Draft Wines

What is draft wine

Draft wine is wine that is poured into your own container instead of a bottle — by the liter, straight from the qvevri or the tank. It is the oldest and still the most common way of buying wine in Georgia: you do not pay for the bottle, the label or the cork, only for the wine.

At Wine Store Orbeliani draft wine comes from a family winery in Kakheti. Every wine belongs to one particular estate rather than a blended batch, which is why the same variety tastes a little different from year to year. You can taste before you buy.

Traditional or classic — what is the difference

It is the question we hear most when people choose a draft wine. The difference is not quality — it is how long the juice stays in contact with the skins, seeds and stems.

Traditional (Kakhetian, qvevri) method

The pressed grapes stay on the skins for months — six months for our Rkatsiteli. The skins give the wine its colour, tannin and structure. The result is an amber wine with dried-fruit notes, fuller and denser. The tradition of making wine in qvevri has been on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2013.

Classic (European) method

After pressing, the juice is separated from the skins, seeds and stems at once, and the wine is made from juice alone. Almost no tannin is extracted, the colour stays light, and freshness, citrus and acidity come forward. Such wine is lighter and tastes better chilled.

Practical tip: for hot weather, fish or salads choose classic. For a feast table, meat or cheese choose traditional. We have Rkatsiteli in both versions, so you can compare them on the same grape.

Semi-sweet

If you prefer a softer, slightly sweet wine, we have a semi-sweet white (Rkatsiteli) and a semi-sweet red (Saperavi) — both made with the classic method.

How to choose a draft wine

If you are buying for the first time, three questions are enough.

What will you serve it with?

• Fish, seafood, roasted chicken — Rkatsiteli (either method)
• Hot weather, on its own — classic Rkatsiteli, chilled
• A feast table, Georgian dishes — traditional Rkatsiteli or Kakhuri Mtsvane Qvevri
• A softer, sweeter taste — semi-sweet white or red

How full-bodied do you like it?

The lightest is classic Rkatsiteli; the fullest are the amber qvevri wines — traditional Rkatsiteli and Kakhuri Mtsvane Qvevri.

How much do you need?

The price is per liter, so you decide the amount — from one liter. For an ordinary table of 6–8 people about three liters is enough.

Container, storage and serving

You can take draft wine in our container or bring your own. If you use your own, there is one condition: the bottle or canister must be clean and dry, preferably glass or food-grade plastic.

In an open container the wine meets air, so poured wine changes faster than bottled wine. Dry white and amber wine keeps its character for 5–7 days in the fridge, well closed; red for 4–5 days. If the container is full and the air minimal, it lasts longer — which is why two small bottles beat one big half-empty one.

Serving temperature: classic white 8–10°C, amber qvevri 12–14°C, red 16–18°C. Do not serve amber wine too cold — the aroma disappears.