Twelve respected wine media from newspapers, magazines, radio and digital media gathered last Friday in Shenzhen to taste and learn more about the diversity of Georgian wines and its cross-section of styles and expressions, the first of several events showcasing Georgian wine in China in 2022 hosted by Meiburg Wine Media – official representative of the National Wine Agency of Georgia, and VinosVivo Wine Media.

Paired together with Cantonese cuisine, the event saw a collection of wines tastes and background on Georgia’s history, culture, traditional and modern winemaking techniques by Master of Wine Debra Meiburg MW, together with wine educator Aileen Lee, representative of Meiburg Wine Media and the National Wine Agency of Georgia. 

Wines featured included:  Teliani Valley Kindzmarauli Marani Kisi 2019, Prince Loane Bagrationi Kisi Qvevri 2019, Vaziani Makashvili Wine Cellar Khikhvi 2019, Mukado Traditional Saperavi 2018, Tbilvino Saperavi 2019, Vaziani Makashvili Wine Cellar Saperavi Qvevri 2018, Antiani Mukuzani 2018, Teliani Valley Kindzmarauli Marani Mukuzani 2019, Tbilvino Kindzmarauli 2019. 

Classic Cantonese cuisine and several spice Chinese cuisines were presented with a variety of Georgian wines where guests overlooked the skyscrapers of Shenzhen from the 54th floor. Fried Spicy Duck Tongue (香辣鸭舌) – a cold appetizer proved a harmonious match for the Tbilvino Kindzmaarli 2019. Its natural residual sweetness, generous acidity and well defined structure harmonised with the chilli spice, while cutting through the richness of the tongue. 

Important for the tasting was the showcase of styles of premium Saperavi, Georgia’s premiere red variety. Made in dry red and naturally semi-sweet styles, using both traditional and modern vinification, the purity of fruit, freshness, structure, and lack of oak made them an appealing and easy match for many other Chinese dishes. 

The amber wines were made of kisi and khikvhi in traditional qvevri – whose popularity are growing among fans of natural and alternative wines, especially in Shanghai’s burgeoning natural wine scene – were also presented. These wines proved particularly good matches with several seafood dishes, like Fried Shrimp Balls with Fresh Chives (香葱百合虾球), Stir-fried Fresh Abalone with Sand Ginger (沙姜小炒鲜鲍), and Steamed Fish Head with Pepper (剁椒鱼). The umami in these dishes, as well as 黑松露海鲜炒饭 Fried Rice with Black Truffle and Seafood, were elevated by the exotic flavor profile and textural amber wines. 

Georgia’s skin contact amber wines, made in traditional clay amphora (The Qvevri), offer an interesting alternative for the highly red wine driven Chinese market. Temperature, dried apricot aromas, nuts, savoury tea-like characters and tannin offer a lighter, yet dry and structured red wine alternative. These wines are traditionally served just a little colder than room temperature so offer can be a good alternative for those not wanting red wine, but prefer not to drink cold white wine with their meal. The Qvevri is so distinctive that in 2013, it was awarded the status of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Georgia is internationally recognised as the “Birthplace of Wine”, with more than 8000 years of unbroken winemaking traditions. It is a distinctive, richly diverse and highly experienced winemaking nation with 525 indigenous grape varieties, of which about 70 are now currently being vinified. Among the most popular are whites Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane and Tsolikouri and reds Saperavi, Ojaleshi and Otskhanuri Sapere. In Georgia, wine is never seen as a stand-alone but is part of a feasting culture that includes delicious food, polyphonic music and dancing. 

Georgian hospitality is legendary. The beautiful country has become a popular destination for wine tourism, its varied landscapes of sun-baked valleys, Black Sea coasts and breath-taking highlands offer the perfect settings in which to enjoy its distinctive wines. Georgian wine is today in the spotlight of the world’s wine lovers, and is successfully being exported internationally. Approximately 107 million bottles of Georgian wine were exported to a total of 62 countries in 2021, a record high export figure in the era of independent Georgia. Included in this figure was a marked increase in trade with China, with 5,934,937 bottles exported to China in 2021, an increase of 29% on 2020. China was the 4th largest export destination for Georgian wine, behind Poland (3rd place with 7,003,031 bottles), Ukraine (2nd place with 12,921,321 bottles) and Russia (1st place with 62,115,759 bottles).