In the lush and often overlooked winemaking region of Samegrelo, in Western Georgia, a quiet revolution is taking place. At its heart are two longtime friends, Giorgi and Bagrat, co-founders of Orkoli Winery—a boutique producer that is as much about philosophy as it is about wine.
Their journey did not begin in the vineyards. Giorgi came from a film and cultural management background, while Bagrat worked in hospitality. Their shared passion for Georgian heritage, particularly its endangered grape varieties, became the foundation of a friendship that evolved into a winemaking partnership.
“We didn’t start this for business,” says Giorgi. “We started Orkoli because we wanted to do something meaningful—something rooted in who we are.”
From the outset, Orkoli was never going to be a conventional winery. Based in Mukhuri, a small village nestled between the mountains and the Black Sea, the duo set out to revive the forgotten grapes of Samegrelo — varieties like Koloshi, Chekobali, and Ojaleshi — that had all but disappeared in the shadow of more dominant varietals like Saperavi or Rkatsiteli.
“We felt like guardians,” explains Bagrat. “If we didn’t preserve these grapes, we feared they would be lost forever.”
Orkoli’s wines are small-batch and deeply expressive, reflecting both the unique terroir of the region and the personal values of their makers. But their story is also one of perseverance. With little initial funding and no formal agricultural background, Giorgi and Bagrat relied on community knowledge, historical records, and a commitment to experimentation to bring Orkoli to life.
The winery’s name — Orkoli, meaning “two friends” — reflects the soul of the project. It’s a tribute to partnership, resilience, and a shared vision of reviving a part of Georgia’s vinous heritage that has long lived in the shadows.
Today, Orkoli Winery is more than just a producer — it is a cultural mission, a passion project, and a living tribute to a region whose voice in the wine world is finally being heard again.
And this is just the beginning.
