Georgian wine takes centre stage at Japanese trade show

Georgia is presenting eight wine companies at a major wine and gourmet food trade fair in Japan.

The 7th annual Wine and Gourmet Japan expo, held from April 13-15, showcased wines from Tbilvino, Wine Man, Bagrationi 1882, Kindzmarauli, Tsereteli Wine & Spirits, Maranuli, Dugladze Wine Company and Besini Winery.

More than 75,000 visitors have already visited Tokyo this week, where the Wine and Gourmet Japan exhibition is taking place. The three-day event has become Japan’s hub for national and international wine, beer, spirits and traders in the gourmet food industry.

Wine and Gourmet Japan 2016 welcomed 15 new and familiar pavilions at this year’s event.

Eight country pavilions from Georgia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, South Africa and Australia will showcase the best in their region,” read the official press release of the Wine and Gourmet Japan.

Last year Georgia made its debut at the trade show. After a successful event which gained a lot of praise from visitors, Georgian wine companies were invited to return for the 2016 event.

The Georgian and the Thai pavilion [are returning] following their successful premiere in 2015. Rallying from one of the oldest wine regions in the world, Georgian wineries draw from over 8,000 years of winemaking experience to present a curated selection of their finest wines,” said the press release.

The expo was attended by global representatives of the trade and food industry – importers, distributors, sommeliers, brokers, wine collectors and wine shops representatives. Participants of the exhibition had an opportunity to meet and cooperate with international experts of wine, gourmet food, the beverage industry and other industry decision-makers.

Georgian wine was presented at several other international exhibitions in March. One of the most important large-scale showings of these events was the Foodex Japan exhibition, the ProWein Dusseldorf event and the China Food and Drink Fair.

Georgian wine has gained a reputation at international food and trade shows, and has won several international awards, including nine Georgian wines gaining honours at the Sakura Japan Women's Wine Awards in February 2016.

Asian countries, particularly Japan are considered to be a strategic market for Georgian wines. Georgia’s participation in large-scaled trade events is believed to increase awareness of Georgian wines in Asia and support Georgia’s goal of diversifying its exporting market.

In 2015 Georgia exported 138, 290 bottles of wine to Japan – a five percent increase year-on-year.