History Georgian wine

decorative kvevri of twins old cellar wine house in napareuli, telavi



bronze statue 7th century bc discovered during archaeological excavations in city of vani. statue statue of tamada, toast master, , see on souvenir sheet considered symbol of earliest wine making in world. sheet pictures amphora used @ time carry , stock wine. stamp of georgia, 2007.



chateau zegaani vineyards in kakheti.

the roots of georgian viticulture have been traced archeology when people of south caucasus discovered wild grape juice turned wine when left buried through winter in shallow pit. knowledge nourished experience, , 6000 bc inhabitants of current georgia cultivating grapes , burying clay vessels, kvevris, in store wine ready serving @ ground temperature. when filled fermented juice of harvest, kvevris topped wooden lid , covered , sealed earth. may remain entombed 50 years.

wine vessels of every shape, size , design have been crucial part of pottery in georgia millennia. ancient artifacts attest high skill of local craftsmen. among vessels, ubiquitous , unique georgian wine-making culture kvevris, large earthenware vessels inside coat of beeswax. not kvevris used ferment grape juice , store wine, chapi , satskhao; others yet used drinking, such khelada, doki, sura, chinchila, deda-khelada, dzhami , marani.

the continuous importance of winemaking , drinking in georgian culture visible in various antique works of art. many of unearthed silver, gold , bronze artifacts of 3rd , 2nd millennia bc bear chased imprints of vine, grape clusters , leaves. state museum of georgia has on display cup of high-carat gold set gems, ornamented silver pitcher , other artifacts dated 2nd millennium bc. classical antiquity, georgian museums display cameo depicting bacchus, , numerous sarcophagi wine pitchers , ornamented wine cups found in ancient tombs.

from 4th century ad, wine has gained further importance in georgian culture due christianisation of country. according tradition, saint nino, preached christianity in kartli, bore cross made vine wood. centuries, georgians drank, , in areas still drink, wine horns (called kantsi in georgian) , skins herd animals. horns cleaned, boiled , polished, creating unique , durable drinking vessel.

during soviet times wines produced in georgia popular. in comparison other wines moldavia , crimea available on soviet market georgian wines had been more preferable soviets. in 1950 vineyards in georgia occupied 143,000 acres, in 1985 316,000 acres due increasing demand. in 1985 wine production 881,000 tons. during mikhail gorbachev s anti-alcohol campaign, many old georgian vineyards cut off.

georgian wine has been contentious issue in recent relationships russia. political tensions russia have contributed 2006 russian embargo of georgian wine, russia claimed georgia produced counterfeit wine. official reason, instability of economic relations russia known, use economic ties political purposes. counterfeiting problems stem mislabelling foreign producers , falsified “georgian wine” labels on wines produced outside of georgia , imported russia under auspices of being georgian produced. winemakers in georgia have been known import grapes , produce “falsified” georgian wine, leading defense minister irakli okruashvili note in 2006 “[he thought] several wineries still producing fake wine in gori should closed”. shipment of counterfeit wine has been channeled through russian managed customs checkpoints in russian occupied georgian territories abkhazia , south ossetia, no inspection , regulation occurs.

georgia optimistic recent association agreement european union expand export markets , reduce risk presented future unilateral embargoes russia.