Among Georgia’s myriad wine traditions, ‘Rtveli’ holds a special place. This vibrant and age-old festival marks the grape harvest season, turning Georgian vineyards into lively hubs of celebration, song, and camaraderie. “Rtveli” is a special word for “Wine Grape Harvest”, reflecting the centrality of wine in Georgian life and culture.

Georgia, often hailed as the birthplace of wine, has an inextricable bond between its ancient viniculture and its soul-stirring polyphonic singing. The two traditions, both brimming with history and emotion, weave together to form a captivating tapestry of Georgian culture. Dive deep into this connection, and you’ll find melodies that celebrate, revere, and echo the rhythms of the wine-making process and the joys of its consumption.

Qvevri is the name given to the distinctive, lemon-shaped clay vessels used in Georgia to make wine. These huge clay vessels are handmade, a skill surviving in only a handful of master craftsmen who spend an average of three months making a single 2000 litre Qvevri. It’s a skill passed down through families, and at this point in time there are only eight families with the skill to make Qvevri.

Picking a bottle of Georgian wine for the first time might feel quite daunting, especially if you’re used to wines from classic European regions. No familiar varieties—moreover, sometimes you’re not even sure whether the name on the Georgian wine label refers to a grape or an appellation! Throw in some Georgian letters, and it might look more like elvish runes out of Tolkien rather than something you’d find in Hugh Johnson’s wine guides.

New findings from a research project conducted by an international team of scientists have confirmed that the beginnings of viticulture and winemaking can be traced to around 6000 B.C., in Georgia.

What makes a wine ‘fine’? Along with 60 or so wine enthusiasts, professionals and consumers I was lucky to be invited by Nicole Sierra-Rolet co-founder of the le Chêne Bleu estate in the southern Rhône to try to answer this question at a weekend think tank snappily entitled Fine Minds 4 Fine Wines.

Ready to explore one of the world’s oldest winemaking cultures? From the majestic Caucasus Mountains to the lush Black Sea coast, Georgia is a wine lover’s dream, offering unique terroirs, ancient traditions, and wines that are simply unforgettable.