We recently went back to the Napa Valley Wine Academy to enroll into the level 1 Wine course. While on the site we noticed a free class being offered on the Wines of Georgia. When Alex told me about the class I initially thought we were talking about the state but I later found out we were learning about the country. Apparently, I should have picked up on this being the only class available in English that is officially endorsed by the Georgia National Wine Agency.
The class introduced us to the history of wine in Georgia, the grapes grown there, and how Georgian wine has grown over the years to become a larger international export.
Did you know that Georgian was in the middle of the Silk Road? There is archeological evidence that wine was produced in that area over 8000 years ago. After Georgia split from the Soviet Union their key wine export country was Russia. However, Russia enacted an embargo on Georgia which led to the country looking for other places to export its wine to. It also set off a revival in Georgia of producing their wine in the more traditional way, otherwise known as Qvervi.
Georgia produces over 500 grape varieties and due to its array of different climates, they are able to produce many different wine varieties.
Georgia is a country with a long history of winemaking, and it boasts several Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for its wines. PDOs are used to denote wines from specific regions that possess unique characteristics and quality. Some of the well-known PDOs for wine in Georgia include Khvanchkara, Kindzmarauli, Mukuzani, Tsinandali, and Napareuli. These PDOs help consumers identify and appreciate the unique qualities of Georgian wines and provide protection to the producers who adhere to strict regulations to ensure the quality and authenticity of their wines. Georgian wines are therefore well worth exploring for wine enthusiasts who appreciate the diversity of wine.
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