A Look At The Growing Georgian Wine Industry Via Today’s “Wines Of Georgia 301” Virtual Event

In 2019, a reported 1,088 Georgian wine companies were registered to sell wine commercially, 350 of these were registered to export. In turn, Georgia is an ancient wine region with deep wine-making roots in every family and community. As the country redevelops in the post-Soviet era, the number of family wineries registering for commercial production is increasing dramatically, and as Georgian wines have become more visible in the U.S. over the past several years, progressive shops, wine bars and local neighborhood groceries in Russian and Russia-adjacent immigrant communities have been stocking their shelves with semi-sweet appellation reds from the Georgian region.

Thanks to a virtual event called Wines Of Georgia 301, as hosted via Zoom on August 26, 2021, I had the pleasure of learning more about the past and present of Georgia’s vibrant wine culture. This program included a special focus on wineries that are deeply Georgian while at the same time support volume needs. Per the event’s moderators, the National Wine Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture of the country of Georgia reports that Georgian global wine exports to the U.S. running 35 percent ahead of last year, following 5 consecutive years of similar growth year over year.

Yet current trends and statistics are just the tip of the history of the Georgian wine industry. Many scholars recognize Georgia as the birthplace of wine, as in 2015, archaeologists working in Georgia discovered ancient qvevri containing the residue of cultivated grapes. Using archaeological, biomolecular and other methods, researchers dated these artifacts to 6000 BCE, during the Neolithic Period. A research report published by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences described this discovery as the earliest evidence of viniculture and winemaking. To this day, qvevri are made by hand by Georgia’s master potters. In 2013, the United Nations had added qvevri winemaking to the UNESCO list documenting humanity’s intangible cultural heritage, and in 2021 qvevri were the first non-consumable to be granted a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) designation. Georgia is said to be home to more than 525 indigenous grape varieties.

Originally founded in 1893, Teliani Valley combines the traditional methods of Georgian winemaking with the most up-to-date modern technology to ensure production of the finest quality natural wine. In 2004, the company partnered with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to update its facilities, building a new wine factory and cultivating vineyards in the best micro-zone in Georgia. The winery highly values strict quality control in all stages of their winemaking process, farming local grape varieties over 120 hectares of vineyard. Teliani Valley has won awards internationally and domestically and seeks to continue their growth in those markets. From its Guardians Saperavi reserve, you can expect a deep violet color with aromas fresh red and black fruit. Flavors of blackberry, cranberry and cherry are followed by spice notes and a hint of oak, finishing with balanced but firm tannin. It reportedly pairs well with lamb, steaks and beef braises alike.

Tarasi Minadze’s family has historically worked with wine and metal-making for many generations, and they continue to prepare wine in traditional Imeretian steel vessels in the legacy of the region’s history. The cellar has been rebuilt and the family keeps vineyards over several local villages, harvesting local grape varieties with organic practices. Tarasi Minadze is a proud member of the Natural Wine Association, as based in western Georgia, near the flowing Rioni River.

Tsitska is 100 percent Tsolikauri, a grape indigenous to the region. It is a balanced and refreshing white with good acidity and notes of tropical and stone fruit. This wine is made in the traditional Imeritian way by fermenting Tsitska grapes in Qvevri.

The Dila-o (dee-la-oh) brand from the Teleda winery — which also makes the Orgo label — was created to introduce qvevri wines to a broad segment of the U.S. market by over delivering on quality for the price. Teleda is an artisan winery located in Eastern Georgia that specializes in the 8,000-year-old Georgian Qvevri wine making tradition and sources all their grapes from vines that are at least 50 years-old. The winery sits in the foothills of the Gombori range, with the Alazani River Valley and the Caucasus Mountains to the north.

Also experienced within the Wines Of Georgia 301 event were great offerings from Winery 97, Telavi Marani and Schuchmann. More on these and other great Georgian wine labels can be found by clicking here, here, here and here.

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Tags: Eastern Europe, Georgia, Qvevri, Saperavi, Wine

About the Author

Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."