First International Competition of Qvevri Wine Announces Winners

The fourth International Symposium of Qvevri Wine, held at the Ikalto Qvevri School-Academy, has announced the winners of the competition.

The competition was held on September 2-3 within the frames of the Symposium and 60 Georgian and 5 foreign wine companies took part.

22 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze medals were awarded to 150 wines presented at the competition. The award-ceremony took place at the Ikalto Monastery Complex.

The Georgian National Wine Agency (NWA) reports that the wines which won gold medals will be presented at the World Wine Civilization Center, Bordeaux, France, where the exhibition Georgia, The Cradle of Wine, is underway from July 31 to November 5.

Gold medal winners who will be sent to the Bordeaux exhibition are: Beroza Wine Cellar’s Saperavi Dry Red 2015; Giuaani’s Mtsvane Qvevri Dry White 2014; Binekhi’s Saperavi of Qvevri Red Dry 2015; Binekhi’s Mtsvane Qvevri Dry White 2015; Makashvili Wine Cellar’s Cabernet Dry Red 2016; Glekhuri’s Rkatsiteli Qvevri White Dry 2015; Kasreli’s Chitistvala White Dry 2016; Koncho&Co’s Mtsvivani Kakhuri White Dry 2016 and White Dry 2014; Duruji Valley’s Saperavi Qvevri Red Dry 2013 and Rkatsiteli Qvevri White Dry 2013; Manaveli’s Mtsvane Premium Qvevri White Dry 2015; Monastery Wines’ Mtsvane Qvevri Dry White 2015; Sagvareulo Marani’s Saperavi Dry Red 2016; Tchotiashvili Vineyards’ Rcheuli Qvevri Mtsvane Dry White 2015 and Rcheuli Qvevri Khikhvi Dry White 2014; Chelti Estate Winery’s Chelti of Qvevri White Dry 2016; Vita Vinea’s Kisi Amber Dry 2014; Dakishvili Family Selection’s Amber Dry 2015 and Red Dry 2015; and Avtandil Bedenashvili Wine Manufacture’s Tsarapi Dry White 2014 and Dry White 2015.

The jury of the First International Competition of Qvevri Wine was represented by Georgian and foreign professionals, including the famous American master of wine, Lisa Granik.

The Symposium was first held in Georgia in 2011. As a result of that first symposium, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) put the traditional Georgian method of Qvevri winemaking on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage Monuments.

The Symposium organizers and supporters are: the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, the National Wine Agency, the Association of Georgian Wine, and Alaverdi Metropolitan David.

Scientists, wine experts, sommeliers and journalists from various countries attended the Symposium.

Thea Morrison