Foreign diplomats, defence attaches pick grapes in Kakheti

International Ambassadors to Georgia have been hosted in Georgia’s famous wine-producing region Kakheti by the country’s Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia.

The diplomats were given an opportunity to participate in rtveli, a traditional grape-picking process in Georgia, before tasting Georgian homemade cheese varieties. The Ambassadors then rubbed shoulders with Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and made churchkhela, a traditional Georgian snack made from nuts and grape juice.

Georgian cheese; Photo by the Foreign Ministry press office

The day began as Georgia’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania and Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze hosted defence attaches of foreign countries in rtveli in Kakheti.

Defence Minister Irakli Alasania picks grapes in Kakheti; Photo by Defence Ministry press office

The group took part in grape squeezing and wine-making process.

Foreign defence attaches make churchkhela, a traditional Georgian snack made from nuts and grape juice; Photo by Defence Ministry press office

The annual grape harvest is a big deal in Georgia. The country is one of the oldest wine regions in the world.

Traditional Georgian way of grape-squeezing; Photo by Defence Ministry press office 

The fertile valleys of the South Caucasus, which Georgia straddles, are believed by many archaeologists to be the source of the world's first cultivated grapevines and Neolithic wine production over 8,000 years ago.

The traditional Georgian style of winemaking using qvevri clay jars was listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.