Massachusetts venues to host Ghvino Forum on Georgian winemaking
This year's forum will involve a conference where historians, wine researchers and experts will speak about historical background of winemaking in Georgia and the 'qvevri' method of wine storage in clay vessels. Photo: Ghvino Forum organisers.
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Three venues in Massachusetts will open their doors for a historical introduction to and contemporary look at Georgian winemaking starting this Sunday, within the second edition of annual Ghvino Forum.
At the Harvard Faculty Club, Legal Sea Foods Park Square and City Winery Boston historians, wine professionals and industry figures will bring their insight into the thousands of years of winemaking culture on the territory of Georgia and modern Georgian wines.
A festival celebrating Saperavi wines and the traditional qvevri method for wine storage will be the key event of the first day of the forum before a conference and symposium takes over on Monday.
Following an opening by officials and diplomatic dignitaries, the conference will offer the attending audience an introduction into subjects including 8,000 years of wine culture on the territory of Georgia, the country's contemporary wine industry and an archaeological look at the diversity of grapes cultivated within its borders.
The forum will launch with the Georgian Wine Festival on October 27:
A number of the conference's historical talking points will refer to a 2017 international scientific study that saw scientists and historians pore over exhibits from archaeological items from Georgia - including grape seeds and clay vessels - to conclude that wine was being produced on the territory of the country as far back as about 6000 BCE.
The conclusion has been used by state wine agencies and cultural organisations in Georgia over the recent years for presenting the country as the cradle for winemaking, with exhibitions, industry events and festival exposure for the subject.
The conference at the Harvard Faculty Club will involve National Wine Agency of Georgia Chairman Levan Mekhuzla, University of Pennsylvania's Patrick McGovern, Master of Wine Lisa Granik, Laurent Bouby of the University of Montpellier and other speakers covering their topics of research on Georgian wine.
The final day of the forum on Tuesday will see visitors invited for trade tasting and seminar on the focus subject, with more details on locations, talks and panel discussions available on the events official website.
Launched last year, the Ghvino Forum is organised by the America Georgia Business Council with the aim of exploring winemaking cultures and promote Georgia's heritage in the field.