Harvesting grapes Georgian style in French town of Antibes
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A Georgian grape harvest is in full swing in the French resort town of Antibes, where Georgian winemaker and businessman Ilia Kakhoidze is gathering his first harvest this year.
Together with Gerard Jermann from Corsica, Kakhoidze planted Georgian grape varieties Mujuretuli and Kakhuri Mtsvane on half a hectare of land in Antibes.
We took qvevris from Georgia [large, ancient Georgian winemaking vessels], winepress and all traditional attributes that Georgian winegrowers use to make wine. We made here a marani [a special site where qvevri and wine are kept]. Everyone can visit this place,” said Kakhoidze.
Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Agriculture.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Giorgi Chkheidze visited the Georgian vineyard in France and took part in the grape harvest process.
The way how Georgian and French winegrowers promote Georgian wine in Antibes has a completely different connotation. Georgian winemaking is the oldest culture and here it is shown perfectly,” said Chkheidze.
Children pressing wine in Georgian style winepress. Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Agriculture.
Georgia’s National Wine Agency says that 18.6 thousand tons of grapes have already been processed in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region.
As summer draws to an end Georgia’s grape harvest season is just beginning with experts estimating 150,000 tonnes of grapes this year will be picked.
Georgia is getting ready for the major harvest season during which more than a hundred thousand tonnes of grapes will be picked, packed and sold locally or exported.
Georgia has started creating cadastral maps of its vineyards, preparing alphanumeric information about viticulture and vineyards, including varieties and other characteristics.
Locals and tourists visiting Georgia’s wine region of Kakheti teamed up to harvest the grapes of over 400 varieties at a unique vineyard of Georgian wine company Shumi.
Around 500 hectares of vineyards in Kakheti have been affected by a recent bout of stormy weather.