News

August 28, 2008

Georgia Was Making Wine 8,000 Years Ago And This Year Should Be A Good Grape Harvest Despite The Russians

By Sally White

Russian soldiers have now left Georgia’s major international Black Sea port – Poti. Hard luck for them! They will miss the chance of getting their hands on what is Russia’s favourite Georgian export – the wine. The love affair goes back into history –the celebrated Russian writer Pushkin wrote early in the 19th century that fine Kakheti wine was worthy of the best Burgundy ones! Now, however, there is still a battle left for Georgian wine companies to fight - with their banks.

As elsewhere around the world, September brings the grape harvest. This year Bacchus has been kind and the bunches in Georgia’s vineyards promise a good vintage. The vine areas have not been on the Russians’ tank routes. Thus, they have not been pillaged like the fruit orchards.  The wine companies are hopeful that they will be able to match last year’s commercial production of 17 million bottles or so. First, however, many wine makers must buy grapes from the farmers. That requires loans,...