Top Influencers, Buyers and Somms from China Visited Georgia for the First Time!

Wine professionals from China visited Georgia for the first time in June! The group included Cassidy Dart MW, Yang Lu MS, Dorian Tang, National Educator Director of ASC Fine Wines, Tang Zhu, Senior Educator of Dragon Phoenix, Franklin Chiang, Founder of Next Bottle, and several other top importers and sommeliers in China.

The trip began with a welcome dinner at Wine Merchants, where the group was treated to polyphonic singing, an array of Georgian delicacies and their first experience with toasting. It didn’t take long for everyone to master “Gaumarjos!”.

Day 1 kicked off at Wine Factory N1, a restored complex of wine tunnels and storage room, housing a large historic collection of about 30,000 bottles. The day’s program began with a masterclass by Irakli Cholobargia, advisor to the Chairman of National Wine Agency, followed by a walkaround tasting, featuring 16 wineries, ranging from large to small. Then wonderful dinner in the evening at star chef Tekuna’s restaurant, Littera.

The group then headed to Kakheti, starting with lunch and a tasting at Mosmieri winery, then to Papari Valley for an in-depth tasting and discussion about winemaking. Ending the day at the stunning Vazisubani Estate. Georgia managed to win their Euro 2024 match in the evening, meaning a very late night for some! The next day saw the group visit Khareba, exploring the wine tunnels and engaging in some cultural activities, like making khinkali, khachapuri, churchkela and shoti, followed by a delicious lunch overlooking the vinyeards and valley.

A visit to Orgo Teleda gave guests the chance to ask all their toughest questions to Gogi Dakishvili, one of the country’s most renowned winemakers. Then off to Pheasant’s Tears winery for a gorgeous dinner overlooking the vineyards and Sinaghi.

The final day saw the group headed to Kartli – to the infamous Iago’s Winery. The “Chinuri Master” shared his long experiences with this special grape, as well as his work with qvevri, skin contact and other technical winemaking elements. Then Chateau Mukhrani was the final winery destination – an incredible estate, who’s restoration was finally completed about a year ago. The group enjoyed lunch in the estate’s lavish, rgand new restaurant housed out in the vineyards, tasting some aged shavkapito, international blends and more Katrli- style wines made in traditional Georgian and modern styles.

The evening saw Dugladze winery treat the group to a cooking class perched high above the Mtkvari River which flows through Tbilisi. Some Georgian sparkling wines were tasted alongside German and Argentinean wines, and a sumptuous final dinner under the dusk skies.

What a trip!