Georgian Wines and Book Pairings: Your Ultimate Reading List
Autumn is the perfect season for literary discoveries. Whether you’re curled up under a blanket on a rainy day, soaking up the golden light in a park, or finally unwinding on a weekend getaway, these cozy, quintessentially autumn moments call for a good book and an equally good glass of wine.
In this blog post, we’ve paired some excellent Georgian wines available in the UK with captivating works by Georgian authors, alongside some of the season’s most exciting international bestsellers.
1. The Eighth Life (for Brilka) by Nino Haratischwili, Pair with : Aged Saperavi
Wine Pairing: Chelti - Saperavi (Qvevri, Oak Aged)
Buy the book: Waterstones
A sweeping multi-generational saga that traces the fate of a Georgian family across the 20th century, this is a book for long evenings and unhurried weekends. A barrel-aged Saperavi underlines the dramatic complexity of the last hundred years in Georgia and the resilience of its women.
Best enjoyed with: Stormy evenings, no morning alarm.
2. Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili, Pair with : Easy-going Amber wine
Wine Pairing: Kakhuri No. 8 – Teliani Valley
Buy the book: Waterstones
Surreal, sharp, and deeply touching, this journey through memory lane deserves something unconventional. Kakhuri No. 8, a light amber qvevri blend, has the right amount of structure and spice to match the book’s dark humour and intricate storytelling.
Perfect for: Eastern European road trips inspiration.
3. The Pear Field by Nana Ekvtimishvili, Pair with : Aromas of Kakhuri Mtsvane
Wine Pairing: Kakhuri Mtsvane – Shumi Winery
Buy the book: Waterstones
Ekvtimishvili’s novel captures childhood, neglect, and hope in a post-Soviet Georgian institution. A crisp Kakhuri Mtsvane balances fresh acidity and soft stone fruit, a consoling and cheering wine for a sad, realistic story.Serve chilled.
Best with: A quiet walk after reading.
4. The Knight in the Panther’s Skin by Shota Rustaveli, Pair with : A red wine from foraged grapes
Wine Pairing: Natenadze - Meskhetian Red
Buy the book: Foyles
This medieval Georgian epic needs a wine as poetic and powerful as its verses. Meskhetian Red, rare and wild, hails straight from the lands of Queen Tamar. It is made from untamed ancient grape varieties, foraged by the local enthusiast winemaker Giorgi Natenadze. Shota Rustaveli would approve!
Perfect for: Poetry lovers, romantics, and feasting knights.
5. Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Pair with : An Intercultural blend
Wine Pairing: Tchotiashvili - Dark Uta (Saperavi, Shiraz)
Buy the book: Waterstones
Adichie returns with lyrical storytelling that weaves dreams and memory. A blend of endemic Saperavi and Shiraz, a newcomer in Kakheti, reflects Adichie’s classic multicultural story with its warmth, depth, and touch of melancholy.
Perfect for: A date with yourself on Friday night.
6. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. Pair with : A taste of resistance
Wine Pairing: Solomnishvili - 1984
Buy the book: Waterstones
Return to Panem with something equally bold, battle-ready, and clearly dystopic: this aged Budeshuri Saperavi stands up to rebellion, strategy, and emotional burn.
Perfect for: Turning odds in your favour.
7. Book : What We Can Know by Ian McEwan, Pair with : A Poetic Tsolikouri
Wine Pairing: Labara Winery - Circum Solem
Buy the book: Waterstones
Travel to the Britain of 2119 in quest of lost poetry deserves a wine that’s clear and contemplative. This citrusy white made of Imeretian Tsolikouri helps focus the mind without making you weary.
Perfect for: Unleashing your imagination.
8. The Cynic’s Guide to Wine by Sunny Hodge, Pair with : Finesse from Karti
Wine Pairing: Mosavali - Shavkapito
Buy the book: Waterstones
Why not drink wine while reading a book about wine? Especially if it debunks myths and challenges misconceptions. Enjoy… and ask yourself, why does this Shavkapito taste a bit like Pinot Noir?
Perfect for: Wine lovers ready for an intellectual challenge.
9. Good Things by Samin Nosrat, Pair with : Unusual gastro-friendly blend
Wine Pairing: Churi Chinebuli - Krakhuna - Mtsvane
Buy the book: Penguin Random House
Food, joy, and explosion of flavours from all around the world call for a universal and expressive white, such as a Krakhuna - Mtsvane blend from Churi Chinebuli. Aromatic and food-friendly, it’s a perfect companion to Samin's warm, soulful writing and recipes of the same kind.
Perfect for: Getting ready to host a dinner.
10. All Consuming by Ruby Tandoh, Pair with : Layered red wine
Wine Pairing: Babaneuris Marani - Saperavi Qvevri
Buy the book: Waterstones
Why do we eat the way we eat? Ruby Tandoh explores this question in her book on food culture and identity. Add another layer of complexity and pleasure by reading it with a glass of mature qvevri-aged Saperavi in hand.
Perfect for nerdy foodies!
This autumn, let your glass and your pages keep you company. Cheers to stories worth savouring!
