Centrality of winemaking in Georgia: from prehistoric age to present-day globalization*

ABSTRACT

Spending on feasting and wine is better than hoarding our substance.

That which we give makes us richer, that which is hoarded is lost.¹

These verses from the twelth-century Shota Rustaveli's epic, The Knight in the Panther's Skin, represent a quintessentially Georgian culture of hospitality and generosity—praising the custom of giving as honorable and self-rewarding while featuring wine prominently in this custom. In Georgia – a mountainous country between the Black and Caspian Seas, where Europe meets Asia – wine has been made and celebrated continuously for the last 8000 years.² Wine is not only a product for Georgia. It is a symbol of deep-seated historical traditions, a unique national culture of cordiality and service, global aspirations, and institutional progress to translate the ambitions into success.

The Georgian law defines winemaking as a “priority sector of the country's economy.”³ Wine is a key driver of branding Georgia as its cradle—promoted by both officials and academics.⁴ Despite the constraints and challenges, Georgia's wine industry and wine tourism can persevere and stimulate other sectors of the national economy. Georgia's image as a Wine Country is also vital for the global awareness of the country and its international recognition.

KEYWORDS:

• Georgia
• wine industry
• wine tourism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Rustaveli, Shota. The Knight in the Panther's Skin (fragments).

2 Maghradze, David et al. “Grape and Wine Culture in Georgia, the South Caucasus.” 39th World Conference of Vine and Wine, BIO Web of Conferences 7, 03027, 2016; “Georgian Wines are the Oldest Wines in the World.” PRNewswire, 14 Nov. 2017.

3 Law of Georgia on Vines and Wine, Parliament of Georgia, 1998, consolidated versions 2015-2017.

4 Davitashvili, Levan (Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia), “Wine as a Key Driver of Branding Georgia.” Presentation at the Third Annual Ghvino Forum, 11 Nov. 2020 online; Fleur, Nicholas St. “Wine from Prehistoric Georgia with an 8,000-Year-Old Vintage.” The New York Times, 13 Nov. 2017.

5 “NASA About Georgian Wines.” Stylite Wine, 2016; Maghradze, David et al. “Grape and Wine Culture in Georgia, the South Caucasus.” 39th World Conference of Vine and Wine, BIO Web of Conferences 7, 03027, 2016; “Georgian Wines are the Oldest Wines in the World.” PRNewswire, 14 Nov.2017; Chkhartishvili, N. and David Maghradze, “Viticulture and Winemaking in Georgia.” In Maghradze, David et al. "Caucasus and Northern Black Sea Region Ampelography," VITIS - Journal of Grapevine Research, 2012; Lordkipanidze, David (ed.). Georgia, the Cradle of Viticulture, Georgian National Museum, 2017; Lordkipanidze, David, General Curator and Director of Exhibition, Georgia, the Cradle of Viticulture, Bordeaux, 31 July – 5 November 2017.

6 McGovern, Patrick et al. “Early Neolithic Wine of Georgia in the South Caucasus.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 28 Nov. 2017; McGovern, Patrick, “University of Pennsylvania Recent Discovery: Earliest Grape Wine from Georgia.” Presentation at the Third Annual Ghvino Forum, 11 Nov. 2020 online; Batiuk, Stephen. “New Understandings of the Use of Wines in Ancient Georgia.” Presentation at the Fourth Annual Ghvino Forum, expected 9 Nov. 2021.

7 Anderson, Kym. “Is Georgia the Next ‘New’ Wine-Exporting Country?” Chapter 13 in “The International Economics of Wine.” World Scientific Studies in International Economics, vol.73, 2020, pp.311-346; Anderson, Kym. “Rural Development in Georgia: What Role for Wine Export Growth?” Wine Economics Research Centre Working Paper No. 0112, June 2012; Anderson, Kym (ed.). “The International Economics of Wine.” World Scientific Studies in International Economics, vol.73, 2020; Anderson, Kym. “Internationalization of Wine Grape Varieties: Evidence from a Revised Global Database.” Presentation at the Third Annual Ghvino Forum, 11 Nov. 2020 online; Anderson, Kym, and Vicente Pinilla (eds.). Wine Globalization: A New Comparative History, Cambridge University Press, 2018; Anderson, Kym. “Wine's New World.” Foreign Policy, 2 Nov. 2009; “Georgian Wine Eyes USA Market.” Georgian Journal, retrieved 23 Sep. 2021; Storchmann, Karl. “Georgian Wines in the Global Wine Industry Context.” Presentation at the Fourth Annual Ghvino Forum, expected 9 Nov. 2021.;

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61 Ibid., p.7.

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121 Ibid., p.vii.

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123 Anderson, Kym. “Is Georgia the Next ‘New’ Wine-Exporting Country?” Journal of Wine Economics, Volume 8, Number 1, 2013, p.20.

124 Constitution of Georgia, Parliament of Georgia, 23 Mar. 2018.

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