The Greater Caucasus Mountains create a barrier that shields Georgia from cold air from the north, while leaving its western range open to the Black Sea’s warm, moist air—essential to the region’s successful viticulture. Shielded from extremes in temperature, vines are protected from both harsh sun and bitter cold.
Georgia experiences a vastly varied climate, from subtropical to alpine to near desert-like:
• Western Georgia’s humid, subtropical maritime climate sees rainfall year-round.
• Eastern Georgia varies from moderately humid to dry.
• The Kolkheti Lowland contains several climate zones, which change as the elevation increases—subtropical, moderately warm and moist, cold and wet, and alpine.