Kakheti is Georgia’s largest PDO – covering a total of 11,300 kilometres squared. The regions stretches along the upper reaches of the Alazani and Lori rivers and is divided into zones known as ‘Inner’ and ‘Outer’ Kakheti.
The PDO has three distinct climactic zones – subtropical, warm, and moderately warm. Three grapes are commonly grown there – two white and one red. Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane Kakhuri and Saperavi, respectively. But for a wine to be labelled ‘Kakheti’ PDO, the wine can only be made from the white grapes Rkatsiteli or Mtscane Kakhuri. They must be fermented stalks and all – but these wines are currently very rare as almost no company produces them.