A 12-member delegation from the United Kingdom visited Georgia as part of an initiative to raise awareness and boost exports of Georgian wine in the UK market. The visit was organized by Swirl Wine Group, a contractor of the National Wine Agency.
The group, composed of British wine professionals, importers, and journalists, toured wine-producing regions in Kartli and Kakheti. They visited several Georgian wineries and tasted a wide variety of wines, including qvevri wines and modern styles. In Tbilisi, a dedicated “Walk-Around Tasting” event featured wines from 16 Georgian producers.
Irakli Cholobargia, representative of the Marketing and Public Relations Department of the National Wine Agency, presented an overview of the history, evolution, and diversity of Georgian wine and grape varieties to the guests.
“The growing quality and diversity of Georgian wine today, especially in aromatic white wines, is truly impressive. The sophistication and development of amber wines is also evident. The harmonious integration of qvevri wines and tannins in red wines, especially in the case of Saperavi, is noteworthy. I look forward to tasting more unique Georgian wines and sharing them with our group,” said Sarah Abbott, Master of Wine and Head of Swirl Wine Group.
During her visit, Abbott also met with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Davit Songulashvili. They discussed the importance of enhancing Georgian wine’s position in the UK market, emphasizing the potential of Georgian wine as a premium and authentic product.
The UK remains one of Europe’s largest wine-consuming markets and has been identified as a key strategic destination for Georgian wine exports since 2014. To strengthen its foothold in the region, Georgia has partnered with Sarah Abbott’s Swirl Wine Group LTD since 2015 to implement marketing and promotional efforts.
