Chinuri
Also known as Chinebuli
Chinuri is a white Georgian wine grape closely associated with Kartli. Its fresh acidity suits both still and sparkling wines, while skin contact gives another route to texture. It is also known as Chinebuli.
Kartli is a useful regional counterpoint to the Kakhetian wines made from Rkatsiteli and Kisi. Chinuri's contemporary range includes pale dry whites and amber qvevri wines, so grape, region, and extraction all deserve attention.
Ripening and sparkling wine
Chinuri is harvested relatively late in Kartli, commonly around the end of September and beginning of October. Harvest timing affects the balance between retained acidity and accumulated sugar. Grapes intended for sparkling wine can be picked with a different balance in mind from those destined for a fuller still wine.
The variety has an established role in Atenuri sparkling wines, alongside Goruli Mtsvane. The partnership places Chinuri within a local blending tradition, as well as its modern varietal bottlings.
One grape, two approaches to skins
Iago's Wine provides a particularly clear comparison. The winery's Chinuri White is made without skin contact, while its Chinuri Amber spends six months with skins in qvevri.1. Iago's Wine, “Chinuri White” and “Chinuri Amber,” producer accounts, accessed 21 September 2026. Its descriptions contrast fresh apple and citrus in the white with dried apricot and a tannic element in the amber wine.
These are useful examples because the variety remains the same while a major production choice changes. Maceration allows compounds from skins and seeds to enter the wine. It can add tannin and deepen colour, producing the grip associated with skin-contact white wine. Pressing before that extended contact keeps the emphasis closer to juice and fermentation.
Chinuri need not produce an especially heavy amber wine. The Georgian National Tourism Administration describes light to medium-bodied examples and notes how skin contact changes their fruit and tannic character. The amount of solids, ripeness, and handling help explain differences within either approach.
Related topics
- Shavkapito, a red grape from Kartli.
Sources
- National Wine Agency of Georgia, “White wine grape varieties”, Chinuri profile and sparkling-wine use, accessed 21 September 2026.
- Georgian National Tourism Administration, “Chinuri – The hallmark of Kartli”, regional account, accessed 21 September 2026.
- Iago's Wine, “Chinuri White” and “Chinuri Amber”, producer descriptions and skin-contact comparison, accessed 21 September 2026.