LONDON, November 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
GEORGIAN WINES ARE THE OLDEST WINES
IN THE WORLD
The Georgians were producing and enjoying wine in the Caucasus
as far back as the Neolithic period (6000-5800 BC), new research
released today by PNAS* reveals. These are the earliest tangible
signs of viticulture and wine-making ever discovered, some
600-1,000 years older than the previous recorded discovery of Hajji
Firuz Tepe, in the Zagros mountain region of Iran.
The evidence was obtained by applying state-of-the-art
technology to newly excavated materials from two sites in
Georgia, with an international
team led by Patrick McGovern,
Scientific Director at Pennsylvania
University, also known as the "Indiana Jones of ancient
wine".
Georgia which borders the Black
Sea and is situated at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains between
Europe and Asia, is noted for its dynamic, traditional
winemaking activity. The country attracts interest from wine-lovers
and professionals alike.
Today Georgia remains faithful
to its ancient traditions of making wine in qvevri, large
ceramic pots which are buried underground, creating distinctive
'amber' wines. UNESCO has included this unique traditional method
in its Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list.
Most recently, Georgia's
ancient wine culture was celebrated at Bordeaux's La Cité du Vin, a facility
dedicated to the living heritage of wine, which hosted a special
'Georgia, cradle of viticulture'
exhibition as its first "Guest Wine Region". Produced by the
Georgian State, Georgian National Museum of Tbilisi and the Georgian Wine Association, it
showcased 125 works of art and period photographs from the Georgian
National Museum collections. The exhibition, which reveals Georgian
mythology, folklore, art and dining traditions of which wine is a
fundamental part, is likely to tour to other cities across the
globe.
*PNAS Publication
Early Neolithic Wine of Georgia in the South Caucasus
By Patrick McGovern, Mindia
Jalabadze, Stephen Batiuk,
Michael P. Callahan, Karen E. Smith, Gretchen
R. Hall, Eliso Kvavadze, David Maghradze, Nana Rusishvili,
Laurent Bouby, Osvaldo Failla, Gabriele
Cola, Luigi Mariani,
Elisabetta Boaretto, Roberto Bacilieri, Patrice This, Nathan Wales, David Lordkipanidze.
Universities of Montpellier,
Pennsylvania, Copenhagen, Milan, Toronto, INRA Montpellier, EHESS, CERCEC,
Scientific Research Centre of Agriculture of Georgia, Georgian National Museum
The Neolithic period was a time of great changes across the
globe:
6100 BC - Storegga Slide causes a mega-tsunami in Norwegian
Sea
6000 BC - Doggerland, the land bridge connecting England with Europe disappears into the sea
5677 BC - volcanic eruption on Mount Mazama creates Oregon's Crater
Lake
5600 BC - Red Paint People established in area from present-day
Labrador to New York state
Late 6th and early 5th millennium BC - start
of the Samara culture in middle
Volga, Russia
5500 BC - start of Xinle culture in China
- Many linguists believe that the word 'wine' is rooted in the
word 'ghvino', which means wine in Georgian.
- Both the traditional polyphonic Georgian song and the
country's alphabet are UNESCO listed, alongside of course the
traditional Georgian qvevri wine-making method.
- With a variety of climate zones ranging from alpine to
subtropical and semi-desert, Georgia is known as one of the most
ecologically diverse countries in the world.
- Georgia has a booming fashion
scene; Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is its premier fashion event held
twice a year.
- Georgia native Demna Gvasalia
is artistic director of Balenciaga; he's also co-founder of cult
fashion label Vetements.
- Singer, songwriter and musician Katie Melua was born in
Georgia. In 2016 she recorded
'Winter in Tbilisi' with the Gori
Women's Choir and did a European tour.
- Georgia has a very strong
rugby tradition with its team travelling across the globe to play
international matches. The logo on the official Georgian
national team's shirts is a grape shoot.
Visiting Georgia from
the UK
Tbilisi,
Georgia
Georgian Airways (georgian-airways.com) direct from London Gatwick
to Tbilisi International
Airport.
Wizz Air (wizzair.com) flies from Luton to Kutaisi, 150 miles north-west of
Tbilisi.
Tbilisi
highlights
The Mtkvari river divides this city of 1.5 million people. On the
right bank, Old Tbilisi is a hub for many visitors, with some of
the city's most compelling historical sights, cafes and bars,
enticing side streets and standout museums nearby. Mtkvari's more
workaday left side are the atmospheric Bazroba central market and
the arty Fabrika boutique and dining hub.
- Visit the city's churches, such as the Holy Trinity Cathedral
of Tbilisi or the Anchiskhati
Basilica of St Mary, which dates back to the sixth century.
- Music lovers should try to see a performance of a Georgian
vocal group and visit the State Museum of Georgian Folk Songs and
Musical Instruments.
- For views of the city, take the cable car from Rike Park to Narikala Fortress.
- Visit the Orbeliani baths - public baths, follow in the
footsteps of Pushkin and Dumas.
- National Museum - pre-Christian gold jewellery and other
ancient objects on display on the lower-ground floor. Upstairs, an
exhibition on Soviet rule in Georgia from 1921-91.
- Botanical gardens - the former royal pleasure grounds, where
locals hold picnics and wedding photoshoots.
- Eating and drinking - the Old Town is a good spot for coffee
houses, bars and cafes with live jazz; try traditional Georgian
cuisine at Kartuli Sakhli and Tsiskvili.
Shopping
Fabrika for locally made rugs with traditional designs; delicately
patterned tablecloths with indigenous motifs. Look out for
minankari, the revived ancient art of enamelled jewellery.
Browse the riverside bookstalls and the flea market finds by the
Saarbruecken Bridge
For further information & images: Joanna Sykes-Darmon
joanna.sykes-darmon@sopexa.com 020 7312 3619