Georgia boasts more than 500 varieties of indigenous grapes
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Georgia is striving to recover unique and rare species of Georgian grape varieties and bring disappearing grapevines back to life.
Over 500 varieties of indigenous grapes have been domesticated and spread in Georgia, announced the National Wine Agency of Georgia.
"Georgia boasts more than 500 varieties of indigenous grapes—nearly one-sixth of the world’s grape varieties—including endangered vines found nowhere else on Earth,” read the press release.
Meanwhile, there is an experimental base of research and planting materials for perennial crops of Scientific-Research Centre of Agriculture, which is located in Georgia’s Mtsketa municipality, in Jigura on 80 hectares.
The centre that opened this year aims to revive the disappearing grape varieties in Georgia.
There are 350 foreign and 437 Georgian varieties of vine species protected in the collective plantation, including a collection of unique and rare varieties of Georgian grape varieties, which had been retrieved for a long time.
"Long ago, the above mentioned varieties were used for industrial purposes and the highest quality table wine was made of them. In order to return these varieties to the industry, the Scientific-Research Centre of Agriculture is conducting winemaking from rare varieties of vine and their research simultaneously with restoration of grape varieties,” stated the press-release published by the Agriculture Ministry.
Chemical evidence of wine, dating back to 6000–5800 BC, was obtained from residues of ancient pottery excavated in the archeological sites in Georgia, Guinness world records webpage says.
The global scientific community has recognised that the oldest grape wine was made in Georgia. The newest research dated samples found in Georgia with 6000-5800 BC and proved that they were 600 years older than previously earliest-known wine remains from Iran.
Georgia has started creating cadastral maps of its vineyards, preparing alphanumeric information about viticulture and vineyards, including varieties and other characteristics.
The Georgian National Wine Agency is launching an electronic certification system for entrepreneurs which will enable them to fill the application for the certificate electronically, without visiting the agency.
The modern French galleryLa Cite du Vin in Bordeaux is gearing up to open its doors to a three-month exhibition covering the rich history of winemaking in Georgia later today.
Wine growers in Georgia will be able to sell grape varieties of Kindzmarauli and Mukuzani during the 2019 grape harvest only if they prove that these grape varieties are really grown and picked in their place of origin.
Georgia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection has begun constructing a Georgian Vine and Wine Cultural Centre on the basis of the Scientific-Research Centre of Agriculture in Jigaura, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region.