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David Songulashvili: “I am confident that National Wine Day will become an enduring tradition, strengthening the wine sector, promoting tourism development, and further reinforcing Georgia’s global recognition as the cradle of wine.”
An international scientific conference convenes in Tbilisi for National Wine Day. President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze formally inaugurated the event.
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr David Songulashvili, and Director General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), Mr John Barker, delivered welcoming remarks.
Mr Songulashvili thanked the Prime Minister for establishing National Wine Day, noting that this important initiative will bring together wine professionals, tourists, and wine enthusiasts from around the world. According to the Minister, National Wine Day will help strengthen professional ties, promote culture, and share knowledge.
“In our country, the special reverence for vine and wine is reflected everywhere — in the words of the Georgian people, in everyday life, and in our traditions. It is precisely this love and respect that has preserved the uninterrupted 8,000-year-old tradition of qvevri winemaking to the present day. For each of us, Georgian wine represents national identity, historical memory, and a culture that connects generations. That is why we say: wine is Georgian,” Mr David Songulashvili stated.
The Minister emphasised the importance of studying and restoring unique Georgian grape varieties, and outlined the significant contribution of Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose support enabled the establishment of a research centre within the Ministry.
“Today, as we celebrate National Wine Day for the first time, we want to demonstrate that Georgia places special importance on preserving its unique wine culture. We are working on the research and development of rare grape varieties to further enhance Georgian winemaking and ensure its representation at the international level. We are proud that hundreds of indigenous grape varieties are preserved in Georgia, giving Georgian wine its exceptional diversity. I am confident that National Wine Day will become a lasting tradition that will strengthen the wine sector, promote tourism development, and further reinforce Georgia’s position as the cradle of wine worldwide. Georgian wine was, is, and will stay forever,” the Minister noted.
Within the framework of the international scientific conference, participants will discuss the current state of the global wine sector, existing challenges, market-specific issues, and export markets in Europe, Asia, and the United States, as well as strategies for strengthening their positions in these markets. A panel discussion titled “Georgia – The Homeland of Wine Civilisation” will also be held, led by Professor Davit Maghradze, Head of the “Research on Georgian Grapevine and Wine Culture,” and Director General of the Georgian National Museum, Academician Davit Lortkipanidze.
Alongside representatives of Georgia’s wine industry and academic community, the conference brings together international wine professionals, including John Barker, Stephen Batiuk, Gabriele Cola, Gergely Soltoki, Masters of Wine Debra Meiburg, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, and Konstantin Baum, as well as wine expert and writer Robert Joseph and other international guests.
At the initiative of the National Wine Agency under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, and by the decision of the Government of Georgia, May 8 is being celebrated for the first time as National Wine Day, to showcase Georgian wine as a key element of the country’s identity and cultural heritage. The initiative seeks to promote Georgia’s centuries-old winemaking history and traditions both domestically and internationally.
As part of the National Wine Day celebrations, Gudashvili Square will host wine tastings and educational activities dedicated to the 8,000-year history of Georgian wine. The celebrations will conclude with a musical-theatrical performance at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre.