Georgia

This former member republic of the USSR (known as Sakartwelo in Georgian) is located in Transcaucasia, it is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, and one of the origins of cultivated grapevines. For instance, archaelogical finds have included old clay jugs containing seeds of the white grape variety Rkatsiteli. Even older finds of grape seeds of cultivated vines 7.000 years old prove that growers were already selecting vine varieties in order to improve production at that time. Numerous archeological finds have proved that viticulture was already important at a very early stage, and that it was an integrated part of Gerogian culture. On display in the museum in the capital city of Tbilissi is a short piece of vine covered with silver, this was discovered in Trialeti in the south of the country, and has been dated at 3.000 BC. Numerous vine knives, stone troughs, mills, clay and metal receptacles for wine as well as jewellery in the form of grapes and vine leaves dating to the period between 3000 and 2000 BC were discovered in Mukheta, Trialeti and Pitsunda as well as in the Alazan valley. Elaborate ornaments with vines bearing fruit can be found on the walls of temples in the cities of Samtavisi, Ikalto, Gelati, Nikortsminda, Vardzia and Zarmza. In a poem written by the Greek writer and academic Apollonius of Rhodes (3rd century BC) – the librarian of the famous library in Alexandria – as part of his work „Argonautica“, he states that when the Argonauts (heroes of Greek mythology headed by Jason, who conquered the Golden Fleece) arrived in the capital city of Kolchis, they found vines growing on the king’s palace, as well as a fountain with wine in the shade of the trees. Georgian legends confirm the love of grapevines.

Georgia converted to Christianity in the fourth century AD. The first cross was made of vines, to demonstrate that the Christian faith as well as the vine were the highest and most holy cultural icons. For many centuries, wine held a central position in the Georgian economy. The vineyard area totalled 70.000 hectares in the second half of the 19th century, but fungal diseases as well as phylloxera halved that by the beginning of the 20th century. Phylloxera-resistant rootstocks were imported, and the vineyards replanted with these. By the year 2000 the vineyard area had grown back to 67.000 hectares, producing 750.000 hectolitres of wine. Wild vines are still quite widespread in Georgia, and the subspecies vitis vinifera silvestris is still grown here today. Through both natural and artificial selection, some 500 indigenous grape varieties have been developed here. 38 graoe varieties are permitted for wine production. These include the indigenous varieties Aladasturi, Aleksandrouli, Kachichi, Krakhuna, Mudzhuretuli, Mtsvane, Odzaleshi, Orbeluri, Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Tsitska, Tsolikouri and Usakhelouri. The Isabella hybrid vine is also cultivated. International varieties planted include Aligoté, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Malbec, Merlot and Pinot Noir. A well-known vine nursery is to be found at Sakar.

The high peaks of the Caucasus mountain range provide protection from the wind, providing practically ideal climatic conditions for viticulture. The country is characterised by a wide range of different soils and climatic conditions. The climate varies from temperate to sub-tropical. Average annual rainfall varies from 300 to 600 millimetres in the East to 1.000 to 4.000 millimetres in the West. There are five wine-growing regions, the most important region is Kachetia in the south-east, in the Alazani and Iori vallies. The climate here is temperate, with maximum temperatures of no higher than 38 to 40 °C, the average rainfall is 400 to 800 millimetres. There are alluvial soils as well as limestone-rich soils, and there are also cinnamon forests in the region. This area accounts for 70% of the grapes produced for wine and spirits use. Kachetia is further divided into three growing regions and more than 25 sub-regions, including, for example, Akhmeta, Kvarelo-Kindzmarauli, Manavi, Napareuli and Zinandali.

The Kartli region is located in a large region in the Kura valley, encompassing the low-lying Gori and Mukhran plains. European-style wines as well as base wines for sparkling wines and for brandy distillation are produced here, accounting for 15% of total production in Geprgia. This is a moderately warm region, with hot, dry summers. As rainfall is low (350 to 500 mm per annum on average) artificial irrigation is required. The capital city of Tbilissi, with its huge distilleries and sparkling wine cellars is also located in this region. The oldest winery in Tbilissi, founded in 1897, boasts of a unique collection of wine, consisting of around 150.000 bottles of a total of 1.600 different wines, including some extremely old foreign products, such as Cognac from 1811, Madeira and Marsala from 1822, Sherry from 1848 as well as Tokaj from 1846. The Imeretia region is located in the eastern part of Western Georgia, in the vallies and gorges of the Rioni, Kvirila and other rivers. The special white grape variety of this region is the Tsitska. The Rach-Lechkhumi region lies to the north of Imeretia on the banks of the Rioni and Tskhenistskali rivers. Moderate rainfall (1000 to 1300 mm per annum), south-facing slopes and a number of indigenous varieties produce grapes with a sugar content of up to 30%. The fifth region includes Abchasia, Ajaria, Guria and Megrelia, with mainly sweet wines being produced in the humid, sub-tropical climate.

The ancient and very specific Georgian form of wine production, known as the Imeretic and Kachetic procedure, is still widely practised today. The famous author Alexander S. Pushkin (1799 – 1837) preferred these to Burgundy. In addition to white and red wines made from indigenous and European vitis vinifera varieties, large amounts of sweet fortified wines and sparkling wines are also produced. Georgia is regarded as the best red wine producing country of the former USSR (see also under Russia. Famous wines produced include Achasheni (red), Anaga (white), Chwantshkara (red), Kachetinskoje (white), Kardanachi (white), Mukusani (red), Napareuli (red, white), Salchino (red), Teliani (red) and Tsinandali (white).