Georgian White Wine Food Pairing Guide: 

A well-thought-out Georgian white wine food pairing will bring out the best qualities in both your food and your drink. 

Georgian white wines tend to offer an acidity that pairs very well with salty dishes, eggs, and cheeses. The acidity can improve the flavor of the dish, providing a similar effect to several drops of lemon. Unlike most Georgian reds, dry white wines don’t go well with sweet dishes. 

In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of our favorite traditional Georgian wine pairings and pairings with international dishes you’re more likely to find at home:

What Makes Georgian White Wines So Unique?

There are few other wine-making viticulture as old as Georgia’s anywhere in the world. Home to uniquely varied terroirs (such as Kakheti’s dry valleys or Imereti’s humid hillsides), vineyards with unique soil compositions are found at dramatically different altitudes. 

Using techniques dating back over 8,000 years, Georgian white wines also utilise the ancient process of ‘qvevris’. The grapes are placed inside these large, earthenware pots, which are buried underground, securing a more natural temperature and humidity regulation.

Even when using more modern techniques, Georgian white wines undergo extended skin contact during fermentation. The result offers complex tannins and flavors. Expect citrus, floral, herbal, and exquisite exotic fruit notes with white wines, such as Khikhvi, Kisi, and Manavi.

What Classic Georgian Dishes Pair with Georgian White Wines?

Khachapuri (Cheesy Breads)

The traditional Georgian bread, Khachapuri, is filled with fresh or aged Khachapuri cheese and other ingredients such as eggs. 

Found in restaurants and street stalls, it’s a staple of Georgian cuisine and is a classic for Georgian white wine food pairing with the likes of Tsolikouri, Rkatsiteli, or Khikhvi. 

Chakapuli (Lamb & Tarragon Stew) 

Chakapuli is one of Georgia’s most popular dishes, made from slow-cooked lamb, tarragon leaves, dry white wine, and a bunch of other aromatic ingredients. 

These flavors pair very well with Krakhuna’s tropical fruit notes or the tannic complexities offered by Kakethi qvevri wines. 

Pkhali (Vegetable Páté)

Pkhali is a traditional Georgian dish of chopped vegetables, ground walnuts, onions, garlic, and herbs. You’ll usually find it available in either spinach, beetroot, or white bean form. And it’s fantastic for Georgian white wines like Kisi or Tsolikouri. 

The Best International Food for Georgian White Wine Pairing

Seafood

The elegant and aromatic Kisi is one of the best Georgian wines for seafood due to its well-balanced acidic nature and harmonious aroma.

We recommend pairing Kisi when tucking into grilled salmon, grilled fish, sushi, or river trout.  Its apple and circus notes will refresh the palate with each tasting.

Sunday Roasts 

Mtsvane wines, such as Manavi, blend extremely well with poultry dishes such as your usual Sunday Roast. The full-bodied structure and tannins stand up to the strong blend of flavors and textures you’ll find in a chicken, turkey (and even pork or lamb) roast. 

Mtsvane wine pairing with mildly spiced curries, like a butter chicken or vegetable korma. The spices will be enhanced without overpowering them. 

Indian and Asian Dishes

Asian cuisine, such as sushi, spicy rice dishes, or mild curries, also make lovely companions with Georgian white wines such as Tsitska-Tsolikouri-Krakhuna and Mtsvane – thanks to their citric flavors and low tannins (such as ripe pair, lemon zest, and apricot tones). 

Vegetarian Cuisine 

Georgian white wines are extremely versatile when it comes to vegetarian dishes. But especially so with chickpea-based dishes like falafel and roast vegetable platters – thanks to their bright acidity and earthy undertones. Any salad or dish with walnuts is also a good bet.

Cheese

When choosing to pair a Georgian wine and cheese, the trick is to balance flavors and texture. As white wines have diverse acidity and flavors, they work well with many different types of cheese. 

In particular, semi-hard cheeses like Pecorino or Parmesan are a pleasant companion for the aromatic Kisi, which will enhance the cheese’s sharpness. 

If you’re enjoying a softer cheese, you can opt for something like Rkatsiteli or Mtsvane. The latter in particular, goes well with mature sheep’s cheese or Kakheti cow’s milk cheese, bringing out their richness. 

When enjoying a French cheese like Brie or Camembert, you can go for a floral Khikhvi white wine or even an amber wine. 

How to Build Your Own Georgian White Wine Food Pairing Menu

Acquire a Variety of White Wines

To start with, we recommend collecting a variety of Georgian white wines that you can pick from when it’s mealtime. Comparing the different grape varieties is a wonderful experience and never gets old. 

We recommend getting Kisi, Manavi, Khikhvi, and Tsitska-Tsolikouri blends. 

Think About Acidity

Acidity acts as a palate cleanser, and Georgian white wines offer that better than most. The acidity cuts through fatty dishes like creamy cheeses and roasted meats or enhances the tastes of seafood and vegetables. 

So, when planning your menu, think about opting for dishes that tick those boxes.

Pair by Course

Try to plan your pairings by course. If you’re going for cheese with an appetizer, follow our guide above to pick a suitable match. For example, semi-hard cheeses go well with Kisi, while fresh cheeses or goat’s cheese pair with a Tsitska-Tsolikouri and citrus salad. 

Pick your main course carefully to ensure it’s not a meal that would be better suited to a deep, Georgian red wine. Seafood, chicken, pork, and vegetarian-based dishes go very well here, especially with Kisi and Manavi. 

When it comes to dessert, opt for a semi-sweet Georgian white wine such as Khikhvi, which matches well with Honey-based desserts like baklava or fruit tarts.

Experience Authentic Georgian White Wines with Silk Road Wines

If you’re keen to start the experience of experimenting with Georgian white wine food pairings, you’re making a fantastic decision. Georgian wines are utterly unique in their diversity and offer compatibility with a wide range of dishes. 

Silk Road Wines is a veteran-owned importer and distributor of natural Georgian wine based in Orlando, Florida. We welcome you to browse our store and try out our elegant Kisi white wine from the appellation-controlled microzone in Kakheti. 

You can also benefit from 10% off all orders from the Silk Road Wine online store by signing up to our mailing list, which will offer you further insights and advice on all things Georgian wine.