WINE CULTURE IN GURIA

Supra, qvevri, and the family cellar — the social dimension of wine tradition in Guria.

In Guria, a lover of wine who goes door to door will find an inexhaustible story — in every courtyard a qvevri, in every cellar a history.

Gurian family wine culture revolves around four elements: the vineyard, the qvevri, the cellar (marani), and the supra table. These elements unfold in a single cycle — every season brings new grapes, new wine, a new supra.

The qvevri — a clay vessel buried in the earth — is the spiritual centre of winemaking. In Gurian families, a qvevri may be over a century old — it is not merely a vessel but a piece of family history. Each autumn, filling the qvevri with the new harvest is an occasion that draws the family, neighbours, and sometimes visiting guests together.

The Gurian supra differs from the Kakhetian supra. It is more intimate, musical, and poetic. The Gurian toast often takes the form of verse, and multi-part singing — "hollo" — is the natural accompaniment to the wine culture at table.

Interesting fact

In Gurian family wine tradition, women have always had a role — particularly in the washing stage of the qvevri, where a woman's hand is needed to smooth the inner wall surface.

Supra — the Gurian social institution