Georgian wine invades Asian market

Georgian wine tries to attract European as well as Asian customers.
Agenda.ge, 26 Feb 2015 - 14:10, Tbilisi,Georgia

After successfully delighting taste buds all over Europe, Georgian wine is continuing to make an impression around the world. Next destination – Asia.

Georgian wine is invading the Asian market and featuring at upcoming exhibitions in Japan and China, thanks to the efforts of Georgia’s National Wine Agency.

Six Georgian wine companies will be presented at the 40th International Food and Beverage Exhibition (FOODEX JAPAN) in Japan – the largest annual food and beverage tradeshow in Asia.

The expo established in 1975 and since then, the event has served Japan’s $700 billion USD food market as well as many lucrative Asian markets. More than 75,700 professional visitors attended FOODEX 2014, including more than 8,000 from Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

The four-day event will begin on March 3. Georgia’s participation in FOODEX JAPAN would increase the profile of Georgian wine and encourage more customers and tourists, said the Georgian side.

Wine companies that will feature at the Japanese event are: Kimerioni, Telavi Wine Cellar, Kakhuri, Kakhuri Wine Cellar, Shumi and Khareba.

Georgian wine is already gaining popularity in Asia. At the Sakura (Japan Women’s Wine Awards) exhibition in February, Georgian wine gained gold and silver medals after being reviewed by an expert female jury involving wine experts, importers, retailers, sommeliers, restaurateurs and wine journalists.

Meanwhile at the end of March Georgian wine will be showcased at the China Food and Drink Fair, where Georgian wine master classes will be held.

Raising the profile of Georgian wine in European and Asian countries was something the country’s National Wine Agency was actively pursuing.

In Europe, Georgian wine companies are gearing up to take part in Germany’s ProWein Düsseldorf exhibition for the 16th time. Later the focus will move down to Italy, to the town of Cerea in the Verona province, where Georgian wine will be exhibited with other natural wines from the world.

The Georgian National Wine Agency summarised February as a "very fruitful month” for raising awareness of Georgian wine abroad, as local stalls took part in a range of exhibitions in Europe and gained several awards. Agency officials hope the same trend will continue in March as well.

Meanwhile, seven Georgian wines were recently trademarked by Kyrgyzstan. These were: Akhasheni, Tsinandali, Mukuzani, Napareuli, Kindzmarauli, Tvishi and Khvanchkara. By issuing a trademark, Kyrgyzstan recognised these wines had Georgian origins.