Georgia (the Eurasian nation, not the American state) is one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. The main wine varieties favored in Georgia are the red Saperavi and the white Rkatsiteli.
These are the classic varieties of the former Soviet republics, from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to Moldova">Moldova and Ukraine. A number of other long-established varieties are widely grown in the country.
Of these, red wine grapes are by far the most common, including Alexandrouli, Aladasturi, Keduretuli, Ojaleshi and Usakhelauri. Their white counterparts are led by Chinuri and Mtsvani, in the Goruli and Kakhuri variants.
The country is also strongly associated with the continuation of ancient winemaking techniques. This includes the use of clay vessels called qvevri (or kvevri) for Fermentation and storage.
Similar to ancient amphorae, they are buried in the ground outside, or built into the floor of a Cellar to ensure temperature Consistency. Winemakers in the United States, Australia and elsewhere have also begun importing and using them.
Archaeological evidence suggests that early wine production began 6,000 to 8,000 years ago in the Russia/kavkaz">Caucasus region. This region includes Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and eastern Turkey.
A very old variety grown most often in Kakhetia (Georgia). It can also be found in Moldavia, Ukraine, Dagestan, Central Asia... almost unknown in France.
white wines from the region of Georgia go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of brussels sprouts with bacon in a casserole, tuna and mozzarella pie or light tuna-tomato quiche (without cream).
On the nose in the region of Georgia often reveals types of flavors of peach, butter or dried fruit and sometimes also flavors of floral, black fruit or tropical fruit.
There are going to be some utterly splendid wines to taste at our New York Fine Wine Encounter – many of the world’s grandest winemakers have brought some of their very best bottles to our event, knowing their hard work and talent will be appreciated by a discerning audience. My team of experts have picked out a great selection of their personal favourites from the wines on offer, and for their superbly detailed analysis and opinion, you should read the pieces and the picks from Georgie Hindle, ...
I first contributed to Decanter back in November 1988; the hundreds of columns and articles I’ve written since constitute a journey of discovery. I squirm, though, if I’m described as a ‘wine expert’. Whatever wine knowledge we acquire quickly cools, congeals and crusts over, like custard or gravy, as the years pass. The wine world expands at a clip. Every vintage rewrites history. It’s the chance to share discoveries – not just about wines, but about people, places and the act of drinking itsel ...
In a large-scale genetic analysis of grapevine varieties, scientists across 16 countries identified two separate domestication events that took place simultaneously ‘in Western Asia and the Caucasus’ around 11,000 years ago, says a new study in the Science journal. A map highlighting the key domestication centres, plus Cultivation Groups (CG) 1 and 2 and and their human dispersal routes. Image Credit: Science journal. Many ancient civilisations in Europe and Asia had wine-drinking tr ...
