Six Georgian wine companies on show in New York

Georgia is shedding light on its rich wine culture and traditions in New York - the United States’ (US) major commercial, financial and cultural centre.

This week the RAW WINE international wine fair hosted six Georgian wine companies at a special exhibition in New York where artisans, wine importers, wine producer associations, trade professionals and wine enthusiasts were invited to taste Georgian qvevri-made wine.

Qvevri is a large, ancient Georgian winemaking vessel made of clay and this traditional winemaking method has been passed down from generation to generation, and even today remains widespread in Georgia.

The RAW WINE fair aimed to showcase the growers whose unique farming methods and cellar philosophies make these living wines possible.

More than 100 guests attended the wine fair in New York. Photo by Wines of Georgia. 

The following Georgian wine companies participated in the RAW WINE fair:

1. Gotsa Wines
2. Winery Nika
3. Pheasant's Tears
4. Our Wine
5. Orgo
6. Amiran Vepkhvadze Winery

Within the wine fair famous American wine writer Alice Feiring presented her book For the Love of Wine: My Odyssey Through the World's Most Ancient Wine Culture, which tells an emotional tale of Georgia.

The book shares stories of the Georgian people who have survived religious wars and Soviet occupation yet always managed to keep hold of their precious wine traditions. Embedded in the narrative is the hope that Georgia has the temerity to confront its latest threat— modernisation.

American wine writer Alice Feiring presents her new book about Georgian wine. Photo by Wines of Georgia. 

One of America's leading media outlets, the New York Times, published several excerpts from the book including one segment where the author says Georgia was the cradle of wine with over 8,000 vintages and a creator of high quality amber wines.

Georgian wine is one of Georgia's most promising products exported to the US.

Already this year Georgia exported 235,000 bottles of wine to the US – a 12 percent increase year-on-year, said the Georgian National Wine Agency.