uncork your mind 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Uncork Your
Prepared by National Wine Agency, Tbilisi, Georgia
Mind…
HISTORY…
• Cultivated grape pips found on Georgian territory date back 8000 years considered to be the only proof nowadays in the world that wines started here.
• More than 500 out of 2000 grape varieties in the world are indigenous to Georgia.
• Georgian method of winemaking – The Qvevri Method, i.e. clay vessel.
• Numerous artefacts dating back IV-III and older found evidence Georgia as the oldest wine country.
• Nowadays, about 25 varieties are used in the industry.
• Hugh Johnson, OBE: "Georgia has produced the earliest evidence of wine selection and hence the emergence of the cultivated variety: Vitisvinifera sativa. Carbon-dating puts this change to domestication at about 5,000-6,000 BC.“
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…
WINE MAP
40,000 ha vineyards today,down from 150,000 haduring Soviet times
Yield 115,000 tons p/a nowadays
Whites account for 75 % with reds – 25%
Total 15 AOC
MAIN WINE AREAS – SOUTH/EAST
Main varieties used are Rkatsiteli, Mtsvaneand Saperavi
This is the main area accounting for 70% of the yield
Total 12 AOC
AOC – Appellation d’Origin Controlle
MAIN WINE AREAS - WEST
The area where famous Khvanchkara and other semi sweet wines are made
Khvanchkara grape varieties – Aleqsandrouliand Mujuretuli
Common white varieties are Tsitska, Tsolikauri, Chinuriproducing fresh wines with fruity aroma
Total 3 AOC
MAIN GRAPE VARIETIES
• Rkatisteli white – indigenous Georgian variety, thick skin produces wines rich with tannins, has tangy vigorous nature and aging potential.
• Mtsvane white – indigenous Georgian variety, with strong varietal aroma produces soft fresh and crisp wines; makes good blend with Rkatisteli.
• Saperavi red – indigenous Georgian variety, the veins on flesh are red, produces wines with full body, rich tannins and intensive ruby colour; has natural acidity
QVEVRI – THE GEORGIAN METHOD• The Qvevri – clay vessel dug into the soil
inside Marani (Wine Cellar).
• The grape crushed into the wooden crusher with the juice running down to the Qvevri. The skin is also used during fermentation process which continues for 6 months. After 6 months wines are moved to another Qvevrifor the wine to be cleaned and matured for 2 years.
• Wine gets “orange” colour, full of tannins and natural vigour.
TYPICAL CONSUMPTION
• Georgians consume wine mainly on the celebration days like birthdays, big holidays, friends gatherings, etc.
• The tables, called Supra are laid with number of food and of course wine with so called the head of table or toastmaster, Tamada.
• There are number of toasts proposed by Tamada obligatory to be drunk among other members of the table.
• Numerous drinking vessels could be used besides glasses – Kantsi (the horn), azarpesha, chinchila, etc
• The table usually is accompanied by folk songs sung by the members of the table.
WINE PRODUCTION, MILLION LITRES
28
43
2622
27
38 40
0
10
20
30
40
50
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
• Average ratio : whites – 80%, reds – 20%.• Kakheti – the majority of the vintage, more than 90%.• Basic grape variety – Rkatsiteli for whites and Saperavi for reds,
with 75% and 25% respectively.
EXPORT DYNAMICS, IN ‘000 0,75 L BOTTLE
57380
19524
11108
12192
1096814850
19027 23342
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
TURNING POINT
According to IWSR, local wine consumption in Georgia as of 2012 amounted to ~70 mlnlitres.
Russian ban caused slump down from 57 mln 0,75 btls to 23 mln0,75 btls as of today, however growth observed since 2009 onwards.
China, Poland and Canada being promising export destinations. Before ban Russia accounted for 90% of exports.
AOC exports account for 25% of total
EXPORTS, IN 0,75 L BOTTLES, AS OF END, 2012
11,044,6674,429,223
1,553,360
1,135,456
1,203,322
1,022,568
737,190
398,754
371,368
247,256
109,390
265,039
131,156
105,860
586,786
Ukraine
Kazakstan
Belorussia
Poland
China
Latvia
Lithuania
Azerbaijan
Estonia
USA
Israel
Germany
Canada
Japan
The Rest
GROWTH 23% VS LAST YEAR’S SAME PERIOD REACHING
23,341,395 BOTTLES (0,75 L )
EXPORTS BY COUNTRIES, 2012
Ukraine
49%
Kazakstan
15%
Belorussia
7%
Poland
5%
China
6%
Latvia
5%
Lithuania
4%
Azerbaijan
2%
Estonia
1%
USA
1%
Israel
1%
Germany
1%
Canada
1%Japan
0% The Rest
2%