Behind Georgia’s 8,000-Year-Old Winemaking Tradition (Video)
Georgia boasts an unparalleled winemaking legacy, stretching back an astonishing eight millennia. Research reveals that this land birthed the art of winemaking, nurturing over 40 vineyards today. The distinctive Georgian approach stands as the world's oldest, commencing millennia ago. The secret? Indigenous grape varieties—525 in number, yet 25 used for widespread production. What sets Georgian techniques apart? Fermentation with grape skins and age-old clay vessels, kvevri, buried deep for temperature control.
Unlike modern methods, these vessels remain stable due to subterranean placement, harnessing nature's finesse. An essence of rarity permeates Georgian wine, owed to this unconventional process. Beyond the wine itself, Georgian hospitality flourishes, welcoming guests with open arms. Upholding these age-old methods becomes crucial, a torch to pass down through generations. In preserving tradition, Georgia safeguards not just a taste, but a connection to ancestral roots.
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Top image: Winemaking in Georgia. Source: lobodaphoto / Adobe Stock.
