The interest in Georgian wine is booming, as quality soars, availability increases, and press coverage intensifies. Sales of Georgian wine to the UK grew by 30% in 2018, with both established large and new artisan wine-makers securing new UK importers. But there is still a lot of unsigned talent in Georgian wine… WHAT: Wines of…
In the country where wine was invented (so say Georgians), it’s hardly surprisingly that toasting is serious business. The tradition is called supra, and its background and process are the stuff of legend – and vital for understanding the wine culture of Georgia. The legend goes that when God was creating the world, He told people…
If Sarah Abbott MW has her way, Saperavi will soon be as familiar a grape as Shiraz. “It makes soulful tasting wines”, she says. Saperavi is Georgia’s hero grape variety. One of only a handful of grapes world-wide with highly-pigmented red flesh as well as skins, the name translates as ‘to dye’. Saperavi is the perfect flagship grape for a country which…
Qvevri – eight thousand litre earthenware jars – have become a vital part of the consumer perception of Georgian wine. The National Wine Agency of Georgia, together with Swirl & Market are determined to share the magic potential of these unique wines at this year’s London Wine Fair. With a national pavilion on stand K60, 15…
Georgia returns to London Wine Fair 20-22 May 2019, Stand K60 Fifteen producers from Georgia will be exhibiting on the national pavilion stand at this year’s London Wine Fair. As part of an expanded programme of activities for the UK market, 15 producers will be attending the Fair. Some of them are already active in…
Georgia is a small country, but the climatic and topographic variation is huge. You can find a spot to grow almost anything in Georgia, from tea to walnuts. (It’s one reason the country has been coveted by hungry and much larger neighbours throughout history.) Every wine style is possible in Georgia, but the one that’s really…
A large and important producer, Kakhuri Gvinis Marani has 400 hectares of vineyards in the zones of Tsinandali, Teliani, Akhasheni, Mukuzani, Manavi, and Gurjaani. Retired Major General and former Deputy Defence Minister Nugzar Kevkhishvili developed the vineyards built up by his father and established a new winery in 1995, so that the company could start…
This small and beautiful family estate was established in 2005. Located in the north east of Kakheti, Babaneuris winery takes its name from the nearby town. This part of Georgia is the gateway to Tusheti, a national park in the Caucasus mountains and location of one of “the world’s most treacherous roads”. It’s much safer…
This 19th century Château looks like a little bit of Versailles has been teleported to breezy Kartli. Created in the 1870s by Prince Ivane Mukhranbationi, Mukhrani was a pioneering producer of fine Georgian wine with an international market and reputation. The estate fell on hard times in the early 20th century, with vineyards neglected and…
John Okurashvili established Okro’s Wines in 2004, after a career as a scientific software engineer and telecoms. He has 5.5 hectares near the ravishingly pretty town of Sighnaghi, in Kakheti. John cultivates his vineyards organically, without pesticides, weedkillers or other treatments and the wines are made without Sulphur or other additions. He is a champion…