Georgia is the only country in the world where winemaking methods that were developed up to 8,000 years ago have not only never been abandoned but remain in many ways best practice.” – ANDREW JEFFORD, Wine writer, Financial Time.
Georgian wine history
For generations, Georgia has proudly claimed the title of the birthplace of wine. In 2015, scientists studying the residues (remains of grapes and grape seeds) contained in an ancient clay vessels dating back 8,000 years at an archeological dig in southeastern Georgia, dated these artifacts to 6000 BCE, which had established ancient Georgia as the first known location of grape winemaking.
Georgians have made wine in egg-shaped clay vessels called qvevri continuously for 8,000 years. Using the traditional method, these vessels are buried underground to keep temperatures constant during fermentation and aging. In 2013, the United Nations added qvevri winemaking to the UNESCO list as “Humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage”.
Georgia wine regions and its wine culture
The Georgian wine map is sprawling and complex, where few areas of this ancient country have remained untouched by viticulture. From Kakheti in the south-east to Apkhazeti atop the Black Sea coast, there is great diversity of climate, topography and geology. Among the best-known Georgian wine regions, Kakheti is the best place to get acquainted with this ancient tradition, thanks to its welcoming wineries, 1,500-year-old monasteries and man-made cave cities.
Despite being the oldest wine region in the world, Georgian wines have only come onto the world wine map recently due to the growing interest in natural wines. Even when many would think the culture of France or Italy is so wine-centric, Georgians has taken it to a whole different level as it is such an integral part of their culture and everyday life, which has always been a home endeavor, infused with history, religion and mythology.
To taste wine at its source, you need to visit Georgia, the tiny Caucasian nation that’s been making wine longer than anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, we are unable to do so now due to the current COVID-19 situaion, but fear not, OWC has collaborated with several boutique Georgian vineyards and obtained the exclusive rights to export and sell wines into Singapore and selected Asian countries. Look out for these unqiue Georgian wines via OWC eShop.
Wholesales of Georgian wines is also welcome too.