What amber wine and qvevri are

What are Amber and Qvevri: A Guide to Georgian Orange Wine

If you are looking for where to try authentic drinks, LEVEL wine bar in Batumi invites you to dive into an ancient winemaking culture. The most important things to know about Georgia's traditional style are the qvevri method and the phenomenon of amber wines.

How Qvevri Wine is Made

Qvevri are giant egg-shaped clay vessels buried entirely underground in a cellar (marani). Grapes — juice, skins, seeds, and sometimes stems — ferment and age all together inside. The earth maintains a perfectly stable temperature, while the vessel's egg shape naturally circulates and stirs the must.

Why Amber is Orange

White wine gets its unusual color and powerful tannins from the grape skins. The longer the wine stays in contact with the pomace (up to six months in the traditional Kakhetian method!), the deeper the amber hue and the richer the wine's structure. This is why amber wines are called orange. To understand the flavor nuances, check out our guide to natural wine in Batumi.

Which Amber to Try First at LEVEL

Start your journey with the classics: try a mineral Rkatsiteli Qvevri, a brighter and more aromatic Kisi Amber, or a silky Krakhuna Amber. All of these selections are regularly updated in our wine list. And if you want to refresh by the sea to DJ sets, drop by our second location — LEVEL Beach on the New Boulevard, where wine classics pair perfectly with the sound of the waves and an all-night vibe.

Qvevri and UNESCO

In 2013, the qvevri winemaking method was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. This is by no means a museum exhibit: hundreds of independent family-run wineries in Georgia use this technique right now, combining millennia-old traditions with a modern gastronomic approach.