The NOLADrinks Show – Wines of Georgia – The Wild Wild West – 2021Ep13

On this edition of The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we are all about one of our very favorite wine producing countries in the world – Georgia! It’s the cradle of winemaking and boasts some terrific wines at a tremendous value. The story is rich in history and tradition but may not be known as well to some of you out there. On this show we focus on the western portion of the country.

Pictured above – Julie Peterson of Marq Wine Group, qvevri, and wine regions of Georgia.

The NOLADrinks Show – Wines of Georgia – “The Wild Wild West” – 2021Ep13

Please note – we strongly encourage you to check out the show we did in April of last year, where we focused on the east region and gave a lot of background info on the winemaking history and practices (very unique!) in Georgia. Check it out here…

We chat with managing partner for the Marq Wine Group, Julie Peterson. Julie is not only an expert on wine who works closely with the industry in Georgia, she is also an experienced professional in economic development in the international arena.

On this episode, we focus on certain wine producing areas located in the western portion of the country such as Imereti, Samegrelo, Guria, and others. We learn about the many, mostly smaller producers, in this growing wine region that is replete with tradition and history.

Our conversation touches on the region’s cuisine, winemaking style, and terroir. Of particular interest, we chat about some of the varietals found in the region, including many that are ancient and were nearly lost but are making a comeback.

We also discuss the economics of Georgian wine, which is truly fascinating. Of course, we sample some delightful and unique expressions. For more you can visit Wines of Georgia, too!

Here’s what we tasted:

• Gogita Makaridze – Tsitska – 2019 – Imereti
• Vartiskhe Marani – Aladasturi – 2019 – Sviri (Imereti)
• Igavi – Tsolikouri – 2019 – Imereti
• Dato’s Wine – Chkhaveri Rosé – 2019 – Guria
• Iberieli – Chkhaveri Amber – 2019 – Kakheti
• Oda Family Winery – Orbeluri Ojaleshi – 2019 – Khvanchkara (Samegrelo)

Cheers and Be Well, You All!

~ Bryan

Pictured above – Wine regions and major varietals of Georgia. Courtesy of Wines Georgia.