Name (also Kvevri, Quevri) for a bulbous clay wine vessel with a volume of up to 3,000 litres, which has been used in the Kakheti region of Georgia for thousands of years for a special form of winemaking, the Kakhetian method (or Kvevri method). The shape is very similar to ancient amphorae.

Picture leftA Kvevri with vessels buried in the background. Picture right: Brushwood broom for cleaning.
Such vessels are still in use today for the production of mostly very rustic wines, such as the now fashionable orange wine. The tapered shape towards the bottom makes it easier to bury them in sand or earth, where they remain during ageing. In December 2013, the Kvevri method was added to the UNESCO list of intangible world cultural heritage. Vessels very similar to the Kvevri are Dolium (Roman), Pithos (Greek), Talha (Portuguese) and Tinaja (Spanish).
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