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UK wine lovers always have a lot on their plates (and in their glasses). Trade tastings, direct-to-consumer events, upscale wine dinners, master classes and casual wine quizzes – there is always something to pick from if one loves wine and wants to know more about it.

Georgia is rightfully proud of the fact that each of its regions is actually a wine growing region. From the Black Sea coast to the dry, arid lands in the east of the Kakheti region, grapevines are living their best life (eventually making the growers do some more work in some high-altitude, windy and cool places like Meskheti in the very south).

If Sarah Abbott MW has her way, Saperavi will soon be as familiar a grape as Shiraz. “It makes soulful tasting wines”, she says.  Saperavi is Georgia’s hero grape variety. One of only a handful of grapes world-wide with highly-pigmented red flesh as well as skins, the name translates as ‘to dye’. Saperavi is the perfect flagship grape for a country which has 525 indigenous varieties catalogued.

Jani was very nearly lost to the phylloxera outbreak of the late 19th century. How appropriate that the name ‘Jani’ means ‘powerful’ – because it took great power and determination to bring this grape back from the brink of extinction.

If Rkatsiteli is the white grape of eastern Georgia, then Tsolikouri is the white grape of western Georgia. Pronounced sol-li-kori, Tsolikouri is planted throughout Imereti. The region is packed with small producers producing traditional-Georgian-style wines, with the result that some of the country’s most exciting grape varieties are found in this area – including Tsolikouri.

Chkhaveri is a rare but fascinating grape. It was originally a “maghlari” vine, trained to grow up trees, and was described in Ampelography of Georgia as ‘light and pleasant’. Published in 1960, this book is considered one of the most influential books in Georgian winemaking – though nowadays winemakers think such an interpretation of Chkhaveri is not sufficient.

With short bursts of sunlight in London, thoughts turn to spring/summer- the delicious lighter foods and drinks we can enjoy in the sunshine. Dzelshavi is fondly referred to by many Georgian Wine aficionados as a ‘summer wine’. That’s because the wines produced by this thin-skinned grape are light, fresh and lively.

Among Georgia’s myriad wine traditions, ‘Rtveli’ holds a special place. This vibrant and age-old festival marks the grape harvest season, turning Georgian vineyards into lively hubs of celebration, song, and camaraderie. “Rtveli” is a special word for “Wine Grape Harvest”, reflecting the centrality of wine in Georgian life and culture.

Georgia, often hailed as the birthplace of wine, has an inextricable bond between its ancient viniculture and its soul-stirring polyphonic singing. The two traditions, both brimming with history and emotion, weave together to form a captivating tapestry of Georgian culture. Dive deep into this connection, and you’ll find melodies that celebrate, revere, and echo the rhythms of the wine-making process and the joys of its consumption.

Qvevri is the name given to the distinctive, lemon-shaped clay vessels used in Georgia to make wine. These huge clay vessels are handmade, a skill surviving in only a handful of master craftsmen who spend an average of three months making a single 2000 litre Qvevri. It’s a skill passed down through families, and at this point in time there are only eight families with the skill to make Qvevri.

New findings from a research project conducted by an international team of scientists have confirmed that the beginnings of viticulture and winemaking can be traced to around 6000 B.C., in Georgia.

What makes a wine ‘fine’? Along with 60 or so wine enthusiasts, professionals and consumers I was lucky to be invited by Nicole Sierra-Rolet co-founder of the le Chêne Bleu estate in the southern Rhône to try to answer this question at a weekend think tank snappily entitled Fine Minds 4 Fine Wines.

Ready to explore one of the world’s oldest winemaking cultures? From the majestic Caucasus Mountains to the lush Black Sea coast, Georgia is a wine lover’s dream, offering unique terroirs, ancient traditions, and wines that are simply unforgettable.