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Some winemaking countries conjure up specific images in our collective imagination. Italy has its sun-burnished hills and France its imperious chateaux. Others are but a faintly exotic blur in the mind’s eye, such as Georgia. Georgia is often lost somewhere in a lacuna in people’s knowledge of geography. 

The ultimate destination for the wine connoisseur is Georgia, in Eastern Europe, which has a winegrowing history dating back 8000 years. Tradition remains strong, with qvevri (clay-pot fermenters) still in use. The region may not be on every tourist’s itinerary but a fervent wine-lover will stop at nothing to fill their bucket list to overflowing.

Over the past few years, Tbilisi, Georgia, has become a red-hot travel destination. The far-flung city boasts a bevy of ancient activities, like its tried-and-true sulfur baths and the centuries-old tradition of drinking kvevri-fermented wine. But it’s not all Old World in Tbilisi: The city’s modern attractions include the techno club Bassiani

Vogue Magazine recently named Georgia—the country, not the state—one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2017. Situated between the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, Georgia is an ancient country with hip new appeal. Formerly part of Soviet Russia, it became an independent state in 1991. Today, it’s bursting with bistros and cafes, art galleries and…

Within wine circles and, increasingly, mainstream travel media, the word on Georgia as a vinous destination has spread. Yet few have actually made the trek to this country bordering Armenia and Turkey. Translation: villages remain authentically charming, the countryside still a peaceful refuge and the unique winemaking traditions endure intact. 

Georgia (the country, not the state) has gotten buzz in recent years for its surprisingly great wine scene. But a stellar bottle of vino is just one reason to visit. The capital, Tbilisi, with its young, creative class and Brooklyn-esque undertones, has emerged as a hub of cool. 

I recently attended a tasting of wines from Georgia (the country, not the US state) and discovered there was much more I did not know about the world of wine! Traditionally made Georgian wines are unique, and if you’ve never had wines fermented in a qvevri, these wines would be completely unexpected for you. 

The Georgian people have a trove of stories that explain their good fortune to be living in this fertile corner of the Caucasus. My favorite is this one: when God made the world, he asked all the peoples of the earth where they wanted to live, and distributed their homelands accordingly. From the Georgians he…

As 2017 approaches, it’s time once again to reflect upon the past year, to remember and savor many pleasant memories. As 2016 winds down, I’ll be posting my annual series of Favorite Lists over the next few weeks, covering food, wine, sake and spirits. These lists should provide a comprehensive summary of my favorites from this past year

Like the prior list, this list includes wines that not only did I enjoy, but which I also found to be particularly compelling for various reasons. They might be especially delicious, something more unique or just excellent values for the price. They all stand out, for some particular reason, above the other wines at this…

At Puritan & Co., there was a significant tasting of Georgian wines, which led to my post, Drink More Georgian Wine! Georgian wines can be delicious and intriguing, and it was fascinating to explore more of their wines. And both of these tastings had wines that ended up on my Top Ten Wine lists this year.

“Wines from Georgia are exploding in popularity in the United States this month thanks to a new campaign ‘Well, Hello Saperavi’ to promote Georgian wine made with the flesh and skin of red Saperavi grape varieties…”