David Songulashvili: Gurjaani Wine Festival Is an Important Tradition, Providing Winemakers with Opportunities to Showcase Their Products and Expand Their Businesses

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr David Songulashvili, attended the Gurjaani Wine Festival alongside Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and members of the Government of Georgia.

 
This year marked the festival's 10th anniversary, celebrated at its traditional venue, Akhtala Park in Gurjaani. The anniversary edition was held under the theme “Contemporary Heritage,” highlighting Georgia’s 8,000-year winemaking tradition and the enduring bond between generations.

 
“I would like to congratulate the Gurjaani Wine Festival on its 10th anniversary. Over the years, the festival has become an important tradition and a key platform for Georgian winemakers, grape growers, and entrepreneurs to showcase their products, connect with consumers, and build business relationships. All these efforts contribute to the growth and development of their businesses. 

 “This year, more than 500 entrepreneurs are represented at the festival, further underscoring the event’s scale and significance. The festival welcomes thousands of Georgian and international visitors, adding a special charm to Kakheti in the autumn season. Once again, this event showcases the region’s renowned tradition of hospitality and contributes to the development of wine tourism, the promotion of Georgian wine culture and the enhancement of Georgia’s tourism potential,” Mr David Songulashvili stated.

 

The Gurjaani Wine Festival promotes Georgian wine culture and traditions, supports the development of the winemaking sector and provides a platform for local entrepreneurs.

 

Bringing together winemakers and wine producers from across Georgia, the festival enables visitors to explore the diversity of the country’s wines.

 

One of the festival’s key objectives is to promote qvevri wine, an integral part of Georgia’s winemaking tradition recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage; support the development of bottled wine as a high-quality market product; and raise awareness of wines bearing protected designations of origin.

 

Festival visitors could taste a variety of wines and other beverages, explore local products and discover traditional handicrafts. The event also featured dedicated ethnographic and entrepreneurship zones, culinary masterclasses, tatara-making, a Kakhetian barbecue corner and a sommelier show.

 

 Over the years, the Gurjaani Wine Festival has established itself as an important platform for promoting Georgian wine culture, supporting winemakers and showcasing small-scale wineries. The event contributes to strengthening local entrepreneurship, developing wine tourism, and showcasing Georgia’s rich cultural heritage.