Georgian Wine in the UK Media – Summer 2025
Georgian wine has enjoyed strong visibility across UK magazines, blogs and trade platforms this summer. The country’s wines are steadily making their way onto restaurant lists and supermarket shelves – but most importantly, into the hearts and minds of both consumers and professionals.
Let’s see which topics were the hottest for the British media!
Harpers reported the successes of large Georgian producers in the mass-market segment: Waitrose, M&S and Majestic added Saperavi from different producers to their portfolios, introducing this powerful Georgian red to a broad range of customers.
Wine professionals had a chance to broaden their knowledge of Georgian wine at several events this summer. The Ultimate CEE Wine Fair returned, showcasing wines from less mainstream regions. As the fair’s co-founder Zsuzsa Toronyi told Harpers, visitors had a chance to “taste the alphabet from Areni and Blatina all the way to Xynisteri and Žilavka.”
Georgia’s participation at another prominent trade wine event, SITT, was announced by Drinks Retailing News. The outlet’s correspondent, Lizzy O’Riordan, had visited Georgia earlier in the summer and shared her impressions in her Guide to Georgian Wine.
O’Riordan highlighted the duality of Georgia’s market presence: classical crisp whites and bold reds alongside traditional amber qvevri wines, which she called central to the nation’s identity. She pointed out that the UK has become a key target market, with Georgian wines now stocked by Waitrose, M&S, Majestic and Lidl. Her piece stressed that for UK buyers and retailers, Georgian wine offers both heritage and commercial opportunity: “For UK retailers, Georgian wine offers a story of authenticity, discovery and value.”
There were several interesting Substack pieces mentioning Georgia as well. In his A View from My Table, Andy Neather explored the growing fascination with amber and skin-contact wines in his essay “Is wine’s future orange?” He placed Georgia at the heart of this global conversation, pointing out that what many now see as a new trend is in fact an 8,000-year-old practice.
Neather observed that “what is now a global fashion was, in Georgia, simply the way wine was always made,” underscoring the country’s pivotal role in inspiring today’s orange wine revival. He also linked the style’s rise to consumer demand for authenticity and story-driven wines, noting that Georgian qvevri-fermented bottles exemplify both.
In his next Substack piece, “My Fight for Wine’s Little Guys”, Neather argued that small producers deserve more visibility in a market dominated by global brands. He pointed to Georgia as a standout example, where artisan winemakers and family cellars are gaining international attention thanks to their authenticity and distinctive qvevri-made wines. He also reinforced his support by reviewing a Georgian wine from his neighbourhood Georgian restaurant.
More appreciation for Georgian artisan winemakers came from Oliver Coleman in his article for JancisRobinson.com. Coleman reflected on how Georgian wine is evolving and winning over new audiences. He described a movement away from the rustic stereotypes often associated with Georgia, noting that the latest releases are “lighter, brighter and fresher – and with more women winemakers – Georgia’s wines are more appealing than ever.”
His piece positioned Georgia’s new generation of winemakers as a dynamic force bringing fresh energy to one of the world’s oldest wine cultures.
The final exciting news of summer 2025 was the IWSC’s announcement that its 2026 Global Judging Week will return to Georgia, this time spotlighting the Black Sea region of Ajara. With international judges set to convene on the Black Sea coast, Georgian wine is preparing for another wave of international attention.
“I’m excited that we will host our judging panels in Ajara. This thrilling terroir of the Black Sea is emerging to take its place with the more familiar regions of Kakheti,” said Sarah Abbott MW, who is ready to lead a team of IWSC judges once again.
