"What I find most refreshing is that the country, and its wine, is completely itself, despite being hemmed in by empires with a proclivity for invasion (Persians, Turks, Mongols et al), as well as the decades spent under USSR rule, which between 1922 and 1991 switched the grape-growing focus to yield over quality. Today, you really feel the Georgian delight at flipping that old Soviet diktat on its head."
"The winemakers I met were laser-focused on nurturing their Georgian-ness, while the country's 525-plus indigenous grape varieties result in kaleidoscopic left-field flavours. When John Wurdeman, the American co-founder of Pheasant's Tears winery, came on to the scene in 2007, he gave Georgian wines a window to the world. Early adopters such as Yotam Ottolenghi helped bring them into the mainstream, and their surging popularity (UK volume sales increased by 72% in 2024) runs in congruence with the rise of natural wine."
Georgia has practiced winemaking for more than 8,000 years and sits on a fertile crossroads between Europe and Asia. Deep cultural hospitality treats guests as gifts and pairs with unpolished authenticity. Decades under USSR rule (1922–1991) prioritized yield over quality, but contemporary producers are restoring Georgian identity and quality. More than 525 indigenous grape varieties produce a wide range of unconventional flavours. American John Wurdeman’s Pheasant’s Tears (2007) and champions like Yotam Ottolenghi expanded international exposure. Georgian wines have surged in popularity, with UK volume sales up 72% in 2024, dovetailing with the rise of natural and orange wines.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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