British Master of Wine: Georgian Wine Sales Increased Tenfold in the Last 4 Years to the UK

With the support of the National Wine Agency, a 10-member group of British wine professionals visited Georgia, including sommeliers, wine importers, and media representatives. The visit was organized by the contractor of the National Wine Agency "Swirl Wine Group".

During the tour, the guests visited Georgian wine companies, tasted different styles of Georgian wines, and got acquainted with the diversity of Georgian vine varieties at the Jigaura research, experimental and laboratory base of the Scientific Research Center of Agriculture of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. 

According to British professionals, Georgia is distinguished by a rich history of winemaking, diversity of vine varieties, wine-making traditions, and unique wines.
“The aim of the visit is to introduce the group to a full scope of Georgian wine. We had a tour that started in Tbilisi, where we got to know the cultural aspects of Georgian history and lifestyle; We traveled to regions where we visited numerous small family, medium, or relatively large wine cellars. It’s been a very fantastic visit, as always, with amazing Georgian hospitality, food, and, of course, wine. The wines have been really impressive, the quality is constantly improving. Georgian wine sales increased tenfold in the last four years to the UK, and I hope we can continue with that," said the head of Swirl Wine Group, Master of Wine, Sarah Abbott.

According to one of the members of the group, a representative of the Wine Trading Company (House of Townend), John Townend, Georgian wine has great potential in the British market.

 "I am the fourth generation of owners of one of the wine trading companies in England and this is my first visit to Georgia. I am fascinated by the sight of unusual places and the diversity of varieties of origin, they are very interesting and unique and, in my opinion, they have great potential in the international wine market. I am looking forward to taking some of these wines back to London and starting selling them I'm sure they will have great success, "said John Townend.

The UK is one of the strategic markets for Georgian wine, where various marketing activities are carried out with the financial and organizational support of the National Wine Agency. In January-May of this year, up to 260 thousand bottles of wine were exported from Georgia to the UK, which is 53% more than in the same period last year.