"It is impressive to see the growing quality and diversity in Georgian wine today," –  British Master of Wine

To support the promotion and export growth of Georgian wine on the UK market, a 12-member delegation from the United Kingdom visited Georgia. The visit was organized by Swirl Wine Group, the contractor company of the National Wine Agency, with the support of the Agency.

The group, composed of British wine professionals, importers, and journalists, visited Georgian wine producers in the Kartli and Kakheti regions, where they tasted various styles of Georgian wine. During a special "Walk-around Tasting" held in Tbilisi, the British guests had the opportunity to explore wines from 16 different Georgian companies. Irakli Cholobargia, representative of the Marketing and Public Relations Department of the National Wine Agency, delivered a presentation to the guests on the history of Georgian wine, the modern wine industry, and the rich diversity of Georgian grape varieties and wine styles.

“It is truly impressive to see the increasing quality and diversity in Georgian wine today, particularly among the aromatic white wines. The refinement and evolution of amber wines are also remarkable. The harmonious integration of Qvevri wines and the tannin management in red wines—especially in Saperavi—are noteworthy. I look forward to tasting more unique Georgian wines and sharing them with our group,” said Sarah Abbott MW, head of Swirl Wine Group.

As part of the visit, Sarah Abbott met with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Davit Songhulashvili. The parties discussed ways to support the promotion and growth of Georgian wine exports and brand recognition in the UK market. It was emphasized that Georgian wine should hold a strong position in the UK market as a high-quality and authentic product. Special attention was given to strengthening the positioning of Georgian winemakers and wine companies in the UK and increasing the volume of exports.
The United Kingdom is one of the largest wine importers and consumers in Europe and has emerged since 2014 as a potentially growing strategic market for Georgian wine exports. To establish a strong presence in the UK market, the National Wine Agency has been cooperating since 2015 with Swirl Wine Group LTD, the company led by Master of Wine Sarah Abbott.