Georgian Wine - National Wine Agency

Within the framework of the Georgian Vine and Wine Culture Research Scientific Project, field expeditions are actively underway in various regions of Georgia to study wild vines. The research was carried out in the viticulture zones of Meskheti, Ratcha, Lechkhumi, Imereti, Kartli, and Kakheti.

Wild grapevine, also known as forest grapevine, is the ancestor of cultivated grapevines and is of particular importance in the study of the history and genetic diversity of Georgian viticulture.

"Georgian grape varieties, which we are rightfully proud of, come from wild vines. It is of great importance to study the ecology of this plant, determine its distribution areas, and examine its environment. Wild vines are not resistant to diseases; their numbers decrease each year, and given their protection, registration is of great importance. The collected material will subsequently be multiplied in the collection for the purpose of their protection," stated David Maghradze, the project leader, Chief Specialist of the Viticulture Cadastre Department of the National Wine Agency.

The results achieved within the project have already been reflected in the international scientific field. The scientific journal of viticulture and winemaking, “OenoOne,” published a paper by Gabriela De Lorenzi, a researcher at the University of Milan, which confirmed that the genetic structure of Georgian wild grapevines differs from that of Mediterranean grapevines. The study is based on an international comparative analysis of samples collected in Georgia.

The National Wine Agency began implementing this scientific project in 2014. Its goal is to strengthen Georgia as an ancient center of wine culture with scientific evidence, reconstruct the continuous history of viticulture and winemaking, and popularize Georgian wine. The project supports new archaeological research, systematizes, dates, analyzes, and biochemically tests vine remains from various historical eras discovered on the territory of Georgia.

In 2017, based on the results of scientific research of this project, the international scientific community recognized that the oldest traces of winemaking were found on the territory of Georgia and that Georgia is the homeland of wine. This conclusion received widespread international attention and was covered by the world's leading media and scientific publications. The discovery of ancient wine was included in the Guinness Book of Records.