Churi Chinebuli Winery — Wine in Imereti, Georgia

In short

Churi Chinebuli is a small winery in the Imereti region of western Georgia that makes wine from local grape varieties using the traditional Imeretian method of fermenting and ageing in churi, the regional equivalent of qvevri, large clay vessels buried in the ground. The winery says its range includes both qvevri-aged amber and red wines and a lighter, European-style white, made from varieties such as Krakhuna, Tsolikouri, Tsitska, Ojaleshi and Otskhanuri Sapere. Two of its wines, the winery says, were awarded medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019.

The estate and its history

The winery’s own materials do not publish a founding date, the names of its founders, or a chronology of the estate’s development, so no verified timeline can be given here. What can be said with confidence, as general background, is that the name “Churi Chinebuli” refers directly to the vessel at the heart of its winemaking: in Imereti, the clay amphora used elsewhere in Georgia and known as qvevri is locally called a churi. Imereti is one of Georgia’s historic winemaking regions, distinct from Kakheti in the east, with its own repertoire of indigenous grapes and its own style of amber and red wine, generally lighter-bodied and shorter on skin contact than the wines of Kakheti. The winery positions itself within this regional tradition, describing its wines as “Georgia’s Finest Imeretian Wines.”

• No founding year is stated on the winery’s website.
• No named founders or family history are given.
• 2019 is the only date mentioned, in connection with award results (see Awards).

Vineyards, grapes and method

The winery works with a set of grape varieties associated with Imereti and the wider Colchian wine culture of western Georgia:

• Krakhuna – a white variety the winery says originates in Kolkheti and has long been grown in Imereti, specifically associated with the village of Sviri.
• Tsolikouri – one of the most widespread white varieties in Georgia, described by the winery as autochthonous to Imereti.
• Tsitska – a white variety the winery pairs with Tsolikouri for a fuller-bodied amber wine.
• Ojaleshi – a dark-skinned variety the winery describes as an indigenous Georgian grape, associated with Lechkhumi.
• Otskhanuri Sapere – a dark-skinned variety the winery describes as one of the oldest in Georgia, tracing its cultivation back some 9,000 years and linking it to Colchian culture of the second millennium BC.

Two winemaking approaches are used, according to the winery. Several wines are made by the traditional method, fermented and aged in churi, with full skin contact for whites such as Krakhuna Qvevri, Tsolikouri Qvevri and Tsitska Tsolikouri Qvevri. Others are described in terms closer to the European method, such as the varietal Tsolikouri and the Ojaleshi–Krakhuna blend, which the winery calls “a bold experiment” combining Sviri Krakhuna with Lechkhumian Ojaleshi. The website does not state the size of the vineyard holdings, annual production volumes, or certification under any specific appellation.

The wines

• Krakhuna Qvevri – orange/amber dry white, Krakhuna, full-bodied, aged in churi; the winery describes notes of orchard fruit, raisin and quince.
• Ojaleshi – dry red, Ojaleshi, light-bodied despite deep colour; the winery notes meadow flowers, violet and mushroom aromas and says it cellars well for 10–15 years.
• Otskhanuri Sapere – full-bodied dry red, Otskhanuri Sapere; the winery describes an intense ruby colour, firm structure, and notes of cherry and blackcurrant, with ageing potential of 10–15 years and up to 20–30 years further in good conditions.
• Tsolikouri Qvevri – amber qvevri white, Tsolikouri, made with full skin contact; the winery notes pear, orange peel and peach.
• Ojaleshi Krakhuna – a blend of Sviri Krakhuna and Lechkhumian Ojaleshi, described by the winery as a summer wine with a rich bouquet.
• Krakhuna – dry white, Krakhuna, around 13% alcohol; the winery describes citrus aroma with notes of lime and pear.
• Tsitska Tsolikouri Qvevri – full-bodied amber qvevri blend of Tsitska and Tsolikouri, macerated on the skins for six months with no stem inclusion; the winery notes honey, raisin and dried apricot.
• Tsolikouri – golden amber varietal white, described by the winery as showing green apple, yellow plum, citrus and floral and nutty notes, with a long finish and a touch of tannin.

No prices are given for any wine on the winery’s website.

Visiting

The winery’s website, as provided, does not publish visiting hours, tasting fees, cellar tour details or a booking process. Travellers interested in a visit should contact the winery or a tour operator in advance to confirm whether tastings and tours are offered and how to arrange them.

Food and stays

No restaurant, guesthouse or event space is mentioned on the winery’s website.

Awards

• Krakhuna Qvevri – Silver Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 (winery’s claim).
• Krakhuna – Bronze Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 (winery’s claim).

Location and getting there

The winery’s stated address is Jughelebis Ubani, a locality within the Imereti region of western Georgia. Imereti lies roughly 200 kilometres west of Tbilisi, a drive of around three to three and a half hours along the main highway toward Kutaisi, which is generally the nearest larger town serving the region. Given the winery’s references to Sviri and Lechkhumi grape sources, it sits within the broader Imereti winemaking area that stretches around Kutaisi and the Rioni valley. Many visitors combine an Imereti wine stop with sightseeing at Kutaisi’s UNESCO-listed Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, or with the Okatse and Martvili canyons nearby. Exact driving times from Kutaisi or other towns are not stated by the winery.

Good to know

• The winery makes both traditional churi-aged wines and wines made by a more European style of vinification.
• Churi is the Imeretian regional term for the clay vessel known elsewhere in Georgia as qvevri.
• The range includes amber whites, a dry light red (Ojaleshi) and a fuller-bodied dry red (Otskhanuri Sapere).
• Krakhuna, the winery’s house white, has about 13% alcohol.
• Two wines carry Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 medals, according to the winery.
• Ojaleshi and Otskhanuri Sapere are both described by the winery as suited to extended cellaring.
• No vineyard size, production volume, visiting hours or prices are published by the winery.
• No restaurant or accommodation is mentioned on the winery’s website.

Questions travellers ask

What makes churi different from qvevri?

They are the same type of vessel, large clay amphorae buried in the ground for fermenting and ageing wine; churi is simply the name used for it in Imereti, while qvevri is the more widely known term used across Georgia, including in Kakheti.

Which wine is the winery best known for?

Based on its own materials, the winery highlights Krakhuna, in both its qvevri-aged amber version and its lighter varietal version, as its signature grape, with both styles having received Decanter World Wine Awards recognition in 2019.

Can visitors book a tasting at the winery?

The winery’s website does not provide details on tastings, tours or booking, so anyone planning a visit should contact the winery directly or ask a local tour operator to confirm availability in advance.

How far is the winery from Tbilisi?

Imereti, where the winery is located, is roughly 200 kilometres from Tbilisi, generally a three to three and a half hour drive along the main highway toward Kutaisi.

Which grape varieties are used and are they unique to Georgia?

The winery uses Krakhuna, Tsolikouri and Tsitska for its whites and Ojaleshi and Otskhanuri Sapere for its reds, all of which are indigenous Georgian varieties associated specifically with western Georgia and the Imereti and Lechkhumi areas.

Sources

• Churi Chinebuli Winery — official website (churichinebuli.ge)

Profiled in depth by the GTour desk on 26 October 2026 from the property’s official website; photographs are the property’s own, from its official website, credited under each image. Not sponsored; tell us if something has changed.