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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Georgian ministry denied information on renewal of Russian embargo

31.12.2014 (Hvino News). The ministry of agriculture of Georgia released a special statement denying information on possible renewal of Russian embargo, which circulated in Russian mass medias recently. Ministry stated that Georgia continues to export wine, mineral waters, fruit and vegetables to Russia and this is not going to be changed in the nearest future. However, Georgia’s PM suggested the government to carry out preventive measures, as Russian policy can be highly unpredictable.

"At this stage, Georgia exports alcoholic and mineral drinks, as well as vegetables, fruits, citrus fruits, dried fruits, spices, tea and bay leaves to Russia.The negotiations on honey, fish, sheep export are underway, the ministry said".

Russia still remains the largest market for Georgian farmers 64 % of Georgia’s total wine exports were sent to Russia in 2014. Russian media sources, Moscow plans to renew its embargo on Georgian products starting from 2015. Reportedly, the same restrictions will be imposed on Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and only members of the Eurasian Union like Armenia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will still be able to stay on the Russian market.

MP from the Parliamentary Majority, Gia Volski says in case Russia decides to use its economic levers against Georgia, this will drag the country into a deep crisis. MPs believe it is necessary to set up a special commission of economic experts to work on preventive activities.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Exports of Georgian wines reach record-breaking 59 million bottles in 2014

28.12.2014. Georgia’s wine export has reached 59 million bottles, a record-breaking figure in the past ten years, Russian news agency TASS quoted the Georgian ministry of agriculture. The 2014 figure outstripped the previous record of 2005 - 57 million bottles. According to the agency, as many as 88% of Georgia’s wine exports in 2005 went to Russia. In 2014, Russia accounted for 64% of Georgian wine exports. Other importers of Georgian wines in 2014 included European countries, China and Japan.

In 2013, as many as 23 million bottles of Georgian wines were exported to Russia, which accounted for about 49% of overall exports. In all, Georgia exported 47 million bottles of wine to 46 world countries in 2013.No Georgian wines were exported to Russia in 2007-2012. Exports were resumed in June 2013 and by the end of that year Russia was ranked first among importers of Georgian wines. The top five importers along with Russia were Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Poland.

Source

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Georgian wines titillate at reception in Korea

Photo: Korea Herald Georgian Embassy
by Joel Lee

28.12.2014. The last of this year’s embassy receptions fell on the eve of Christmas Eve, and befitting the seasonable occasion, featured red and white decorations and wine.

Tables full of Georgian wine and food enriched the flavors of the annual year-end reception organized by the Georgian and Ukrainian embassies at Lotte Hotel in Seoul last Tuesday, where wine lovers sampled Georgia’s finest spirits. A variety of homey Georgian cuisines ― highlighted by vegetable and herb dishes, grilled lamb and nutty pastry ― added texture to the fine wine-tasting and string-quartet performance.

“Georgian people have great pride about their wine, which goes beyond a popular drink. It is considered a ‘holy beverage,’ having a special place in the cultural life of people,” Minister Counsellor of the Georgian Embassy George Khabelashvili said.

Located east of the Black Sea between Russia and Turkey, Georgia has an extremely diverse climate ranging from humid and subtropical to dry and hot conditions. Its combination of moist air, scorching sunlight, water and wind give birth to a melange of flavors in wines, from full-bodied to lightweight ― the most varied in the world.

"The Korea Times": Envoy's Georgian wine push continues

by Kang Hyun-kyung

28.12.2014. On Tuesday, the Embassy of Georgia gave over 100 guests the opportunity to taste Georgian wines at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul. Among those who attended were former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan and foreign diplomats.

All were invited to explore dry, sweet and semi-sweet wines. The event was a collaboration co-hosted by the embassies of Georgia and Ukraine. The Ukrainian Embassy provided the food.

Georgian Ambassador Nikloz Apkhazava has energetically promoted Georgian wines since he arrived in Korea. Every year, the embassy has hosted wine-tasting events to help Koreans explore the unique tastes and flavors of its wines.

Thousands of winemakers in Georgia, mostly family-owned wineries, have produced wines for over 8,000 years based on unique methods using large clay jars called kvevri.

Friday, December 26, 2014

New Year and sparkling wines in Tbilisi

by Aleko Tskitishvili

26.12.2014. There could be no New Year table without sparkling wine. And if the New Year celebration is accompanied with sparkling wine from the famous Champagne Appellation, the feeling of satisfaction is doubled. However, good champagnes are still a deficit in Georgia and you can come across them only in a couple of specialized wine stores. This is why, when you start selecting wines for the New Year in Tbilisi, you will be more likely to choose from a range of sparkling wines.

The quality of Georgian sparkling wines is growing by the year. In wine stores, you can find several types of low, medium and high priced sparkling wines. Low priced sparkling wines are made in tanks and are bottled afterwards. The majority of medium and high priced sparkling wines are made using the classic bottling method. When tasting the latter, you will feel from the very first sip that this is how a sparkling wine should be made.

Of the Georgian sparkling wines, for New Year I would advise Winery Khareba’s 12-month-old semi-dry sparkling wine made with the classic bottling method using Tsitska grapes – an aromatic grape species from Imereti. The Satrapezo-Brut of Telavi’s Marani, and sparkling wines of Badagoni are also quite interesting.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Georgian wine exports on upward trend

25.12.2014. More Georgian wine is continuing to be exported to foreign countries, resulting in being exported highest volume of wine in 2014 in comparison to the past 20 years.

Georgia exported 59 million 0.75 litre bottles of wine, valued at $183 million USD to more than 40 countries across the world by December 15, the National Wine Agency said based on the latest state data.

However, wine exports volume has overtaken 2005 wine export data, a year before Russia banned Georgian wines.

Meanwhile, Russia has overtaken Ukraine as the largest importer of Georgian wine in the reported period after Russia lifted an embargo on Georgian wine last year. Russia imported 64 percent of Georgia’s total wine exports.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Wine market in Georgia

24.12.2014. The winemaking trade is driven by seasonal factors. Over 50% of the produced wines are recorded in the fourth quarter. Hence, it is not expedient to analyze quarter indicators. According to the 2013 declared indicators, Georgia produced 183381 tons of wine (including households wines), up 12.6% compared to the 2012 indicators.

The ratio of household wines made up 71.2% in 2013. The figure stood at 74.3% in 2012.

In 2013 about 170 winemaking companies used to operate in Georgia. JSC Telavi Wine Cellar ranked first in terms of turnover, JSC TbilVino was second and other companies ranked as follows:

Ten Top Winemaking Companies  2013

Annual Turnover




Vine and wine library opens in Tbilisi

24.12.2014. Georgia is very famous for its ancient and unique history of viticulture and wine-making. To gather and reveal all material describing Georgia’s divers wine history, Vine and Wine Library opened in the Georgia's National Library in Tbilisi, yesterday.

The Library provides enormous documentary source on viticulture and all about wine-making in Georgia.

Moreover, the Vine and Wine Library has a modern reading hall, where books in Georgian, English, French, German and Spanish are available.

The Library also contains unique archive of guidebooks about ampelography [botany that studies the cultivation of grapes], climate and soil.

Meanwhile, here is electronic encyclopedia about Georgian winemakers, as well as archive of magazines and newspapers on Georgian wine are provided at the Library.

Source (abridged)

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Schuchmann Wines' CSR: “Do Not Drive Drunk!”

23.12.2014. Top boutique winery Schuchmann Wines is starting a new campaign under the name “Do Not Drive Drunk” within the framework of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). At the same time the company is planning to continue in 2015 with all the CSR campaigns that it started in previous years. Schuchmann Wines spends about GEL 10,000 on CSR activities annually.

“Having a glass of Schuchmann wine with one’s dinner is always a perfect idea but not before driving,” said Nutsa Abramishvili, General Director of Schuchmann Wines Georgia. “As a wine company we feel a sense of responsibility for our society in terms of encouraging them not to drink drive. We are disturbed by the increased numbers of car accidents in the country and so started thinking about how to contribute to preventing car accidents in Georgia. The campaign Do Not Drive Drunk will unite several projects which will be implemented throughout the year 2015. I believe that this campaign will be long-term and will continue well into the future as well. The main goal of this campaign is to decrease the number of car accidents and to remind the Georgian population of the rules of responsible drinking in order to ensure their safety,” she added.

To improve education, save Georgian traditions and introduce Georgian wine-making to the world are the main goals covered by Schuchmann Wines’ CSR activities. Out of them, raising education is the top priority for the company, says Abramishvili, as educated and qualified people are the greatest benefit for both the company and the country’s economy as well.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Prime Minister: Wine tourism is important component of Georgia's development

22.12.2014 (Hvino News). Wine tourism is one the important components for the development of tourism in Georgia, - the Prime Minister of Georgia said during his visit in Gudauri. Today, the head of the government attended the event - "Wine City Gudauri 2014." He congratulated the opening of the season to the audience and noted that such events were important for the development of the resort together with the fact that they promoted the wine tourism.

"Nice that the Wine City celebrates the opening of the skiing season and hosts the visitors. Such events make the resort even more attractive, as we offer diversity to tourists," - Irakli Garibashvili said. The Prime Minister tasted the Georgian wines together with the guests of the event, according to Prime Minister's Press Service.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Georgian officials: Contrasiting views on effect of unstable Russian currency rate on country's exports

21.12.2014 (Hvino News). Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia said that devaluation of the Russian ruble will not have a negative impact on Georgian exports. Georgian exporters have recently been complaining about loss of profit and sales of Georgian wine in Russia because of the weakening Russian currency.

However, Georgia's president Georgi Margvelashvili said last Thursday that Georgia's economy has been buffeted by the Russian currency crisis and the Ukrainian conflict but it is still growing strongly. Margvelashvili spoke to Reuters from Strasbourg, where he watched the European Parliament ratify an EU-Georgia trade and cooperation accord, describing this as an important step toward Georgia's eventual goal of EU membership.

The Georgian economy was generally in good shape but had suffered some side effects from the plunge in the Russian rouble and the Ukraine crisis, he said in a telephone interview.

"The fluctuation of the rouble has hit some of our main products on the Russian market which are basically alcohol and beverages," Margvelashvili said.

"The products have become more costly in that market so for sure it has hit some of our wine production. It is not catastrophic, but we do feel the problems with the rouble," he said.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Friday, December 19, 2014

Wine Culture Foundation's Vivanco to support Georgia's wine museum

19.12.2014 (Hvino News). Wine museum project has been discussed at the meeting of Georgian government representatives with Mr. Santiago (Santi) Vivanco, founder of Wine Culture Foundation.

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, who initiated the idea of founding the wine museum, was present at the meeting with the representative of world famous Vivanco dynasty.

Santi Vivanco expressed his readiness to participate in the implementation of the Wine Museum Project in Georgia.

Created in 2001, the Vivanco's Foundation operates its Museum of Wine Culture, which was inaugurated by King of Spain Juan Carlos I in 2004.

"I am happy to support such an important project as the wine museum in Georgia, as your wine is a father of wines in the world. I think, everyone who loves wine should visit Georgia", - Santiago Vivanco said after the meeting.

The meeting was attended by the Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia, Deputy Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili and Ambassador of Georgia to Spain Zurab Pololikashvili.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Georgia-EU: Has Georgia made the grade?

19.12.2014. The European Parliament yesterday ratified the Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia. 490 deputies voted for the document, 76 were against, 57 deputies abstained. During the vote in the hall of the European Parliament were present the current president of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, and ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has been put on the wanted list in his country.

Economic expert Irakli Lekvinadze said what Georgia expects from the Association except the opening of borders. "This is a very important agreement for us, both politically and, of course, in economic terms. One of the points of the agreement is free trade, and for us this is very important. In the first place, of course, those companies that export their products from Georgia to Europe will benefit: before September 1, they paid customs tariff, from September 1 this tariff does not exist. This will affect those Georgian companies that export wine and various fruit concentrates to the EU, providing additional revenue. This is one of the benefits that we got in Georgia after ratification of the treaty," the expert said.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

2014: Hvino publishes the 3-rd Media Rating of Georgian Wine Companies

17.12.2014. (Hvino News).  Since 2012 in the end of each year Hvino News calculates the Media Rating of Georgian Wine Companies. In 2014, for the third time in a row Hvino News prepares its analytic report, which is now based on 3 years of our global media monitoring. This year's result has become known today.

The new leader of Media Rating is Marussia Georgia (with brand names Chateau Mukhrani, Tamada, Old Tbilisi). Congratulations to Marussia Georgia!

The former ratings' leader Tbilvino went down to second place.

Telavi Wine Cellar (Marani) has made a huge progress in 2014, rising from 7-th place to "Bronze".

Teliani Valley, the "Silver" winner of 2012 and 2013, has fell by two positions and is on 5-th place, which it shares with Winery Khareba and Wine Man.

The number of mentions of other companies can be seen from the table (click on the image to enlarge).

Last years' Media Rating results can be found here and here. Our media data includes both the international English-language media monitoring and the articles published by Hvino News under its own copyright. Hvino News was the first to conduct regular media analysis of Georgian wine industry.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Devaluation of the ruble caused damage to Georgian exporters

17.12.2014. The devaluation of the Russian ruble caused damage to Georgian exporters.

Georgian businessmen constantly focused on the possible political risks in doing business in Russia are in danger for an entirely different reason - the rapid devaluation of the ruble significantly affected the solvency of the population, as a result, the sales of Georgian companies fell sharply.

According to the CEO at Tbilvino George Margvelashvili, depreciation of the ruble leads to a rise in price of imported goods.

"Our partners have to hike prices, and this hinders trade networks to take products. Therefore, importers have to reduce supply. If all continues in the same manner in 2015, our exports to Russia will be quite modest, "- he notes.

Nutsa Abramishvili, CEO at Schuchmann Wines, has the same opinion. "As a rule, in December, in the New Year's period, the demand for wine in Russia is traditionally very high, but this year the consumer activity was on the rise in September-October. Due to the economic situation in Russia, in the 4th quarter we fulfilled the export plan to this country only by 50%. In general, devaluation of the ruble weakens importers, who are afraid to buy Georgian wine in large quantities. Today, no one can predict what will happen in the future, "- she says.

The financial crisis in Russia has created problems to Capma, Georgian producer of canned food and juices. According to Lasha Pkhadadze, the company’s CEO, at this stage there are serious problems with exports to Russia which are associated with the devaluation of the ruble.


    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Georgian winemakers expand export geography

17.12.2014 (Hvino News). In 2015, Georgian wine companies plan to expand their sales markets, according to a review published by Georgian Kommersant.

According to George Margvelashvili, CEO at Tbilvino, in the coming year the company for the first time will begin exporting to Australia, Panama, and Cuba.

In his words, a forecast concerning Russian market is adverse due to the economic crisis in Russia.

"Russia accounts for only 25% of our company’s exports, so we are not dependent on the Russian market. With regard to the European Union, it is a stable market but we do not have a particular sales growth in Europe. In the long term this is a very serious market, but at this stage we do not expect growth, "- he says.

Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking company representative says  they started successfully export to Thailand, and in 2015 it is planned to start exporting to another Asian country, although they did not specify to which.

Marani Khetsuriani company says that in 2015 it is planned primarily to increase sales of wine in the local market as well as exports to the EU, Asia, and Russia.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Monday, December 15, 2014

Gaanatlos Ruben Tkeshelashvili!

15.12.2014. Some may know him as "The General," others, simply as Ruben.  He was a qvevri wine maker in Racha, a mountainous region in the Republic of Georgia known for a semi-sweet red wine called Khvanchkara. We were visiting Iago's Winery last weekend when I happened to mention to my friend Irakli that he really needed to pay a visit to Ruben before he died. Iago told us he had died two days ago.  I think he was a national treasure.  I had the honor of visiting his marani last October with my Rachan guide Natia and my friend Nicoletta.  I went to Racha to lean how to make a bean pastry called lobiani, but I was also on a mission to meet Ruben.  We visited him unannounced one morning and he was there, in his camouflaged glory, grumbling to himself about the inconvenience. A grumpy, opinionated old man whose eyes sparkled with the joy of living.

He was alone now, but he spoke proudly of his highly educated granddaughter who spoke perfect English.  His qvevri were buried under about a foot of mud. He placed some snacks on a table in his marani and then went to work to open one for us with the help of local young vigneron, Aleco Sardanashvili.  They poured the luscious and precious wine into a doki, with small glasses that resembled Turkish tea glasses, we toasted to our health, to Georgia, to our families and many other ideas and things.  Natia informed me we had to toast and accept the wine and to drink it with him or we would be breaking all the laws of hospitality. By about 11am, I was completely inebriated. He poured another doki, and we, his guests, had to toast. Passing the toasting to another person in Georgian is called alaverdi (like the wine making monastery in Kakheti).

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Georgian grapevine in Brazil - Olá Usachelari!

Photo: vinoge.com
by Nina Akhlouri

14.12.2014. About 4 years ago, James Carl, a Brazilian acupuncturist, could not imagine that winemaking would become a significant part of his life. Indeed, as he told us, one never knows “where your heart may lead you.” A growing interest in winemaking led him to start studying catalogs and scientific articles on grape varieties as well as climatological findings of the South of Brazil. James’ interest was soon drawn to indigenous varieties from Greece, Georgia and Portugal. He came to the conclusion that the most resistant varieties to his country’s climate conditions were Georgian and Portuguese ones (for humid and mountainous regions) as well as Greek varietals (for hot regions).

“My heart was captured especially by Georgian grapes, by their aroma and unique taste. I also realized that Georgian varieties would not be challenged by the humid conditions of the region. After all, in Brazil, we constantly strive against moisture. Therefore, I contacted the Georgian Embassy in Brazil and asked them to help me get in touch with a researcher of Georgian grapevines. They gave me a phone number of professor David Magradze. Since 2012, we have been in contact with each other every now and then,” James told us.

During that time he was introduced to José Ayub, the owner of Campos de Cima winery, which is located on the Western Border of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, near the borders with Argentina and Uruguay. The Ayub family produced their first wines from their own grapes in 2006. The vineyards have an elevation of 180 meters, located in the Pampas. They only started building their own winery in 2012. It is a boutique winery with a small production, aiming for high quality wines. Carl and Ayub, along with Michel Fabre, a French winemaker, hope that Georgian grapevine will suit the terroir of Pampas, which has hot weather conditions during summer and low temperatures in winter.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Tbilvino wine to sell in Poland's largest retail chain

12.12.2014 (Hvino News). On December 4th Biedronka began sales of Alazani Valley red medium sweet wine produced by Tbilvino under the Didebuli trade mark.  This is the first time Biedronka sells Georgian wine in its shops.

Biedronka is the biggest chain of supermarkets in Poland with (nearly 2,400 shops and 37,000 employees), owned by the Portuguese company Jerónimo Martins. Literally, the name translates as ladybug, which is the logo of the company. It is one of the best recognized companies in Poland (98% of the population).

© Hvino News, company news

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Thursday, December 11, 2014

How a CD in the state of Virginia led to a wine rebirth in the country of Georgia

Photo PRI.org/Bruce Wallace
by Bruce Wallace

11.12.2014. John Wurdeman grew up in Richmond, Virginia — and that’s where he happened upon a CD that would change his life.

It was a collection of traditional music from Georgia, a tiny country in the Causcasus Mountains south of Russia. Today he lives there, and has devoted his life to preserving Georgian songs, food and even wine, at his vineyard, Pheasant’s Tears.

Here's Wurdeman's story in his own, lightly edited, words:

In 1991, I skated to this alternative record shop, and there was a CD in the front of the row called “Georgian Folk Music Today.” So I bought it, popped it in the stereo, and was just blown away by the harmonies.

That’s how it all started.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Georgia exports wine to 46 countries

06.12.2014. The number of countries importing Georgian wine is increasing, resulting in more Georgian wine being exported and enjoyed all around the globe.

From January 1 to November 30, Georgia exported wine to 46 countries, reported the National Wine Agency of Georgia (NWA).

Georgia exported 55.2 million 0.75 litre bottles of wine, valued at $174 million USD.

Of this, Russia obtained 35.2 million bottles, which was 63 percent of total exports, NWA said based on latest state data.

Wine exports increased in both volume and in value in the first 11 months of the year.

"Snooth": New Georgian winery opens with help of government funding

by James Duren

06.12.2014. It's been a good year for wine in the European country of Georgia. Earlier this year the European Union ended import tariffs on the country, and news from the nation earlier this year revealed a new winery opened in Keda with the help of the equivalent of $600,000 USD given to the winery by Georgia's Agriculture Management Agency, Georgian wine news agency Hvino reported in late November [See: Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking opened new plant HN].

“The plant is equipped with (the) latest technologies and an international-standard chemical laboratory,” Hvino reported. “The factory will process grapes collected from (the) Guria and Adjara regions.”

Construction on the winery began in April, Hvino reported. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili “opened the plant and addressed the public at the ceremony with a speech”, Hvino wrote.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Schuchmann Wines reduces wine exports to Russia

05.12.2014. Georgian wine company Schuchmann Wines has expanded export markets - in particular, the company starts selling products in Mongolia, Japan, and Cyprus.

According to the CEO Nutsa Abramishvili, sales in Russia have reduced due to the company’s entry into other markets. It is expected that in 2015 the company’s total exports will amount to 1.5 million bottles.

"The entry into several very difficult but very promising for the country markets will allow to popularize Georgian wine and Georgia as a whole. Our company intends to export mainly wine produced with traditional Georgian method using kvevri. Development of wine-making means the development for the country as a whole, "- Nutsa Abramishvili notes.

Source

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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Exports of traditional Georgian giant wine jugs increased

05.12.2014. After a traditional Georgian giant jugs for the production and storage of wine - kvevri - were recognized as a cultural monument by UNESCO, winemakers are seeing an increase in popularity not only wine produced in this way, but also kvevri abroad.

Furthermore, their shortage is even being observed.

Georgian pitchers received a monument status in 2013. Read more here: Georgian qvevri wine-making method approved for UNESCO's Intangible Heritage List.

The then Deputy Minister of Culture of Georgia Marina Mizandari stated that such status obliges the country not only to protect kvevri, but also to promote this method of wine production.

"The status of a monument of culture is very important in terms of marketing, because finding kvevri in the list of UNESCO cultural heritage makes it more recognizable globally," - she said.

House of Wine company claims that the wine produced in kvevri has several advantages, although the status by UNESCO did not affect their work. According to the company’s manager Maya Nodia, kvevris are interesting to a narrow circle of people interested in winemaking.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Georgian wine prices to rise in Russia

04.12.2014. Will the ruble’s depreciation cause a hike  in prices of  Georgian wine on the Russian market? What risks are the Georgian winemakers talking about and what are  the Russian side’s requirements? At this stage  exporting companies have already received the first messages from  the Russian partners.

Georgian wine price will rise on the Russian market – the Georgian winemakers forecast in the backdrop of  the Russian ruble’s devaluation.

Exporting companies say they have already received the first messages from  the Russian partners.

Georgian winemakers name several reasons for wine price increase.  The main one is  the record-beating increase of prices registered during a vintage. Price for  saperavi grapes was GEL  2.5  per kg in 2014 which is about 50%  higher than in 2013. It is also important that this year up to  90 companies  have purchased  an unprecedented number of overall crop (119 052 tons).

The Sommelier Association states that the ruble’s devaluation does not affect sales at this point. However, the Georgian businessmen will have  to raise prices and  revise a volume  of export products in the future.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

"Chicago Tribune": Nation of Georgia a religious experience in many ways

by Terri Colby

03.12.2014. Bordered by the Black Sea, Turkey and the Caucasus Mountains, this small country of 4 million people is more popular with Russian and European tourists than with North Americans, who must make a flight connection in Europe to reach Georgia. It was one of the first countries to adopt Christianity, which means amazing churches to explore, and Orthodox Christianity now is the state religion, practiced by 85 percent of the population.

Wine truly is a religious experience: Christianity was brought here in A.D. 337 by a 12-year-old nun carrying a cross made from branches of grape vines. Nearly every family home in the countryside — and even some in the cities — has a small vineyard for producing wine for family use. Forget about barrels: Georgian wine is produced in clay pots known as a qvevri (pronounced kwe-ver-ee) and buried underground.

Fermented along with the grape skins, the unfiltered organic wines have a high tannin content and a complexity that makes even the white wines stand up to richer foods.

"Decanter": Georgia government backs wine industry revival

by Eugene Gerden

03.12.2014. Georgia's government has agreed to fund a new winery that is set to be one of the country's largest, as part of plans to overhaul the sector and increase exports.

Government funding will be provided to build a new winery in the area of Keda, in Adjara, a ministry of agriculture spokesperson told Decanter. [This winery in Keda has been opened on November 22, read here: Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking opened new plant - HN].

Financial details were not disclosed, but the winery is set to have a processing capacity of 12,000 tonnes of grapes per year and this could be increased further in future. More wineries could also be funded in future.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Georgian chacha wins silver award in Chicago

02.12.2014 (Hvino News). On Nobember 26th Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) in Chicago awarded Silver Medal to Marani Chacha Saperavi. Chacha is Georgian type of grappa.

BTI's resume for the winning Georgian spirit reads: "Clear color. Complex, spicy aromas of fruit cake, praline, and roasted nuts with a soft, bright, dry-yet-fruity light body and a breezy cream of wheat, malted vanilla honey milkshake, and papaya finish. A tasty, elegant grappa".

The Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) is a marketing service company that provides reviews for spirits, wines, and beers. The judging ratings range from 96 to 100. BTI uses a tasting lab in Chicago.

© Hvino News

    Georgian Wine Catalogue      
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