Georgien - und seine Weingebiete
von ernestopauli.ch

Republik Georgien. Hauptstadt: Tiflis. Fläche 69'700 km2. Einwohner: 5,1 Mio.
Das Landschaftsbild Georgiens ist durch zerklüftete, größtenteils bewaldete Bergketten gekennzeichnet. Der Hauptkamm des Kaukasus nimmt den größten Teil der Nordgrenze der Republik ein. Hier befinden sich auch die höchsten Erhebungen des Landes. Im südlichen Teil Georgien befindet sich der Kleiner Kaukasus. Das Gebiet zwischen diesen beiden Systemen liegt größtenteils sehr viel tiefer und wird durch Flusstäler und die Küste des Schwarzen Meeres geprägt.
Trotz der verhältnismäßig geringen Größe des Landes weist das Klima von Region zu Region starke Unterschiede auf. Es reicht von sehr humiden und subtropischen Bedingungen in der Kolchis bis hin zu trockeneren, eher kontinentalen Klimaverhältnissen im östlichen Hochland. Unter dem windschützenden Einfluss des Kaukasus gibt es für den Weinbau ideale klimatische Verhältnisse.

Das Weinland Georgien
Der ehemalige UdSSR-Staat in Transkaukasien zählt zu den ältesten Weinbauländern der Erde und ist eines der Ursprungs-Gebiete des Weinbaus und der kultivierten Weinrebe. Nirgendwo wird der Kult um den Wein so weit getrieben wie in Georgien, wo selbst die Grabsteine der Nationalhelden die Form von Reben und Trauben haben. Wenn Georgier eine Hochzeit feiern, muss der Brautvater mindestens fünfhundert bis tausend Liter Wein in Reserve haben.
In Georgien wurden fünftausend Jahre alte Tonkrüge mit Traubenkernen der weissen Sorte Rkatsiteli gefunden. Im Museum der Hauptstadt Tiflis (Tbilissi) befindet sich ein mit Silber überzogenes, kurzes Stück Rebenholz, das in Trialeti einer Ortschaft südlich von Tsalka gefunden wurde. Man nimmt an, dass es aus 3.000 v. Chr. stammt. Die Archäologie hat viele Beweise zutage gefördert, dass Weinbau und der Weingenuss ein fester Bestandteil der georgischen Kultur war. Das traditionelle Kreuz der Georgischen Orthodoxen Kirche besteht aus Weinreben, die mit dem Haar des heiligen Nino verwoben sind, der im 4. Jahrhundert das Christentum nach Georgien brachte. Ornamente mit fruchtbehangenen Reben finden sich auf den Wänden von Tempeln in Samtavisi, Ikalto, Gelati, Nikortsminda, Vardzia und Zarmza. Auch der Thron des Patriarchen im Alawerdi-Kloster aus dem 11. Jahrhundert ist - selbstverständlich - mit Trauben geschmückt.
Zahlreiche über 5000 Jahre alte Kerne, Werkzeuge und Gefässe wurden in Mukheta, Trialeti und Pitsunda sowie im Alazan-Tal ausgegraben. In einem Gedicht des griechischen Gelehrten und Epikers Apollonius von Rhodos (3. Jh. v. Chr.) – dem Bibliothekar der berühmten Bibliothek in Alexandria - heisst es in seinem Werk „Argonautica“, dass die Argonauten (Helden der griechischen Mythologie unter Führung von Jason, der das Goldene Vlies eroberte) bei Ihrer Ankunft in der Hauptstadt Kolchis rankende Reben am Eingang des Königspalasts und einen Brunnen mit Wein im Schatten der Bäume gesehen hätten. Lange hatte der Wein in der Wirtschaft Georgiens grosse Bedeutung. In der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts nahm die Rebfläche über 70.000 Hektar ein, doch durch Pilzkrankheiten und die Reblaus wurde sie bis zum Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts auf die Hälfte verringert. Zur Wiederherstellung der vernichteten Weinberge wurden reblausfeste Unterlagen importiert. Im Jahr 2000 betrug die Rebfläche wieder 67.000 Hektar, von der 750.000 Hektoliter Wein produziert wurden.
Wildreben sind in Georgien noch stark verbreitet; hier ist die Vitis vinifera mit der Subspezies silvestris noch heute vertreten. Durch natürliche und künstliche Selektion sind aus ihnen über 500 autochthone Rebsorten entstanden. 38 Rebsorten sind offiziell für den kommerziellen Weinbau zugelassen. Dazu zählen zum Beispiel Aladasturi, Aleksandrouli, Katschitschi, Krachuna, Mudshuretuli, Mtsvane, Odshaleschi, Orbeluri, Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Tsitska, Tsolikouri und Ussachelouri. Weit verbreitet ist auch die Isabella. Die europäischen Sorten Aligoté, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay und Pinot Noir sind bereits etabliert. Die berühmteste Rebschule des Landes befindet sich in Sakar im Westen des Landes. Von den fünf Weinbau-Regionen ist Kachetien im Südosten in den Tälern von Alazani und Iori die bedeutendste. Das Klima ist hier gemäßigt, die Temperatur liegt zwischen 38 bis 40 °C, der durchschnittliche Jahresniederschlag bei 400 bis 800 Millimeter. Es kommen Zimtbaumwälder und kalkhaltige Böden vor, teilweise auch Schwemmlandböden. Hier wachsen 70% der Trauben für Wein und Destillate. Kachetien wird in drei Anbaugebiete und über 25 Unterbereiche eingeteilt, das sind zum Beispiel Akhmeta, Kvarelo-Kindzmarauli, Manavi, Napareuli und Zinandali.Die Region Kartli befindet sich in einem großem Gebiet im Kura-Tal und umschließt die Tiefländer Gori und Mukhran. Hier entstehen Weine europäischen Stils sowie die Grundweine für Schaumwein und Branntwein, die 15% der georgischen Produktion ausmachen. Hier ist es mäßig warm, die Sommer sind heiß und trocken. Auf Grund geringer Niederschläge (350 bis 500 mm im Jahres-Durchschnitt) muss eine künstliche Bewässerung erfolgen. In dieser Region liegt auch die Hauptstadt Tiflis mit ihren riesigen Schaumwein-Kellereien und Destillerien. Die im Jahre 1897 gegründete älteste Kellerei in Tiflis verfügt über eine einzigartige Weinsammlung mit etwa 1.600 Weinen (rund 150.000 Flaschen), unter denen sich auch sehr alte ausländische Produkte befinden, zum Beispiel Cognac von 1811, Madeira und Marsala von 1822, Sherry von 1848 sowie Tokajer von 1846. Die Region Imeretien liegt im östlichen Teil von West-Georgien in den Tälern und Schluchten der Flüsse Rioni, Kvirila und anderer. Die besondere Rebsorte dieser Region ist die weiße Tsitska. Die Region Rach-Lechkhumi, liegt nördlich von Imeretien an den Ufern der Flüsse Rioni und Tskhenistskali. Mäßige Niederschlags-Mengen (1000 bis 1300 mm im Jahr), Südlagen und eine Reihe von autochthonen Rebsorten erbringen Trauben mit einem Zuckergehalt von bis zu 30%. Der fünfte Bereich umfasst Abchasien, Adscharien, Guria und Megrelia, im feuchten subtropischen Klima werden vor allem Süßweine produziert. Vielfach angewendet wird immer noch die uralte, seit tausenden von Jahren praktizierte Form der speziellen georgischen Weinherstellung, das so genannte Imeretische und Kachetische Verfahren. Diese Weine mundeten dem berühmten Dichter Alexander S. Puschkin (1799-1837) besser als Burgunder. Neben Rot- und Weißweinen aus den einheimischen und europäischen Vinifera-Sorten werden große Mengen gespritete, süße Likörweine und Schaumweine erzeugt. Georgien gilt als bestes Rotweinland der ehemaligen UdSSR (siehe auch unter Russland). Sehr bekannte Weine sind Achascheni (rot), Anaga (weiß), Chwantschkara (rot), Kachetinskoje (weiß), Kardanachi (weiß), Mukusani (rot), Napareuli (rot, weiß), Salchino (rot), Teliani (rot) und Zinandali (weiß).

GEORGIA WINE SECTOR OVERVIEW

June 2002
By Alex Lotuashvili, BISNIS Representative, U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, Georgia

INTRODUCTION

Georgia is a country with a variety of natural resources, and with a favorable geo-political location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. These features make the country attractive for investment in many industries. Food processing is considered a major Georgian industry. Several branches of Georgia’s food industry used to belong to the most developed food industry sectors within the former Soviet Union. Georgian products like wines, canned vegetable and fruit, citrus juice, mineral water, tea and several brands of cheese, were commodities in great demand not only in the Soviet Republics but also in Eastern Europe. Both the climate and soil characteristics produce high quality food, in particular, grapes, vegetables, and fruit. Some of the sub-sectors of the food industry interest foreign traders. The priority list for the most promising export commodities and branches is as follows:

1. Wine, champagne, and brandy processing;
2. Fruit and vegetable processing;
3. Mineral water bottling, soft drink and citrus juice production;
4. Tea production and processing;
5. Dairy and meat production;
6. Essential oils.

Georgia has a strong winemaking tradition, producing a wide range of products including white and red table wines, sparkling wines, dessert wines and brandy. Miocene deposits in the Akhaltsikhe district of Georgia and found in the Bronze-aged tombs of other paleobotanical and archaeological data indicate the long existence of wine in Georgia. Under the former Soviet command economy, Georgia, along with Moldova, were the main wine producers. About 70 percent of Georgian wine was exported to other parts of the Soviet Union making the wine sector a leading export. The sector was controlled and managed centrally by the State Industrial Corporation of Viticulture and Wine Making (Samtrest).

In 1999, London held a running exhibition, wine town – Vini police, the first exhibition on a large scale devoted to the history of the vine and wine. The exhibition is an odyssey on the origin and development of the 8000-year old, very rich and interesting history of the culture of viticulture and winemaking. The wine odyssey begins in the Georgian pavilion and is called the “Cradle of Wine.”

With the break up of the Soviet Union and moves to adopt a more market-oriented economy, the Georgian government believes that the wine industry has the potential to become an important source of export earnings. In seeking to achieve this objective, however, it recognized that the transition from a command to a market economy would be difficult, and the sector faced some problems. In order to assist in solving these problems the Georgian government privatized almost all wineries in the republic.

CURRENT POSITION

At the end of the 20th century, the collapse of the Soviet Union caused an economic downhill slide in Georgia, which negatively affected the Georgian wine sector. To be more precise – the overall territory of vineyards decreased by 50%. In 1990 there were 112,600 hectares of vineyards, whereas in 2000 there was 60,500 hectares. This tendency was mainly caused by a lack of funds among the farmers to purchase fertilizers/chemicals, and a lack of technical devices and machines for vine cultivation. In addition, many farmers had to convert their vineyards into land for growing food products such corn, vegetables, and grain.

In addition, since the mid-90’s vineyard rehabilitation has been quite dynamic, however the total area of vineyard territory is far less than it was even 20 years ago.

Even though the Georgian wine sector is famous for its 500 traditional grape varieties, the vast majority is currently grown and available only in limited areas and numbers. Traditionally in accordance with climate and soil characteristics, Georgia is divided into 5 main wine producing regions: Kakheti, Kartli, Imereti, Racha-lechkhumi, and the Black Sea Subtropical zone.

In accordance with the development and strength of the wine sector Kakheti could be easily considered the leader. The region is characterized by a huge variety of grapes and an assortment of wine.

From a structural point of view, 80% of Georgian vineyards are allocated to white grapes: Rkaciteli amounts to almost 75% of all white wines and the remaining 25% is allocated to Cicka, Colikauri, Mcvane and Tetra. The dominant type of red grapes is Saperavi, which comprises 70%. The remaining 30% is allocated to the following red grapes: Aleksandriuli, Mijuretuli, Ojaleshi, and Vaios Saperavi.

Production of the two main types of grapes per hectare of land amounts to Rkaciteli – 7.0-8.0 tons, and Saperavi – 5.0-6.0 tons. These numbers could increase up to 25-35% under normal working conditions and the existence of all the necessary tools and machinery.

During the grape processing period the market price for one kilogram of white grape ranges from $0.10 to $0.20, which is slightly above its base price. If the volume of grapes increased the price per kilo would drop and farmer’s revenue will go up, thus allowing farmers to purchase the necessary tools, chemicals, and machinery to increase the grape volume for the next season.

Table 1 shows that during the first part of last decade of the 20th century there was a huge drop in the volume of processed grapes. This was mainly caused by Georgia’s weak economic condition, the loss of the traditional Russian market and large amounts of fake vintage Georgian wines, both in the Georgian and Russian markets. During the same period both farmers and wine factories had huge amounts of grapes in their warehouses, which was not made into wine, simply because of aspects mentioned above. And this is happening in Georgia – a country, which during the Soviet period was producing 55% of the total vintage wines and more than 25% of the brandy in the Soviet Union.

In the second part of the last decade of the 20th century, developmental steps ahead were made in the Georgian wine sector, which has led to the participation of foreign investors in the sector. The positive aspects were mainly caused by the fact that the new generation of businessmen have acquired western knowledge of management and marketing, the consumers nostalgia for Georgian wines and governmental support. Lately, the participation of foreign companies is getting clearly noticeable – both in the fields of winemaking and in establishing new vineyards.

As a result, the number of local Georgian winemaking companies could be easily outlined in accordance with their financial strength, good marketing campaigns, progressive management and export volume. These companies are: GWS (Georgian Wines and Spirits), Telavi wine cellar, Akhasheni, Tbilwine Vaziani, Kinzmarauli, David Sarajishvili and Eniseli, Okami, Teliani Veli, Rachuli Gvino, and Zmebi Askaneli.

The increase in the volume of wine exports is mainly caused by the positive approach of the above-mentioned companies to the market economy and its demands. The statistics of export over the last three years is the following: in 1999, 7 million bottles of wine were exported, when in 2000 the export of bottled wine constituted 10.4 million and in 2001 the number of exported wine reached 14.0 million bottles. The same positive situation is noticeable with the export of Georgian brandy: 1999 – 61,500 bottles, 2000 – 155,000 bottles and 2001 – 855,000 bottles.

Despite the fact that the Russian market still remains the biggest for Georgian alcoholic beverages, lately the export of Georgian wine to new markets has increased. New potential markets are presented by the USA, Israel, Poland, Korea, Japan, UK, Germany, Austria, Canada, Thailand, and Czech Republic. The biggest out of the new markets is the USA, which is clearly noticeable from the following statistical data:

1. In 2000, 9 companies exported wine to the USA 24 times, sending 262,394 bottles (wine types: red, pink and white).
2. In 2001, 10 companies exported wine to the USA 39 times, sending 507, 414 bottles (red, pink and white).
3. In the first four months of 2002, 6 companies exported their wine to the USA, sending 160,000 bottles (red, pink and white).

The export of Georgian wine to the United States was mainly implemented by GWS, Kinzmarauli, GRC International, Tbilwine, and Bagrationi 1882.

THE GEORGIAN WINE SECTOR STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Strengths
Potential. Georgia has the potential to become an important source of wine sold in world markets. It has a number of regions in which the natural conditions (e.g. general climate, micro climatic variations and soil) for growing grapes for wine making are appropriate.
Tradition and history. There is considerable tradition and history associated with winemaking in Georgia. As a result, the country is widely perceived to have established skills in winemaking.
Perception of good-quality products. Georgia is widely perceived as a source of wine and is a potential source of a wide range of good quality wines: red and white, sparkling, sweet/semi-sweet and fortified. It is also a potential source of good quality brandy.
Special varieties. The main grape varieties grown in Georgia are traditional Georgian varieties. These are not widely grown elsewhere and offer scope for selling differentiated and unique wines in the developing wine markets of the world.
Price. Average price for white wine USD 1.8-2.2 and for red wines USD 2.5-3.0 ex-cellar price (excluding taxes) will continue to be competitive in world markets.
Production capacity. The production capacity of the wine making sector is currently able to cope with considerable increases in the volume of grape production.
Alternative wine source. Georgia is likely to be perceived as a new source of wine in Western markets and therefore it has the potential to develop sales as an alternative to some of the well-known Eastern European wines. Georgian wine also has a positive image in the former Republics of the former Soviet Union.

Weaknesses

Lack of investment The Georgian wine sector lacks investment in modern, hygienic wine processing and vinification equipment.
Lack of availability of inputs and raw materials among farmers. The industry is currently suffering shortages and a lack of availability of inputs and raw materials. These include a shortage/lack of availability to inputs such as fuel (for tractors) and pesticides for growers.
Lack of access to worldwide markets. Georgian companies are trying intensively to introduce their wine to new markets of the world.

Opportunities

Developing export markets in Eastern Europe. There are clear opportunities for developing exports of Georgian wine to countries in Eastern Europe (e.g. Poland). Whilst Georgia is not currently widely perceived as a source of wine by consumers in these countries, according to experts consumers have traditionally consumed types of wine that are similar styles to Georgian wine.
Development of wine exports to Western markets. The major constraint facing the Georgian industry in servicing Western markets is being able to produce wines suitable to the taste of Western consumers, and the lack of modern and hygienic vinification equipment. The standards required by western markets are exacting and strict and it is extremely difficult to develop markets without attention to these factors.
Tourism. There is an opportunity for the Georgian wine sector to develop sales via tourism. Georgia has strong cultural and artistic traditions, traditions of wine making and cuisine, areas of outstanding natural beauty and a Black Sea coastline. These represent long-term tourist attractions that can be promoted in association with the wine industry. Examples of specific wine industry attractions include the wine museums at Tsinandali, and the Savane bottling plant in Tbilisi.
Wine Export. Georgian wines are mainly exported to Russia by trucks of 20-40 pound containers. The customs levy in Georgia is 0.3 percent. Transportation generally takes 10 days with an additional cost of 25-30 cents per bottle. For wine export the following documents are required: Certificate of conformity issued by the Agency of Standardization & Certification of Georgia; Analyses of chemical substance issued by the Agency of Standardization & Certification of Georgia; CT-1 form for Russia or Certificate of Origin for other countries issued by the Georgian Chamber of Commerce.

Conclusion

Even though lately huge amounts of positive developments are taking place in some parts of the Georgian wine sector – including the upgrade of equipment in several factories, flexibility within a market economy, modern managerial approach, and regaining the markets of the former Soviet Union, still two main problems remain; a lack of foreign investment in order to upgrade the majority of factories, and a lack of access to the world’s developed markets – which on its behalf is only possible with the investment of foreign partners/investors.

Contact information:

Akhasheni
Tbilisi, 27 Iumashev Street
Tel: (995 32) 76 90 08
Fax (995 32) 76 9013
Email: office@akhasheni.ge

Vaziani
Tbilisi, 8 akhvlediani Street
Tel (995 32) 76 89 66
Fax: (995 32) 76 87 49
Email: vaziani@access.sanet.ge

Tbilghvino
Tbilisi, 2 sarajishvili Street
Tel: (995 32) 62 33 82
Fax: (995 32) 62 03 11

Telavi Wine cellar
Telavi, 151 Mshvidoba Street
Tel: (995 250) 337 07
Fax: (995 32) 00 12 35

Telianis Veli
Tbilisi, Marshal, Gelovani Ave.
Tel: (995 32) 53 07 03
Fax: (995 32) 53 07 03
Email: teliani@access.sanet.ge

Rachuli Ghvino
Ambrolauri region
Tel: (995 32) 33 20 77
Fax: (995 32) 39 85 57

GWS
Tbilisi, 2 Sarajishvili Street
Tel (995 32) 94 08 60
Fax: (995 32) 98 77 53
Email: gws@access.sanet.ge
www.gws.ge

Challese Wines

Sagarejo
Tel: (995 251) 98 73 95
Fax: (995 32) 94 22 18

Samtrest –Winemaking state regulatory department
Tbilisi, 41 Kostava Street
Tel: (995 32) 92 05 55
Fax: (995 32) 998643
This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS)

Completly Text: http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/isa/020619ggwine.htm