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Wine professionals visited the Jighaura base as part of the ,,Global Wine Marketing & Media Forum’’

Wine writers, sommeliers, bloggers, marketers, and media representatives visited the Jighaura base of the Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture as part of the "Global Wine Marketing & Media Forum". The Director of the Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture, Professor Levan Ujmajuridze, introduced the foreign guests to local and international projects and research on the origin, domestication, conservation, dissemination, awareness raising and popularization of Georgian grape varieties.

Levan Ujmajuridze, while discussing the issue of wine production in Georgia, emphasized the importance of the diversity of Georgian grape varieties.

During the visit, the delegation members toured the Vine and Wine Museum, where the stages of the 8,000-year continuous development of Georgian viticulture and winemaking, artifacts, ethnographic exhibits from the regions of Georgia and exhibits related to winemaking in qvevri are presented in a historical context.

The guests toured the unique Georgian grapevine collection and other scientific infrastructure; they tasted wines made from rare Georgian grapevine varieties that were found and restored. The delegation members were given the opportunity to evaluate the taste qualities of the wines and express their opinions on their market potential. The meeting discussed the technological processes and sensory characteristics of qvevri winemaking.

“The most interesting thing I discovered about Georgian wine is the diversity of grape varieties. Each variety has a completely unique expression and often the names refer to color or other characteristics, which, as an American, is very different. Georgian varieties are almost indistinguishable from international varieties, which is especially noteworthy. What is also particularly impressive is that more than 500 varieties are presented here in one space — it is truly unique,” noted delegation member, American sommelier Alex Sarovich.

The visit further deepened the interest of international professionals in Georgian viticulture and winemaking and highlighted the importance of the Jighaura base as one of the main platforms for research and popularization of the national heritage of vines and wine.

The visit was held within the framework of the “Global Wine Marketing & Media Forum”, organized by the “Madam Sommelier” platform. The forum brings together international wine experts, media and marketing professionals and aims to promote Georgian wine globally.