Matiashvili marani’s wines have fascinated us since we first discovered them in 2017. They are unmistakably Kakhetian ambers: deep, structured and powerful, yet carrying a freshness and balance that makes them wines we keep returning to. Few wine styles are as immediately recognisable as Kakhetian amber. The combination of qvevri, months on skins, and Georgia’s warm eastern climate creates wines with a depth and structure unlike almost anywhere else. But that structure comes

On July 17, wine school "Vinemo" organized a tasting of wines made by women entrepreneurs at Sadzvele - a space known for its unique history and architecture. At the event, 43 samples from 18 wineries were tasted, including 9 white, 15 amber, 5 rosé, and 14 red wines. In the first stage, the wines were evaluated in a blind tasting format by three groups of tasters. The first group consisted of winemakers, the second of sommeliers, and the third combined wine writers, wine ent

A reliable logistics partner plays an important role in the international success of Georgian wine. This is exactly the role played by Aramex, the exclusive logistics partner of the Decanter World Wine Awards in Georgia. At the 2026 competition, Georgian wines once again proved their success on the international stage, and Aramex was part of that journey. Tboba spoke with Aramex General Director Lika Useinashvili about the success of Georgian wine and its activity in internat

Traditionally, students of the Agricultural University of Georgia present their diploma wines at the 8000 Vintages Harvest Festival. Festival visitors will have the opportunity to discover the brands created by Viticulture and Oenology students and taste their diploma wines. The Diploma Wine project is designed to give students full responsibility for the winemaking process. They independently make key decisions and carry out every stage required to produce a wine with the de

La Petite Géorgie is Ana Alasania's first independent platform, building a wine tourism bridge between Georgia and France. T: Anako, how was the idea for the La Petite Géorgie platform born? Putting Georgia on the world map of wine lovers - that's my big dream. I've already been living in France for seven years, and for four years I've been working in wine tourism in the Bordeaux region. It was precisely here, through this experience, that I came to understand what a powerful

The wine center “Sadzvele” hosted an event that brought together wine industry professionals, winemakers, and experts from the marketing and tourism sectors. The programme featured a presentation of a Georgian wine consumer study conducted by Eter Gorgiladze, followed by a masterclass on wine tourism. The event was supported by the International Education Center. The research identified the profile of the Georgian wine consumer and examined how actively local consumers purcha

The Red and White Wine Session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026 will take place in Yerevan from May 21-23. The competition brings together leading professionals and experienced judges from around the world and is widely known as one of the most respected and influential events in the global wine industry. Among them, 10 Georgian judges will participate in the evaluation process of red and white wines: Keti Jurkhadze, Giorgi Samanishvili, Kato Shalvashvili, Qeti Japar

At the center of our story is one of the most iconic symbols of Georgian winemaking. It is difficult to say anything about Saperavi that hasn’t already been said. This grape variety is an essential part of Georgian identity, expressing the country’s character and its winemaking tradition. Shakriani Estate - Saperavi 2022 Nika Tskhovrebadze is a young winemaker carrying forward his family’s legacy. In 2020, he founded a brand named after the village of Shakriani - the place wh

I am Merab Dvalishvili, a doctoral student in Agricultural Sciences at the Agricultural University of Georgia. I completed my bachelor's degree at the Agricultural University (in the Viticulture and Winemaking program). After finishing my bachelor's, I continued my studies at the master's level at the Georgian Technical University in the same field, from where I was accepted into the Vinifera EuroMaster double-degree master's program, within the framework of which I worked fo

I'm Ani Odikadze. I completed my Bachelor's degree in Viticulture and Winemaking at the Agricultural University of Georgia, then continued my studies at the Georgian Technical University, where I joined the Vinifera EuroMaster double-degree program. Through the program, I spent six months working in France and studying in Italy at the University of Turin, where I also defended my Master's thesis. T: How I Got to Where I Am My first harvest experience was with Askaneli. The ne

T: Tazo, how did your wine journey begin? Hello, my wine journey began with a deep interest in plants - especially the vine. I was always curious about observing the process of growth and development. Over time, this curiosity naturally expanded into an interest in harvesting grapes and the process of winemaking. Through experience, I came to understand that everything begins in the vineyard. There can be no healthy, high-quality wine without a healthy and well-maintained vi

Hello, I'm Alberto Laluashvili - a 24-year-old winemaker and viticulturist. I graduated from the Agricultural University of Tbilisi with a Bachelor's degree in Viticulture and Winemaking, and since October, I've been working as a winemaker at Grape Hunters in Kakheti. T: How I Got to Where I Am Grape Hunters has its own vineyards, planted predominantly with Saperavi and other red European varieties. Our main focus is crafting elegant Georgian red wines - and that's exactly th

T: Nika, how did the story of Shakriani Estate begin? Winemaking in our family now spans three generations. Our vineyards are planted in the village of Shakriani, on the slopes of the Caucasus, where the soil and microclimate create truly exceptional conditions. For us, winemaking is more than just a business - it is an organic part of our everyday life. T: You studied viticulture and winemaking in France. How did that experience change your perspective? My time in France t

I am Levan Tatrishvili, a graduate of the Faculty of Viticulture and Oenology at Georgian Agrarian University. T: How and why did you end up where you are today? For the 2025 harvest season, I was searching for internship opportunities with European companies when I received an offer from Ana Godabrelidze, Head of the School of Viticulture and Oenology at the Agrarian University. I accepted the opportunity and traveled to Germany for practical experience. I completed my first

T: Which winery did you complete your harvest at, and what was your main role? I completed the harvest in Germany, in Baden, at Weingut Keifer & Schmidt. My primary responsibilities were cellar-based: monitoring fermentation processes, cleaning and sanitizing tanks, maintaining strict hygiene standards, adding yeast, and supporting the overall technical workflow of the winery. T: What was the harvest experience like in Germany? From a routine perspective, it was demanding, ye

Aromatized sparkling wine is often associated with lightness, freshness, and a joyful mood. Yet the question remains: how can it be assessed professionally, and what does a sommelier truly see in it? Verve is a brand created by Elene Kukhalashvili - a project designed to establish a distinctive and recognizable style. For Elene, this product is not merely a marketing concept, but rather a project rooted in her professional expertise. The light and playful Verve series is pres

In many successful wine-growing regions, grazing sheep among the vines is more than just a picturesque marketing image - it is a practical, natural ally in the vineyard. Numerous empirical studies back the method. It is already well-researched and widely adopted in Australia and New Zealand, while in Europe, it is considered a promising innovation that attracts growing interest each year. In some regions, sheep are now an integral part of sustainable viticulture; elsewhere, t

When Marta Imeneo, Marie Claude Marson, and Maria Pnagalos first arrived in Georgia, they were instantly captivated. Three women who had been working together in Europe decided to take a leap of faith into something entirely new. In 2022, they moved to Georgia permanently, founding Ambrosia Winery – a project that brilliantly blends their global experience with the ancient richness of Georgian viticulture. T: Tell us about the story – how did this international team come to

Siradze Selections is a Canadian-based importer dedicated to bringing Georgian wine to new audiences. For the founder, Anna Siradze, the mission is deeply personal: connecting her two homes - Georgia and Canada - through wine. Despite Canada’s strict regulations, Anna plans to expand her portfolio with five more Georgian wineries by the end of the year. Tboba spoke with her about her vision and how she plans to introduce Georgian wine to Canadian consumers. T: What inspired y

They say all roads lead to Burgundy - and our wine journey began right there. Perhaps no wine region in the world has been studied as deeply as Burgundy. Its unique landscape, known as the climate , was even recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2015. While Bordeaux often follows the single estate principle - where grapes are grown and wine is made within one property under one owner, Burgundy tells a different story. Here, the focus is on expressing terroir , whi