“With rich and intense Kakhetian and Kartli flavors, the wines of Imereti and Racha are perfection” – British Master of Wine Sarah Abbott
To support the promotion and export growth of Georgian wine in the UK market, a group of 12 British sommeliers, wine importers, media representatives, and members of the Swirl Wine Group visited Georgia. The tour was organized by the National Wine Agency in cooperation with its contractor, Swirl Wine Group.
The delegation visited wine-producing companies and wineries in Kartli, Imereti, and Racha.
“Although I have visited Georgia many times over the past 10 years, this is my first time in Imereti and Racha. The wines of western Georgia are light in style, which is very positive—they have bright aromas and complement the richer wines of the east beautifully. The professionalism and dedication we saw in the wineries of western Georgia is remarkable. We tasted excellent wines—white, rosé, amber, and red. The progress made in Racha, Imereti, and Kartli is truly extraordinary, and I believe we will see more of these wines entering the UK market. Georgia will stand out strongly with Saperavi, amber wines, and red wines, because the country offers the world a unique range of flavors. Alongside the rich and intense wines of Kakheti and the bright aromas of Kartli, the wines from Imereti and Racha are pure perfection,” said Sarah Abbott, Head of Swirl Wine Group and Master of Wine.
In addition to the regional tour, a special Walk-Around Tasting was held in Tbilisi for British wine professionals, where wines from 16 Georgian producers were presented.
With the support of the National Wine Agency, this was the second tour for British wine professionals organized in Georgia this year.
The UK is one of the largest wine importers and consumers in Europe and has been identified as a growing strategic market for Georgian wine exports since 2014. To strengthen Georgia’s position in the UK market, the National Wine Agency has been cooperating with Sarah Abbott’s company, Swirl Wine Group LTD, since 2015.
