Georgian wine gathers praise at Japan wine show

Eight Georgian wines are being showcased at the 41st 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. About 80 countries represented their wines at this year’s event.

The four-day expo began on March 8. Georgia’s participation in FOODEX JAPAN aimed to increase the profile of Georgian wine and encourage more customers and tourists, said the Georgian side.

Wine companies that feature at the Japanese event are: Kakhuri, Shumi, Kakhuri Wine Cellar, Kimerioni, Telavi Wine Cellar, Khareba Winery, Vaziani Company and Kakhuri Traditional Winery.

At the event Georgian wines were re-awarded with the top prizes they received at the 3rd Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards 2016, held last month.

At the Sakura wine competition, nine Georgian wines received awards. Of this one received a Double Gold medal, four were awarded Gold medals and four earned Silver medals.

Meanwhile at the FOODEX JAPAN show the Georgian National Wine Agency made a presentation Georgia – Eight thousand vintage. 

Raising the profile of Georgian wine in Asian and European countries was something the country’s National Wine Agency was actively pursuing. The Agency announced it would support Georgia to showcase its wine varieties at another large-scaled exhibition, the Wine & Gourmet Show in Tokyo.  

Japan was a growing export market for Georgian wine. In 2015 Georgia exported 138, 290 bottles of wine to Japan – a five percent increase year-on-year.