Kartli - Central Georgia

Kartli is the central part of Georgia, whose borders run along the largest river of the Transcaucasus, the Kura, the southern zone of the Greater Caucasus and the South Georgian Highlands. Here the state of Georgia was formed in the early Middle Ages, referred to in Roman and Greek sources as Iberia. Being the center of the Georgian state, Kartli served as the heart of the country, where it was restored after the brutal and bloody wars. Due to its historical and natural features, Kartli is divided into two parts: Shida (Inner) Kartli and Kvemo (Lower) Kartli.

Shida Kartli

Shida Kartli occupies a central position in the country with the administrative center in the city of Gori, through which important roads connect various districts. The climate in this part of Kartli is moderately warm, with cold winters for Georgia, hot and dry summers. Despite the small number of cold days, the temperature in winter sometimes falls below ten degrees Celsius. Precipitation, so necessary for a good harvest, falls a little, and most of their volume falls in the spring. The most popular and well-known areas of Shida Kartli are Borjomi with its natural mineral springs and the city-museum of Mtskheta, which has preserved architectural monuments and archaeological values. The productive soils of Shida Kartli contribute to fruit growing, most of the orchards growing the most valuable varieties of apples are concentrated here. In addition, vegetable growing is also developed, with the main sugar beet crops for Georgia. Shida Kartli has all the conditions for growing grapes: it is dry, hot and there is enough water. And although there are much fewer vineyards here than in Kakheti, where the harvest is harvested in August, they are still there, and the harvest takes place in October. In this area, not very sweet grape varieties are grown, which is why the wine is produced light and dry, simultaneously preparing wine materials for the preparation of champagne wines. Fine taste and delicate bouquet are known for the wines of the Aten vine, Mukhran valley. The most popular varieties of the vine are Tavkveri, Chinuri, Gorum Mtsvane. At the moment, there are no large wineries in Shida Kartli, but there are private wineries that produce decent wine.

Kvemo Kartli

Kvemo Kartli or Lower Kartli is located in the southern side of Georgia, southwest of Tbilisi. This area occupies about 10% of the territory of the entire country and is a kind of repository of the entire Stone Age of Georgia, where its civilization was born. The climate in Lower Kartli is hot and arid, with little precipitation, insufficient humidity, and moderately cold winters, and the average annual temperature is thirteen degrees Celsius above zero. However, with proper cultivation and irrigation, the soils of this area produce a good harvest. And many vegetables, herbs, new potatoes and melons in the retail outlets of Rustavi and Tbilisi are supplied from Kvemo Kartli. In addition, there are constantly increasing areas for tobacco plantations, ether-bearing plants, pastures and, of course, vineyards. In late summer and autumn, Kvemo Kartli harvests grapes, which are mostly used for the production of high-quality and table wines, and some of it is processed into cognac alcohol and port wine.