Georgians love to celebrate their wine, and they love to party. Every city and village in Georgia has some form of wine festival, either to celebrate the release of the new wine in Spring, or the gathering in of bountiful harvest in September.
This year, we’re bringing a little bit of Georgian wine festival action to the UK. 2018 has been an amazing year for Georgian wine in the UK, with more and more wines now available across the country, in restaurants and wine shops.
Just 3 years ago, Georgian wine (and Georgia as a country) was pretty much unknown to all but the geekiest. But with a new focus on exports, and the enthusiastic response of UK wine buyers and sommeliers, and the mainstream coverage of Georgia as an amazing tourist destination, that has changed. And, in true Georgian style, it has changed quickly.
The Georgian Wine Festival is a series of tastings, supras and promotions running through the Autumn. Our program includes tastings hosted by the Georgian Wine UK press office, and promotions initiated by importers, wholesalers and retailers of Georgian Wine. We’ll be listing all events and promotions here, on Twitter at @GeorgianWineUK, and the Georgian Wine UK Facebook page.
Georgian Wine Festival Events:
Georgian Wine UK Trade and Press Tasting
Wednesday 2nd October 2019 – 12:30 to 16:30 – London
#GeorgianWineFest starts with a Trade and Press Tasting in London on Wednesday 2nd October 2019. The walk-around tasting features wines from producers already available in the UK, as well as a section for producers looking for UK representation. A Masterclass, led by Sarah Abbott MW, will run from 10:30 to 12:00. Titled “Georgia’s Microcosm”, the masterclass will explore the full diversity of wines currently being made in Georgia, from anciently-influenced qvevri (traditional Georgian clay “amphora”) wines to contemporary wines in Georgia’s modern lively idiom.
The trade and press tasting will take place at SAMA Bankside, close to Blackfriars and Waterloo. Some famously delicious Georgian snacks from Walnut and Spice will be served. This event is for members of the wine and hospitality trades, and for press.
Register for the walk-around tasting and/or masterclass here.
Manchester Trade and Press Tasting
Tuesday 8th October 2019 – 13:30 to 16:30 – Manchester
The Georgian Wine Trade and Press Tasting is hitting the road, and will be coming to Manchester on 8th October 2019. There will be a walk-around tasting between 13:30 to 16:30, and a masterclass led by Sarah Abbott MW from 16:30 to 17:30. The event is taking place at Vin-yard, in the Hatch MCR complex of former shipping containers, located at Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED.
Register for the Manchester Trade Tasting and/or Masterclass here.
London Qvevri Wine Festival
Saturday 19th October 2019 – 12:00 to 21:00 – London
This walk-around tasting is hosted and promoted by four independent Georgian wine importers: Taste of Georgia; GvinoUK; 8000 Vintages, and Proper Natural Wine. Guests will be able to discover 20 qvevri wines from all over Georgia. The ticket price of £32 includes all wines, and a selection of Georgian food from Walnut and Spice. In additional to the walk-around tasting, there are two masterclasses on Georgian qvevri wines and wine-making, which will explore and explain the incredible survival of this ancient method. Qvevri solve a lot of wine-making problems, and that’s why their use has never died out! Come and find out more! As well as wine and food, the festival also features a live performance of Georgian dance and plenty of information about Georgia, its ancient traditions of winemaking, culinary culture and the unconditional hospitality.
Guests will have a chance to purchase/order wines at discounted prices directly from the importers, Georgian delicatessen from the Georgian caterers, and books about Georgian wine and cookery from the author Anna Saldadze of Apricate Books.
Further events will be confirmed shortly including consumer and trade tastings in Manchester and Bristol.