Georgia to Host Inaugural Exhibition at France's Wine City

BORDEAUX, France – The world’s largest wine museum – La Cite du Vin (Wine City) –officially open its doors to the public Wednesday after a grand opening ceremony attended by French President Francois Hollande and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

Located in Bordeaux, the traditional heart of France’s wine country, the park features special exhibitions of the world’s most important viticulture centers.

Hollande announced at the ceremony that Georgia would be the park’s first non-French wine region given its own temporary pavilion in July-August 2017. The exhibition will focus on presenting Georgia’s 8,000-year history of grape cultivation and unique traditional winemaking.

An earlier joint statement signed by Georgia’s Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia and France’s leading wine enthusiast, Sylvie Cazes, officially reaffirmed Georgia’s status of one of the world’s oldest wine cultures.

“Georgia is known as the cradle of wine. This is an important and historical event. The exhibition will be accompanied by an extensive program that will include tastings, conferences, seminars and other cultural events that will teach French citizens about Georgian wine and this (Georgia) magnificent country,” said Cazes.

Immediately following the museum’s opening, Kvirikashvili said Georgia’s selection as a featured exhibitor would help make the country a major player at Bordeaux’s newly established wine business center.

Housed in a futuristic eight-floor building that is reminiscent of Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, Bordeaux’s Wine City offers several business areas, a panoramic restaurant, wine bar, reading room, auditorium, gazebo and permanent exhibition hall.

The permanent exhibition features displays and interactive workshops aimed at educating guests about the history and culture of wine production.

By Eka Karsaulidze
Edited by Nicholas Waller

Photo: XTU-Casson Mann-ANAKA