Racha Lechkhumi

Forest covers much of Racha Lechkhumi in Georgia. Its roughly 1,600 hectares of vineyards lie mostly on the slopes of the Rioni valley and its tributaries. From July to September, cool, misty nights follow warm, sunny days. Harvest generally begins in late September and continues into the first half of October. Tsulukidze Tetra and Tsolikouri are widespread, alongside Aleksandrouli, Mujuretuli, Usakhelouri, Rachuli Dzelshavi and Orbeluri. Khvanchkara is a medium-sweet red with a protected designation of origin from lower Racha, made from Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli. Tvishi is a medium-sweet white with a protected designation of origin from Lechkhumi. The region also makes dry wines: The Racha designation covers a dry red based on Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli, while the Lechkhumi designation covers dry white wine or amber wine fermented with the grape skins made only from Colchian grapes grown in its defined microzone. Racha and Lechkhumi were added to Georgia's registered protected designations of origin in April 2025.