11 Nov 2026
Meet Gogi Dakishvili: The Winemaker Who Helped Bring Kisi Back
Dakishvili wines are available in multiple places across the UK, but the appeal of this family winery is truly global and rightfully earned. Giorgi (Gogi) Dakishvili is one of the most respected Georgian winemakers, responsible for reviving a nearly forgotten Georgian grape and producing some of the country's most well-known qvevri wines.
When we asked him which Georgian grape variety he would recommend to British wine lovers, his answer was Kisi, and we weren't really surprised. After all, the Dakishvili family has played an important role in bringing this indigenous Georgian variety back into the spotlight.
Four generations of winemakers
Gogi comes from a family with a long history of winemaking. In the early 20th century, his ancestor, Orthodox priest Simon Dakishvili, made wine for church services. In the 1930s, Gogi's grandfather planted Kisi vines, some of which would become part of the family's winemaking legacy.
Gogi followed the family tradition but added formal education to his inherited knowledge. He studied oenology in Odesa, Ukraine, and later trained at the University of California, Davis.
His career began in Georgia's commercial wine industry, including Teliani Valley, before he became involved with Schuchmann Wines and its traditional qvevri range, Vinoterra. Working with both modern winemaking equipment and traditional clay vessels gave him an understanding of the possibilities of each method.
The comeback of Kisi
Today, Kisi is increasingly familiar to Georgian wine enthusiasts. But it nearly disappeared.
During the Soviet period, Georgian viticulture prioritised productive varieties such as Rkatsiteli. Less commercially convenient grapes fell out of favour. According to Georgia's National Wine Agency, by 2004, just 20 hectares of Kisi remained, all in family vineyards, mainly in Kakheti's Akhmeta district.
Winemaker David Maisuradze was among the first to demonstrate the grape's commercial potential again, producing an aromatic white wine in stainless steel, and Gogi Dakishvili helped take the revival further, being among the growers who began replanting the variety.
His family's contribution helped show that Kisi could produce not only fresh, aromatic whites but also delicious ambers.
Made as a white wine, Kisi offers floral aromas, pear, citrus and stone fruit. With extended skin contact in qvevri, the same grape develops notes of dried apricot, orange peel, tea and spice, accompanied by tannins and a fuller texture.
The Dakishvilis produce both styles, demonstrating the grape's versatility. And as they are making wine in qvevri, for Gogi, this kind of traditional winemaking doesn't mean abandoning technical knowledge. Quite the opposite: his respect of winemaking science, attention to hygiene and careful grape selection helps explain the clean, balanced character of his wines.
Two wineries, one philosophy
Founded in 2002, Dakishvili Family Selection is now a multigenerational business. Gogi works alongside his wife Ilona and son Temur, both trained oenologists.
The family manages around 11 hectares of vineyards and produces up to 50,000 bottles annually, with individual batches typically ranging from 500 to 5,000 bottles.
Orgo, meanwhile, was established in 2012 by Gogi and Mamuka Tsereteli. Its focus is on indigenous grape varieties, old vines and traditional qvevri winemaking. The name Orgo comes from an old Georgian word for a qvevri lid.
Both projects highlight Kisi, Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane and Saperavi, producing wines that combine traditional methods with technical precision. The range of sparklings made by the Dakishvilis is also very impressive!
Where to find Dakishvili's wines in the UK
Both Dakishvili Family Selection and Orgo are imported to the UK by Clark Foyster Wines.
Here are a few bottles to look for:
- Dakishvili Family Selection Kisi — Selfridges the amber Kisi Dakishvili was talking about. Aged for six months in qvevri, with notes of dried apricot and almond.
- Dakishvili Family Saperavi — Seven Cellars a full-bodied red with dark fruit aromas and fine tannins.
- Dakishvili The Fox Pet-nat — Butler's Wine Cellar
a refreshing bubbly with aromas of citrus and peaches.
- Orgo Saperavi — Charlie's Drinks Store another UK listing for this traditional qvevri red.
You can also explore the wines at London's DakaDaka restaurant, whose wine list includes Orgo Rkatsiteli, Orgo Cuvée and Dakishvili Family sparkling wine.
And if you're unsure where to begin, take Gogi's advice: start with Kisi. It's a grape with a remarkable comeback story (and most importantly, it usually tastes great!)
