“We’ve deemed France and Italy the Old World of winemaking, but parts of the Balkans and Caucasus have been growing and vinifying grapes even longer. Look to Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, and Georgia for bubbly made from grapes you’ve never heard of. Bagrationi Royal Cuvée is 100 percent…”

Italy, France, Spain, Germany. When we think of old world wine, we often think of these Western European mega-producers. But savvy somms and wine drinkers are sipping from other parts of the “old” world that also boast thousands of years of winemaking tradition. Of those, Georgia is having a moment.

This Thanksgiving [New York] city dwellers might do well to consider wines from Georgia (as in the country) to accompany their turkey feast. Thanks to a recent push by Brooklynite and Master of Wine Lisa Granik, more and more retailers and sommeliers are putting the wines on their shelves and wine lists.

“Baltic countries still are strategic export markets for Georgian wine, National Wine Agency is planning active marketing arrangements for the next year. This information was announced by National Wine Agency’s Marketing and PR Department Manager Irakli Cholobargia…”

For true wine lovers, wine is all about the experience, from savoring the pop of the cork to exploring the wine’s aromas and expressions through a ritual of swirling, sniffing, and sipping. Every glass of wine has the power to take its holder on a journey, telling a story of terroir, climate, and tradition. But…

“Parsons adds that, “In the fall, I love to drink wines of Georgia, especially their lighter reds like Aladasturi.” The former ex-Soviet Republic and major Russian wine supplier is emerging as solid source of big, meaty reds made from the Saperavi grape…”

“Georgians drink prodigiously and wine is an integral aspect of their lives. For example, many people grow vines and make wine at home. Historically, many invaders ripped up Georgian vineyards so home owners would try to protect the vines…”

Visit Kakheti, Georgia’s lush wine-producing region, and find out why many believe the country is the world’s cradle of wine.

The Republic of Georgia is a wine economy in transition from its former status as a main supplier of wine to Russia and the former Soviet countries to an emerging position with sales in these markets plus Western Europe and North America.

“Georgian wine is very old and the wine culture is strong. I have never been anywhere where wine was so central to the culture. Wine and vine were everywhere we looked. Wine grapes were a central element, for example, of a Soviet-era war memorial we saw in Sighnaghi. And grape vines are at the heart…