Uncork Your

Prepared by National Wine Agency, Tbilisi, Georgia

Mind…

HISTORY…

• Cultivated grape pips found on Georgian territory date back 8000 years considered to be the only proof nowadays in the world that wines started here.

• More than 500 out of 2000 grape varieties in the world are indigenous to Georgia.

• Georgian method of winemaking – The Qvevri Method, i.e. clay vessel.

• Numerous artefacts dating back IV-III and older found evidence Georgia as the oldest wine country.

• Nowadays, about 25 varieties are used in the industry.

• Hugh Johnson, OBE: "Georgia has produced the earliest evidence of wine selection and hence the emergence of the cultivated variety: Vitisvinifera sativa. Carbon-dating puts this change to domestication at about 5,000-6,000 BC.“

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…

WINE MAP

40,000 ha vineyards today,down from 150,000 haduring Soviet times

Yield 115,000 tons p/a nowadays

Whites account for 75 % with reds – 25%

Total 15 AOC

MAIN WINE AREAS – SOUTH/EAST

Main varieties used are Rkatsiteli, Mtsvaneand Saperavi

This is the main area accounting for 70% of the yield

Total 12 AOC

AOC – Appellation d’Origin Controlle

MAIN WINE AREAS - WEST

The area where famous Khvanchkara and other semi sweet wines are made

Khvanchkara grape varieties – Aleqsandrouliand Mujuretuli

Common white varieties are Tsitska, Tsolikauri, Chinuriproducing fresh wines with fruity aroma

Total 3 AOC

MAIN GRAPE VARIETIES

• Rkatisteli white – indigenous Georgian variety, thick skin produces wines rich with tannins, has tangy vigorous nature and aging potential.

• Mtsvane white – indigenous Georgian variety, with strong varietal aroma produces soft fresh and crisp wines; makes good blend with Rkatisteli.

• Saperavi red – indigenous Georgian variety, the veins on flesh are red, produces wines with full body, rich tannins and intensive ruby colour; has natural acidity

QVEVRI – THE GEORGIAN METHOD• The Qvevri – clay vessel dug into the soil

inside Marani (Wine Cellar).

• The grape crushed into the wooden crusher with the juice running down to the Qvevri. The skin is also used during fermentation process which continues for 6 months. After 6 months wines are moved to another Qvevrifor the wine to be cleaned and matured for 2 years.

• Wine gets “orange” colour, full of tannins and natural vigour.

TYPICAL CONSUMPTION

• Georgians consume wine mainly on the celebration days like birthdays, big holidays, friends gatherings, etc.

• The tables, called Supra are laid with number of food and of course wine with so called the head of table or toastmaster, Tamada.

• There are number of toasts proposed by Tamada obligatory to be drunk among other members of the table.

• Numerous drinking vessels could be used besides glasses – Kantsi (the horn), azarpesha, chinchila, etc

• The table usually is accompanied by folk songs sung by the members of the table.

WINE PRODUCTION, MILLION LITRES

28

43

2622

27

38 40

0

10

20

30

40

50

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

• Average ratio : whites – 80%, reds – 20%.• Kakheti – the majority of the vintage, more than 90%.• Basic grape variety – Rkatsiteli for whites and Saperavi for reds,

with 75% and 25% respectively.

EXPORT DYNAMICS, IN ‘000 0,75 L BOTTLE

57380

19524

11108

12192

1096814850

19027 23342

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

TURNING POINT

According to IWSR, local wine consumption in Georgia as of 2012 amounted to ~70 mlnlitres.

Russian ban caused slump down from 57 mln 0,75 btls to 23 mln0,75 btls as of today, however growth observed since 2009 onwards.

China, Poland and Canada being promising export destinations. Before ban Russia accounted for 90% of exports.

AOC exports account for 25% of total

EXPORTS, IN 0,75 L BOTTLES, AS OF END, 2012

11,044,6674,429,223

1,553,360

1,135,456

1,203,322

1,022,568

737,190

398,754

371,368

247,256

109,390

265,039

131,156

105,860

586,786

Ukraine

Kazakstan

Belorussia

Poland

China

Latvia

Lithuania

Azerbaijan

Estonia

USA

Israel

Germany

Canada

Japan

The Rest

GROWTH 23% VS LAST YEAR’S SAME PERIOD REACHING

23,341,395 BOTTLES (0,75 L )

EXPORTS BY COUNTRIES, 2012

Ukraine

49%

Kazakstan

15%

Belorussia

7%

Poland

5%

China

6%

Latvia

5%

Lithuania

4%

Azerbaijan

2%

Estonia

1%

USA

1%

Israel

1%

Germany

1%

Canada

1%Japan

0% The Rest

2%