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Monday, August 20, 2012

Shota Kobelia: "You have to “ferment” your education". Exclusive interview of Hvino News with CEO of Teliani Valley

20.08.2012 (Hvino News) Today Hvino News starts to publish exclusive interviews with leaders of Georgia’s winemaking industry. Our guest today is Mr. Shota Kobelia, chief executive officer of Teliani Group. He kindly agreed to answer our questions.

We suggest starting the interview with your company’s brief outline.  Can you tell us several main facts about your company today? This may be you total production figures, export figures, awards/prizes, or other highlights that you consider as important achievements.

SC Teliani Valley was founded in 1997 on the basis of “Teliani Winery of Vintage Wines”, which was built in 19th century in Tsinandali, in the neighborhood of Teliani’s vineyards. Tsinandali, due to peculiarities of its soil and microclimate, has always been the center of Georgian viticulture. Here in 1886-1887, at the place of the old wine cellar and winery of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, a two-storey, 150 thousand-bucket winery was built by the decree of the Russian Emperor’s brother Michael Romanov. In 1891 Mossano, French winemaker from Bordeaux was invited to this cellar.

Mossano worked in Georgia for 9 years. He was first who introduced the European wine making technologies to wine of local varieties. With his initiative various French grape species were brought to Georgia and cultivated. Among all the foreign varieties Cabernet-Sauvignon cultivated in Teliani Valley appeared to be the best. Mossano made Teliani wine from this variety. He sent the first bottle to Emperor in Petersburg. The bottle had white paper attached saying “Cabernet-Sauvignon, From Teliani Valley 1893, Antoin Mossano”.

Emperor’s surrounding liked the wine very much. It was Mossano and wine Teliani that made famous this small valley situated in the fertile land of Kakheti. One can find Teliani and other Georgian-French wines and brandies of different harvests in old cellar of Tsinandali…

More than a century has passed from the first harvest of Teliani, legend about Mossano has faded away, however, one thing has remain unchanged, this is Teliani Valley, under the name of which Georgian wine has been produced for more than a century.

How a person becomes a leader in wine industry? Please tell us about yourself, your background. In particular, what made you enter into the world of wine?

Becoming a leader person in wine industry is long way and it is similar to wine production process.

You have to “grow” your education from good schools, have to “ferment” it with the experience in all parts of the wine industry, and have to mature with post graduate education specially in wine industry and experience with running wine industry leader companies.

I have started my education in wine in early nineties in USA and my working experience as a winemaker at the continuing in sales side of wine. After I have move into one of the big companies “Pernod Ricard” and was working there in wine field operation, and upgraded my education with special wine masters program in Bordeaux.

Are you creator of your brand? If yes, how was it made? Some interesting facts from your brand’s or your company’s history will be very interesting to hear.

Brand Teliani Valley started its roots in 19th century. I myself was involved many times in re branding and repositioning process. Together with my team we are working day to day on brand development. Every year we have new vintages and new wines that have to be branded in a right way. Teliani Valley is a leader on local markets, and the key factor for it is the brand itself.

What’s your typical day like? What are your current priorities, concerns, worries?

My typical day in the office starts with cup of coffee and daily conference with administration of company. It continues with meeting with the production part of the company and answering hundreds of emails from different parts of world - mainly from 29 countries where we are operating.

An insight into future – what are your goals, strong points of your business, and possible threats to it?

The strongest point of business is Teliani Valley’s team – young, well-experienced, educated, highly motivated.

Future: we have already settled out own distribution channels in Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, and we are continuing it. I think this is the future.

Any personal touches you would like to add to the interview  - for instance family, your hobbies, pets, or your favourite sports…

Almost every evening I play basketball with my friends. I used to play in my childhood in professional team, and till now it is my favorite sports.

If you wish to send a personal message to global professional wine community, the floor is yours!

Believe in and enjoy the thing you are doing. It is wine – the most pleasant job you ever can dream.

Thank you very much, Mr. Kobelia!

Questions are interesting, thank you.

© Hvino News

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