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.

Picking a bottle of Georgian wine for the first time might feel quite daunting, especially if you’re used to wines from classic European regions. No familiar varieties—moreover, sometimes you’re not even sure whether the name on the Georgian wine label refers to a grape or an appellation! Throw in some Georgian letters, and it might look more like elvish runes out of Tolkien rather than something you’d find in Hugh Johnson’s wine guides.

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.