On the Success of the ‘Georgia - Homeland of Wine’ Exhibition in Tokyo

The exhibition ‘Georgia - Homeland of Wine’ in Terrada Warehouse, Tokyo, has ended. The exhibition within the project of the same name held in the capital of Japan during two months hosted thousands of Japanese visitors.

Georgian wine and its history, which started 8,000 years ago, were especially interesting for the Japanese. The exhibition combined unique archaeological exhibits as well as aiming to present the uniqueness of Georgian wine culture via modern technologies.

The closing of the exhibition ‘Georgia - Homeland of Wine’ was celebrated with a ceremonial reception.

"In 2014 we started implementing the most important state project ‘Georgian Vine and Wine Culture Research’, said the Head of the National Wine Agency, Levan Mekhuzla. “As a result of four years of work, the study confirmed that Georgia is the homeland of wine and that we are the country where vine was first cultivated. International recognition of Georgia as the homeland of wine, 8,000 years of continuous history of viticulture and winemaking, has increased interest in Georgia. Japanese people have a special respect for traditions and, as such, the unique artefacts presented as part of the exhibition, along with Georgian wine with such a long history generated special interest, which means that our project’s aim to promote Georgian wine and become increasingly demanded on the world's important markets, has been achieved.”

The event dedicated to the closing of the exhibition also hosted representatives of the diplomatic corps.

The dinner was held in the traditional Georgian way, lead by the first Georgian Odzeki, Tochinoshini. The guests received information on the history of the concept of “Tamada” and its significance. Japanese singers performed some of the most distinguished samples of Georgian polyphonic songs at the ceremony.

According to Mekhuzla, within the framework of the ‘Georgia - Homeland of Wine’ project, similar expositions will be implemented in other markets strategic for Georgia.

The project was implemented in partnership with Sony Music Communication and TOPPAN.

‘Georgia - Homeland of Wine’ is organized by the National Wine Agency and Association ‘Georgian Wine,’ implemented by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, with the support of Intellectual Property Center ‘Sakpatenti,’ Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and National Museum.