American TV company CNN has prepared two video clips highlighting Georgian wine’s diversity, history and culture. The one-minute clips will be broadcast on CNN from January 15 to January 28 as part of the network’s Great Big Story series.
The first clip, titled “The Birthplace of Wine”, explores the ancient tradition of making wine in Georgia, which dates back 8,000 years. The clip features the unique method of fermenting and ageing wine in clay vessels called qvevri, buried underground. The clip also showcases some of the 500 grape varieties native to Georgia and the role of wine in Georgian cuisine and hospitality.
The second clip, titled “The New Wave of Georgian Wine”, focuses on the modern innovations and challenges of the Georgian wine industry. The clip introduces some young and dynamic winemakers experimenting with new styles and techniques while preserving the heritage and identity of Georgian wine.
The clip also addresses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian embargo on the Georgian wine market and the efforts to expand the global export and recognition of Georgian wine.
The video clips are part of CNN’s interest in Georgian wine, which started with a previous clip broadcasted on CNN on November 26 last year for a month.
The clip, titled “Georgia: The Homeland of Wine”, was a collaboration between CNN and the Georgian National Tourism Administration, and it aimed to promote Georgia as a wine tourism destination.
According to the Georgian Wine Association, the expression of interest from CNN is very important for popularising Georgian wine in the United States of America, a strategic market for Georgian wine exports.
The association hopes the video clips will attract more attention and curiosity from American consumers and media and increase the demand for and awareness of Georgian wine in the US.
Georgian wine is one of the oldest and most diverse wine traditions in the world, and it reflects Georgia’s rich and complex history and culture. According to the Wines Georgia website, Georgian wine regions are divided into five main zones: Kakheti, Kartli, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi Kvemo Svaneti, and the Black Sea Coast.
Some of the most well-known Georgian grape varieties are Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Mtsvane, Kisi, Khikhvi, and Tsolikouri. Georgian wine is also known for its distinctive amber or orange colour, which is the result of prolonged skin contact during fermentation.
