Georgia, the oldest wine country in the world

Kudos to Georgia! Because here, 8,000 years ago, they invented winemaking. The invention of the wheel was practical. But now that there was wine, it became clear what its purpose was: to transport this divine liquid. Georgia still has a unique way of making wine and more than 500 indigenous grape varieties.

Let's start at the beginning: Georgia is located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. At the same height as Northern Spain, but a few thousand kilometres to the east, just past Turkey. The vineyards are located against the mountains, in the rolling landscape of the long Mtkvari River. The course of the river has changed several times in the past centuries. Georgia's vineyards are located on the mineral-rich hills to the former clay riverbeds.

Special Georgian wine traditions

Archaeologists have found jars in Georgia with the oldest remains of grape seeds in the world. They date back to 6,000 BC. With a Georgian wine history of 8,000 years, is Georgia the oldest wine country in the world? Yes! Well, until older remains are found somewhere else in the future.

The church has had a firm finger in wine for a long time and that leaves its mark. Georgians experience wine in their own way. Georgian wine is not meant to be enjoyed casually. Wine has an almost religious meaning. You drink it consciously, with a suitable meal with good friends, unexpected guests or family. Wine is a symbol of Georgian culture.

Orange or amber Georgian wines

In Western Europe, we have been making wine in oak barrels for centuries. The Georgians have held on to their own traditions to this day. They have dug enormous so-called Qvevri's - earthenware amphorae - in their old cellars, in which they make the wine. Only the mouth of the jug protrudes above the ground and is closed with a wooden lid. If you want to make good wine, the juice must ferment cool. And in the basement of the cellar it is cool.

Red Georgian Qvevri wines are fruity, with a lot of body. The white ones are fermented with the skin, which gives them a deep yellow, sometimes orange-like colour; that is why they are also called 'orange wines'. The aroma of orange wines is incomparable to that of white wines. Moreover, orange wines have a much firmer structure and often tannin. According to legend, the smallest boy in the village is the first to taste. If he does not cry, the wine is good! A nice legend, although we can assure you that none of it is (anymore) true.

European technology wines

Wines that are made in a modern way are called 'European technology' by the Georgians. European winegrowers have equipment in their cellars with which they can determine the temperature to two decimal places. Georgian winegrowers are now doing the same. Most Georgian wine is now, just like ours, in steel or oak barrels and 'Windows is running'.

The best houses have flown in foreign wine experts. Not because they can't make wine themselves, but because it is becoming increasingly important to connect with Western tastes. Most experts come from France, because Georgian winemakers have the most respect for them.

Five hundred indigenous Georgian grape varieties

The Georgians are proud and they know that they have potential gold in their hands: excellent vineyards and about five hundred ancient, indigenous grape varieties that no one has ever heard of. Most exported red wine is made from the Saperavi grape. They are often quite firm, deep red with a taste in which you recognize licorice and laurel and with beautiful tannins. The white wines from the Mtsvane and Rkatsiteli grape are the most popular internationally. They are fruity with refreshing acidity. Also interesting but (still) much less known are grapes such as Tsolikouri, Chinuri, Mtsvivani Kakhuri, Tavkveri, Khikhvi, Shavkapito, Danakharuli, Asuretuli Shavi and Aleksandrouli.