Grape Varieties of the Region

There are two main wine areas. One is for the very limited production of the red Usakhelauri grape, grown in the Tsageri district on the slopes of the Tskhenistskali River near Okureshi, Aubi and Isunderi in western Lechkhumi, close to the borders with Imereti and Samegrelo. This grape is also known as Okureshuli in central and eastern Racha. It is believed to have been domesticated from a wild forest vine fairly recently. Ojaleshi Orbeluri (nothing to do with Samegrelo’s Ojaleshi) and white Tsolikouri are also found in this area.