Hvino posted videos on Georgian Wine Catalogue

Hvino has posted "how-to" videos about the use of its online Georgian Wine Catalogue.  The videos were recorded at a wine shop in Signagi, Kakheti region, Georgia.  The videos are available in English and Russian, and in high definition (HD) as well. Hvino's new videos were posted in its social network pages such as Facebook and YouTube. Hvino's new YouTube channel was created for that purpose.

Hvino's Georgian Wine Catalogue,  widely covered by mass media (see here), is the first online guide on high-quality Georgian wines. The Catalogue is targeted primarily at consumers who buy Georgian wines in the world's wine stores.

Retail education: not the Georgia of peaches, but the Georgia of wine and walnuts

by Harriet Lembeck

26.09.2014. If you really care about wine, you should think seriously about making the journey to the country of Georgia. You will experience true hospitality, tradition, winemaking, and still be close enough to the Black Sea’s famed resorts when you are ready to relax. And if you like to ski, there are the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains right there as well. FYI, I have just returned from a visit, and saw no sign of any of the unrest that’s been in the news lately. There is instead a sense of calm and welcoming.

To the Georgians, a guest is a gift from God. And the best way to greet a guest is to serve one’s own wine, made from one’s own grapes. No patch of land goes vacant, and grapes grow on what elsewhere might be a lawn. Further, every home winemaker has a still, and he will also pour you his clear pomace brandy, or Chacha.

If you go to a Georgian banquet, dishes will be continually placed on the table, and nothing will be cleared until the end – in case the guest might want a little more of anything! Walnuts are the preferred stuffing for confections, fruits, vegetables and even boned fish. Meals are leavened with toasts. The toastmaster shows gratitude for the Creator, for food, for friendships, for all the women, for beauty, for love, for people who have passed away and for the children looking to the future.

Georgian wines presented at International Wine and Sprit Tasting in London

26.09.2014. The British Georgian Chamber of Commerce with the support of the Georgian Embassy in the UK and the Georgian National Wine Agency participated in the 6th edition of the International Wine and Spirit Tasting held on September 16 in London.

Organized annually by the French Chamber of Commerce in the UK, the event this year featured 11 different Chambers representing their selection of wines and other drinks.

Apart from tasting wines and drinks from Argentina, Austria, Canada, France, Georgia, Hungarian, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, the event offered an excellent chance to meet members from other Chambers.

The venue featured many different guests including wine makers, critics, journalists and businessmen, who were not only interested in tasting international wines and spirits, but also in representing countries, people, their culture and traditions.

According to the organizers, the Georgian stand, which attracted many intrigued visitors, featured companies such as Besini, Telavi Wine Cellar, GWS, Chateau Mukhrani, Kindzmrauli Marani and Lagvinari.

Control tightens over alcoholic beverages

25.09.2014. From  January 1, 2015 control will be tightened in restaurants over wine. What does the tightening of controls mean and how will  the National Food Agency conduct monitoring  - Zurab Chekurashvili, head  of the National Food Agency, answers Commersant's questions.

 - On what principle do  you choose products  to check? 

The point is that by order of the Minister, we strengthen the quality control plan each year and it concerns all kinds of food.

This year we have a control plan, according to which, we take samples to test.

- If you plan to tighten control and in what direction? It was reported that inspection of falsified wine would begin in the restaurants. 

 From next year, we’ll also tighten control over chacha.

This year  more than a hundred samples will be taken across the country throughout the year, and  then will be transferred to the laboratory.

Saperavi not to be subsidized, while other subsidies for grapes to be reduced

22.09.2014. Wine companies talk about a hike in the price of grapes and note that the price is so high this year that they cannot buy a large volume of grapes.

Whether or not the government plans to subsidize the grapes next year? Georgian radio Сommersant asked this question to the Minister of Agriculture Otar Danelia.

 - How is the process of harvesting carried out, whether the rise in prices is observed in the market and why?

Saperavi delivery is almost completed, rkatsiteli grapes are being delivered for a few days. Vintage is underway without hindrances, I do not want to talk about the price, but I would say that the record price is fixed this year, especially for saperavi. The minimum price starts from GEL 1.

- As for the damaged grapes, last year they were purchased by the state owned companies “Gruzvinprom" and "Acura”. What will be the share of these companies if they buy the damaged grapes this year?

The state will purchase grapes damaged by hail this year again. We assume that the state's share will not be too large.

- What will be the price of Khvanchkara this year and if price control is carried out ? 

Tbilvino wins gold at Mundus Vini summer tasting

20.09.2014 (Hvino News). 2012's Saperavi Special Reserve by Tbilvino has won the gold award at Mundus Vini 2014 Summer Tasting in Germany. This is an excellent new achievement of Georgia's winemakers, and yet another sign of internationl recognition of Georgian progress in winemaking.

Earlier Hvino News reported about two silver medal winners from Georgia, which were also awarded at the same prestigious competition: Telavi Wine Cellar's Marani Karani Kindzmarauli Bio 2012 and Marani Kondoli Vineyards Saperavi 2011.

© Hvino News

Georgian Wine Catalogue

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Prime Minister in the family of winemaker in Kakheti

20.09.2014 (Hvino News) "This year, additional 4 thousand hectares of new vineyards have been planted, which confirms that the development of the wine industry is one of our main priorities",- Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said during his visit to the family house of winemaker Soso Turiashvili in the village of Kardenakhi on September 18.

As prime minister said, the development of the wine industry will contribute to the development of agriculture, and will support the village and the farmer in Georgia, also will increase people's income, and finally will contribute to the prosperity of the country.

As Soso Turiashvili said, his family has only half a hectare of vineyard and this year he has processed 4 tons of grapes. The winemaker expressed satisfaction regarding the price of grapes and said that last year, he sold kilogram of grapes at 1 GEL and this year -  at 1.50 GEL.

Prime Minister said, that as result of last year's vintage in the regions of Kakheti and Racha-Letchkhumi during the last 20 years, most of grapes have been processed by companies - more than 92 thousand tons. "This is a record rate and we can really be proud of it," - the Prime Minister stated.

© Hvino News

Georgian Wine Catalogue

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Resurgence of Georgia’s viticultural heritage excites wine connoisseurs

by Maya Jaggi

19.09.2014. In an austere sixth-century Georgian monastery in the south Caucasus surrounded by vineyards, bearded monks sing in soaring harmony over a hole in the ground. An oenologist in a white cape and carrying a ceremonial sword joins in, while a Russian film crew looks on with hushed awe. The monks unseal a huge clay amphora of new wine, buried up to its neck, in an ancient ceremony both sacred and festive. Poured into plain earthenware drinking bowls by a brother on one knee, the amber wine has a fresh, bounteous earthiness – cause, indeed, for song.

The Alaverdi monastery in the Alazani Valley boasts the country’s oldest working marani (wine hall), dating from the 11th century. Less than two hours’ drive from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, it stands in Kakheti, the easternmost region of forested mountains and meadows, bordered by Russia and Azerbaijan, where three-quarters of Georgian wine is produced. The ancient hilltop churches and modest houses, with donkey carts and sheep sharing the roads, might suggest rustic neglect. But Kakheti is a window on a resurgent industry.

Georgian wine was to Russians what French wine was to other parts of Europe. “Kakhetian and Karabakhi are worth several burgundies,” wrote Alexander Pushkin in 1829. Journeying through the Caucasus, the poet noted how Georgians kept wine in “huge jars buried in the ground. These are opened with great ceremony. Recently, a Russian dragoon secretly unearthed one of these jars, fell inside and drowned in Kakhetian wine, like the unfortunate Clarence in the butt of malmsey.” The love affair continued in the Soviet era. In 1945, the Georgian-born Stalin toasted Churchill and Roosevelt at Yalta with his favourite Khvanchkara semi-sweet red.

Gori hosts 2nd annual Wine Festival

19.09.2014. To enable Georgian traditional wine-makers (WMs) to popularize their home-made wines, the Georgian Traditional Wine Federation (GTWF) hosted Gori Wine Festival (GWF) on September 14. The event, now an emerging tradition, took place for the second year with a cultural gathering in the heart of Kartli region, featuring wine producers and other interested visitors from across the country. The festival featured exclusively made traditional domestic wines from different regions such as Imereti, Racha, Lechkhumi, Meskheti and Kakheti.

Accompanied by a jazz band Kanudos, the event was full of color with an exhibition and fair of various hand-made crafts and diverse home-made products, including honey.

Gori Wine Fest aims to develop original Georgian wines on domestic and international markets, encouraging small wine producers to popularize Georgian wine worldwide. Moreover, promoting a culture of family-wine making has the purpose of restoring and maintaining some endemic varieties of Georgian grapes. Additionally, this event increases public awareness and appreciation of Georgian wine and promotes and markets Georgian wine internationally. GTWF supports scientific research and education in viticulture and wine making, and the development of the wine tourism sector in Georgia.

Prime Minister at the Vintage 2014 Coordination Staff

Photo: Prime Minister's Press Service

19.09.2014 (Hvino News). "This year will be more wealthy; we will protect the interests of both entrepreneur and a wine producer, a vintage will be better this year than it was last year," Prime Minster  Irakli Garibashvili stated while visiting the Coordination Staff of "Vintage 2014" in Gurjaani, Kakheti, on September 18.

As vintage is in active phase in Kakheti, approximately 60 000 tons of grapes have been processed. Pursuant to the decision of the government of Georgia, this year, similar to previous year in order to support vine-growing and wine-making, white grape as well as red grape was subsidized. Based on the analysis of market demand and supply, the subsidy per 1 kg of rkatsiteli is 0,35 GEL, while per 1 kg of saperavi it is 0,35 GEL.

According to the prime minister, properly planned and implemented projects by the Ministry of Agriculture and National wine agency in 2013-2014 became the reason for the successful vintage. Irakli Garibashvili noted that the state company buys the damaged grapes from drought and hail, which is very significant for farmers.

‘'The previous government forced farmers to cut vine, and population had to sell grapes at a very low price. This year, each family received a significant income as a result of grapes sale. In some cases the income reached 100-200 thousand GEL. It represents the result of our state approach and promotes the region to develop,''- Irakli Garibashvili stated.

Eastern Georgian farmers enjoy plentiful grape harvest

18.09.2014. Local farmers will soon produce Georgia’s world-famous wine as the grape harvesting season gets in full swing.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibahsvili picked some grapes when he met wine industry insiders at Georgia’s famous wine-making region Kakheti today.

"Based on today’s data, we can safely say that this year will be even more abundant [than in the past],” the PM said.

"We will protect the interests of both entrepreneurs and winemakers.”

More than 50,000 tonnes of grapes has already been processed across the country. So far the total income made by farmers exceeded 50 million GEL.

"Farmers hand the grapes over to wine companies at unprecedentedly high prices without any hindrance,” Garibashvili said.

Marani wines win silver at Mundus Vini

16.09.2014 (Hvino News). Two Georgian wines by Telavi Wine Cellar (Marani) have won silver medals at prestigious competition Mundus Vini 2014 Summer Tasting in Germany. The prizes were awarded to:

• Marani Karani Kindzmarauli Bio 2012 
• Marani Kondoli Vineyards Saperavi 2011

Earlier this year three other Georgian wines had also received silver awards at Mundus Vini Springtime tasting:

• Tamada Napareuli by Georgian Wines and Spirits Company 
• Tamada Mukuzani by Georgian Wines and Spirits Company 
• Chateau Mukhrani Reserve Du Prince white 2010 by Chateau Mukhrani

The Mundus Vini Great International Wine Award is one of the most prestigious wine awards in the world. It is held annually in Neustadt an der Weinstraße in Germany.


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Georgian Wine Catalogue

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Top boutique winery Schuchmann Wines supports luxury education activity in Georgia

15.09.2014. Those that are involved in the fashion industry in Georgia are set to benefit from a one-day master class given by expert in the luxury business Mr. Denis Morisset, on the topic: “Successful sales and service building in the luxury industry”. The event will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia, in the hotel Courtyard by Marriott on 18 September, 2014. New trends in the fashion industry, new strategies in successful branding on foreign as well as local markets, secrets to the success and profitability of luxury companies, as well as key problems of the industry and how to resolve them, are the main topics of the master class, which is being dedicated specially for Georgian fashion industry representatives.

The event will take place at the initiative of Luxor Management company, whose local partner is Schuchmann Wines Georgia. Amid the different parts of the evening, as well as during the degustation of different wines from alcohol partner Schuchmann Wines Company, participants will have the opportunity to network with colleagues in an informal atmosphere and to strengthen business contacts.

Around 50-60 people, managers and owners of boutiques, heads of sales departments, training managers as well as sales managers, will attend the master class.

Georgian winemakers purchased less grapes this year

15.09.2014. Due to the exorbitant prices, this year wine companies will buy less grapes than they expected. According to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of "Telavi Wine Cellar" Zurab Ramazashvili, because of too high prices, the management decided to purchase 1 000 tons less. "This year, the price of grapes is too high, and it creates a problem for winemakers.

Now we have to balance the price for the expense of our own harvest, "- the businessman notes. Director of "Badagoni" company Gia Shengelia also speaks about a decrease in the volume of procurement. In his words, the company planned to buy 7000 tons from farmers but due to the high prices, bought no more than 3200 tons.

The company "Marniskari" reduced its purchases to up to 3000 tons. According to the company’s Director Lasha Revazishvili, in terms of current prices it was impossible to continue the purchase. "It is possible that we will have to raise the price of the wine, as in recent time wine materials have become much more expensive," - he says.

Georgian wine exports on upward trend

12.09.2014. More Georgian wine is continuing to be exported as European countries strive to get their hands on Georgia’s liquid gold.

Georgia exported 36.5 million bottles of wine, valued at $118.4 million USD, to 38 countries from January 1 to August 30 this year, reported the National Wine Agency of Georgia (NWA).

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

In particular, the volume of wine exported grew by 69 percent, while the value surged by 83 percent compared to the same period of 2013.

Russia has overtaken Ukraine as the largest importer of Georgian wine in the first eight months of this year after Russia lifted an embargo on Georgian wine last year.

In the reported period Russia imported 65 percent of Georgia’s total wine exports.

Latest data showed Ukraine was the second highest importer of Georgian wine, followed by Kazakhstan, Poland, Belarus, China, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Azerbaijan.

Source

Georgian Wine Catalogue

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Georgia shortlisted to host international wine event

11.09.2014 (Hvino News). Georgia has been named as a potential candidate to host the General Assembly of International Sommelier Association (ASI) in 2016.

The final decision on where the Assembly will be held will be made through a voting process in June 2015 in Bordeaux, France. Two countries – Germany and Serbia – have been shortlisted alongside Georgia to host the prestigious event.

The Association united sommeliers, wine experts, critics, importer and exporter companies, distributors of wine, champagne, cognac and other drinks from 59 countries.

The ASI was founded in 1969 in the French city Reims and each year members gather to attend the annual meeting, which are usually hosted in Italy or France.

The Georgian Sommelier Association became a full member of the ASI this year.

© Hvino News

Georgian Wine Catalogue

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PM promises ‘well organised’ grape harvest season

10.09.2014. As summer draws to an end, the country’s grape harvest season is just beginning and experts are estimating more than 100,000 tonnes of grapes will be picked this year.

The country’s Prime Minister promised this year’s crop would be "well organised and distinguished” and 2014 would be marked by a degree of market self-regulation and establishment of an organisation which would reduce harvesting processing problems.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s announcement came during his visit to Kakheti, Georgia’s wine-making region, at the opening ceremony of a new wine factory today (read more here)

He said despite the current hot, sunny skies, weather problems earlier in the year negatively affected crops so this year’s yield was expected to be 15 percent less than 2013.

Prime Minister Garibashvili opened new plant of Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking in Kakheti

09.09.2014 (Hvino News). On Tuesday, September 9, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili opened new the wine plant of Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking company in the village of Velistsikhe, Kakheti region.

"In this wonderful place we are opening another excellent plant. This makes me very happy, because this is another successful project ... This enterprise will employ 100 people, which is very important for this region," - said Mr. Garibashvili.

According to him, the government will provide maximum support to the Georgian winemakers.

"The government will assist by all means to the development of this region. Winemaking in our country should become the most successful industry," - said the head of government.

He noted the importance of the opening of the Russian market for Georgian products. "We have opened markets. I want to highlight the Russian market, which was closed for our wine during several years. Opening of Russian market was great relief for our winemakers," - said Garibashvili.

© Hvino News

Georgian Wine Catalogue

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Georgian wine impresses at Austrian wine fair

05.09.2014. The unique taste of Georgian wine tickled the taste buds of Austrian wine lovers at one of the country’s leading wine fairs.

The Georgian embassy in Austria ran a Georgian wine stall at the Austrian Wine Fair, dedicated to the 900th anniversary of the Klosterneuburg Monastery – one of the architectural jewels of Austria.

The Klosterneuburg Monastery has been the centre of spiritual, economic, social and cultural life in the region for almost a thousand years. It is also Austria’s oldest and largest winery and as the country’s first carbon neutral wine producer, it continues to be one of the most visionary, Austrian wine experts said.

Since its establishment in 1114, the Monastery has cultivated vineyards and produced wine from its 266 acres, which spread out over four different villages in the region.

Representatives of Georgia’s Alaverdi Monastery, which continued to use an 11th Century method to produce "Wine of Monks”, were invited to the wine festival alongside famous European wine producers.

The Brotherhood of the Alaverdy Monastery gifted 72 bottles of traditional wine to the Klosterneuburg Monastery to thank it for inviting them to the international wine fair.

Source

Georgian Wine Catalogue

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