Georgia: Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture Yuri Nozadze attended the wine festival named after Bolnisi, a protected place of birth.
The festival, which supports the National Wine Agency, was held for the second time under the initiative of the association “Gvino Bolnisi.” Fifty wine producers from different parts of Georgia participated in it. This festival is the only one in Georgia in which only wine producers of protected local origin take part.
Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Yuri Nozadze wished the festival success and discussed the importance of promoting Georgian wine.
“The number one task for the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture is to diversify Georgian wine markets and find alternative markets.” To achieve this goal, festivals like this that promote wine are significant. Bolnisi’s Protected Locality Festival differs from other festivals in that it only hosts wines of the locality.
However, it promotes both Georgian wines in general and, of course, local wines. The festival will get a traditional face and be held annually. In turn, the Ministry and the National Wine Agency will continue to support the festival, Yuri Nozadze noted.
The festival was graced by the presence of industry stalwarts, including Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency, Zurab Vacharadze, deputy chairman, and Levan Ujmajuridze, Director of the Scientific and Research Center, adding to its prestige and credibility.
Along with the local population, specially invited sommeliers, wine experts, and representatives of the Horeka sector visited the festival.
Within the festival, a competition of local wines was held according to the standards of the International Organization of Grapes and Wine (OIV). Jury members with international experience revealed wines with gold and silver. Jaba Dzimistarashvili, the contest jury “Georgia’s Best Sommelier 2021” winner was headed; Levan Mekhuzla, the chairman of the National Wine Agency, was part of the jury.
