Georgia

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All recommended producers in Georgia

The Near Eastern State (formerly Grusinia) east of the Black Sea in Transcaucasia one of the oldest wine-producing countries and is considered as the origin of cultivated grapevine. There were five thousand year old pottery with grape seeds of the white variety Rkatsiteli found. Already 7,000 years old grape seeds from cultivated vines indicate a selection for the Breeding better varieties out. Archaeology has supported numerous other evidence revealed that the wine was already in early times enjoyed a great importance and an integral part of Georgian culture. In the museum of the capital Tbilisi (Tbilisi), there is a silver coated, short piece of vine wood Trialeti in the south and found the age determination was 3,000 BC. Numerous Vine knife , stone wine presses, mills, clay and metal vessels for wine and jewelry in the form of grapes and vine leaves from the period 3000-2000 BC were unearthed in Mukheta, Trialeti and Pitsunda and in Alazani Valley.

Rich ornaments with fruchtbehangenen vines can be found on the walls of temples in the cities of Samtavisi, Ikalto, gelati, monuments such as, Vardzia and Zarmza. In a poem by the Greek epic poet Apollonius of Rhodes scholars, and (3rd century BC), the librarian of the famous library in Alexandria, says his "Argonautica", that the Argonauts (Greek mythology heroes, led by did Jason, who captured the Golden Fleece) seen on arrival at the capital of Colchis twining vines at the entrance of the royal palace and a fountain of wine in the shade of the trees. Georgian legends attest to the love of the vine. Georgia became the fourth century Christianity. The first cross was allegedly made from vine to vine, and demonstrate Christian religion as sacred goods of the country. For over many centuries was the largest vineyard in Georgia, economic importance, eventually reaching the Middle Ages, an absolute highlight.

After the Second World War, Georgia became an important wine suppliers in the USSR, which was set to ground. Until 1985, the vines grew to 125,000 acres. Then there was the anti-alcohol campaign by Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev Mikhail (b. 1931) a strong-back when it was cleared 40,000 hectares of vineyards and replaced with melon cultivation. At the time of independence in 1991 were 75% of its production to Russia exported. In 2006 there were but a ban on imports (by the way, also Moldova Wines), which was founded by Russia to the Georgian wines undrinkable due to contamination with pesticides and pollutants. On the part of Georgia was only in it a politically motivated action against the new pro-Western government seen. The Georgian wine industry has been affected by at least solid. The embargo has been lifted by then end of 2011.

In the year 2007 was 55 100 hectares of vineyards with 1.475 million hectoliters of wine production. About two-thirds are planted with red wine and one-third of white wines. Wild Vines are still widespread in Georgia, where the species Vitis vinifera sylvestris represented today. There are over 500 indigenous grape varieties for winemaking are approved 38th These include the white wines Chinuri , Goruli Mtsvane , Kharistvala Meskhuri , Krakhuna , Mtsvane , Rkatsiteli , Tsitska and Tsolikouri , and the red varieties Aladasturi , Aleksandrouli , Kachichi , Kharistvala Kolkhuri , Mujuretuli , Ojaleshi , Orbeluri , Saperavi and Usakhelouri . Also widespread is the hybrid Isabella . The most common varieties are international Aligote, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Malbec, Merlot and Pinot Noir. A well-known nursery is available in Sakar.

Under the influence of the wind-protected towering Caucasus there for the wine almost ideal climatic conditions. The country is characterized by a wide variety of soils and climatic conditions. The climate is temperate and subtropical between. There are five wine regions. The most important part of Georgia as the most eastern Kakheti is Telavi with the capital. The vineyards are located mostly on the slopes of the rivers Alazani and Iori. This is the home of the famous traditional with the clay jars buried in the ground (Kvevris). The climate is temperate, the average annual rainfall is between 400 to 800 mm. It is dominated by calcareous soils. Here grow 70% of the grapes for wine and spirits. Kakheti is divided into three regions and over 25 sub-areas or appellations, which are as Achascheni , Akhmeta, Gurdzhaani, Kindzmarauli , Kvareli, Manavi, Mukuzani , Napareuli , Sagaredzho, and Signagi Tsinandali (wine) .

The region of Kartli situated in the center of the country in the Kura valley and the lowlands surrounding Gori and Mukhran. Here the base wines for sparkling wine and brandy, which account for 15% of Georgia's production. There's temperate climate, the summers are hot and dry. Due to low precipitation, with approximately 350 to 500 mm has an artificial Irrigation . be Here lies the capital, Tbilisi, with huge sparkling wine cellars and distilleries. In 1897, founded the oldest winery offers a unique wine collection with about 1,600 wines (150,000 bottles), some of which are also very old foreign products, such as Cognac from 1811, Malaga 1820, Marsala and Madeira in 1822, Sherry 1848, and Tokay of 1846.

The region of Imereti is located in the eastern part of West Georgia in the valleys and gorges of the rivers Rioni, and other Kvirila on alluvial soils. Again, there is a traditional wine in jars, similar to the . The region of Racha-Imereti Lechkhumi is located north of the banks of the rivers Rioni and Tskhenistskali. Moderate rainfall amounts, south-facing slopes and a number of indigenous grape varieties provide grapes with high sugar content. The sub-area Chwantschkara is known for the favorite wine of Josef Stalin (1878-1953). And the fifth in the West region includes the underlying landscapes of Abkhazia, Adjara, Guria and Samegrelo. In the subtropical climate prevailing here are mainly produced sweet wines.

Georgia is especially known for its red wines, which were considered to be the best times of the USSR the Union. It creates a lot of fortified wines, sparkling wines and sweet wines, and excellent spirits (wine, Chacha = marc). At the Yalta Conference in February 1945, surprised Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) Winston Churchill (1874-1965) with the quality of the "Grusinian cognac" (Grusinia is a Russian name for Georgia). Well-known producers are Aia, Bagrationi, Chetsuriani, , Khareba, Manavi Wine Cellar, Samkharadze & Co Ltd.., Samtrest, Sarajishvili & Eniseli, Schuchmann, Taro Ltd.., Tbilvino, Telavi Wine Cellar , Teliani Valley , Tibaneli, Tsinandali (Winery) (historic estate, now a museum), Vasiani, Vazirani + Wine Company Shumi .