyards of Teliani Valley are spread across selected terroirs, mainly in the Kakheti region in eastern Georgia – one of the country’s most important wine-growing areas. Kakheti supplies around 80% of Georgia’s grapes and lies in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus. The altitudes, the continental climate with hot summers and cool nights, as well as sufficient sunshine, create ideal conditions for vines.

The soils play a central role: for top-quality wines Teliani Valley relies on calcareous loam soils, gravel and clay components, often with good drainage and low fertility to produce fewer but more characterful grapes. In the case of Winery 97 Saperavi, the grapes come from a 7 ha vineyard in the village of Ikalto, on gravelly clay soil, owned by the winery. For some production lines, grapes are also sourced from selected partner estates in order to allow for diversity and volume.

Grape Varieties & Wine Styles – Georgian Diversity in the Glass

A central aspect at Teliani Valley is the focus on autochthonous Georgian grape varieties and their multifaceted interpretation. Georgia has more than 500 grape varieties, a large proportion of which are white. Teliani Winery uses more than 25 of these varieties to produce a broad spectrum of wine styles, from powerful red wines and finely structured white wines to characterful amber/skin-contact wines.

Some of the most important varieties as found at Teliani and known on the market:

• Saperavi – Georgia’s dominant red grape variety. It delivers deep red, structured wines with intense fruit and an elegant tannin structure. In Winery 97 Unfiltered Saperavi it is bottled without filtration to preserve maximum freshness and character.
• Rkatsiteli (Rkaziteli) – a widely planted white variety with good acidity that can be interpreted in many ways.
• Mtsvane / Kakhuri Mtsvane – an aromatic white grape, often used in blends or as part of amber blends.
• Khikhvi – a delicately spicy white variety with a mineral note and subtle structure.
• Kisi – a white variety frequently used for Qvevri ageing, which shapes the profile, texture and aromatics of amber wines.
• Tsolikouri – a white grape from western Georgia, also vinified by Teliani. A modern Teliani Tsolikouri is matured in stainless steel and shows freshness, minerality and citrus notes.

A particularly typical style of Teliani Valley is the Amber Blend, a wine with extended skin contact, in which four white varieties (Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane, Khikhvi, Kisi) ferment on the skins for about 6 months – an ancient Georgian method that creates colour, structure and depth. This wine embodies the concept of fusing white wine and tradition in a style that is aromatic, spicy and harmonious.

Winemaking & Maturation: Tradition Meets Modernity

Teliani Valley combines traditional, millennia-old Georgian production with contemporary technology and quality control. Qvevri (clay amphorae buried in the ground) play a key role, especially for orange/skin-contact wines. But not all wines are made this way: modern stainless-steel tanks, controlled fermentation temperatures and modern filtration technology are also used.

For classic red wines (e.g. Saperavi) the winery often forgoes a high proportion of oak in order to preserve the fruit and varietal character. In certain Silver or special series, wood (barrique) is used as a complementary element.

Particularly noteworthy is the **Winery 97** series, conceived as the premium segment. The grapes come from estate-owned vineyards (e.g. 7 ha in Ikalto for Saperavi) on high-quality soils. This series includes single-varietal wines, some unfiltered, to show maximum authenticity. Qvevri ageing or extended maceration times are also used here.

Range & Style – From Beginner to Connoisseur

The wine range of Teliani Valley is broad and attractively structured – ideal for beginners, curious wine lovers and demanding wine enthusiasts alike. The portfolio extends from fresh, light white wines and structured, elegant red wines to full-bodied amber wines.

Examples:

• Winery 97 Saperavi – a powerful, fruit-driven red wine, often unfiltered, with fine tannin structure
• Kindzmarauli – a semi-sweet red wine made from Saperavi, with fruity aromas and harmonious sweetness
• Amber Blend – a characterful skin-contact wine made from four white varieties, with aromas of dried fruits, spices and soft tannins
• Tsolikouri – fresh white wine from a western Georgian grape, with citrus and stone fruit aromas and balanced acidity
• Winery 97 Khikhvi – aromatic, mineral, occasionally made with skin contact in a traditional style

Why Teliani Valley – Your Advantages at a Glance

• Authenticity & Diversity: native grape varieties, many styles – every bottle tells of tradition and sense of place.
• Commitment to Quality: modern cellar technology meets traditional methods; control at every stage of production.
• Internationally Recognised: Teliani wines regularly win awards at competitions such as Decanter, IWSC, IWC and have been named “Best Producer of Georgia” several times.
• Spirit of Innovation: initiatives like Wine People support new talent from Georgia.
• Transparency & Origin: for premium series, grapes come from estate-owned vineyards with traceable provenance.

Conclusion – Teliani Valley in Your Wine Portfolio

With Teliani Valley you bring a refreshingly different yet deeply rooted expression of the Georgian wine world into your online shop. The combination of autochthonous grape varieties, differentiated soils, climatic particularities and a compromise between tradition and modern cellar technology makes these wines exciting and memorable. Whether you want to delight your customers with fine Saperavi reds, zesty white wines or characterful amber wines – with Teliani Valley you are choosing quality, authenticity and stories that come alive in the glass.

Discover the wines of Teliani Valley now at VINELLO and let yourself be inspired by Georgia’s oldest winegrowing culture.