TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION Discovering Georgian wine
The country of Georgia, in the Caucasus Mountains, is today in the spotlight of the world’s wine lovers. They’re attracted to the country’s ancient history of winemaking, to its myriad grape varieties and to the new generation of wines that are being produced from them. Georgian wines are successfully being exported internationally and the beautiful country has become a popular destination for wine tourism.
A key part of Georgia’s wine history is the Qvevri, a large terracotta winemaking vessel that has been used in the Caucasus Mountains for more than 8,000 years. Qvevri are handmade by master craftsmen and are buried after firing. During the harvest the Qvevri is filled with grapes that ferment naturally, producing a unique style of wine. The Qvevri is so distinctive that in 2013, it was awarded the status of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, sending a message to the world that wine is an integral part of ancient Georgian culture.
Recent archaeological digs have uncovered evidence of Qvevri winemaking from at least 8,000 years ago. As winemaking originated in this area, so did the grape. Georgia boasts over 525 varieties of native grape varieties, about 70 of which are now currently being vinified. Among the most popular are whites Rkatsiteli,
Mtsvane and Tsolikouri and reds Saperavi, Ojaleshi and Otskhanuri Sapere.
While a small number of family producers still hand-make wine in the traditional way, larger wine estates are incorporating new technologies to produce higher volumes of wines for export. International grapes are being successfully blended with native varieties to create exciting new tastes, just as temperaturecontrolled steel tanks and oak barrels have joined more traditional cellar tools.
In Georgia, wine is never seen as a stand-alone but is part of a feasting culture that includes delicious food, polyphonic music and dancing. Georgian hospitality is legendary. The country’s varied landscapes of sun-baked valleys, Black Sea coasts and breathtaking highlands offer the perfect settings in which to enjoy its distinctive wines.