Kvemo Kartli
Kvemo Kartli is famous as oldest confirmed discovery of vine and grape wine cultivation.
“Georgia has an eight thousand year continuous bond with wine culture, that is proved by many archeological discovery and historical fact. Archeologists found several grape stones dated by VI century B.C in the ruins of Gora, Marneuli, Qvemo Qartli, the south of Tbilisi. With morphological and ampelographic signs, it was appertained to cultivated variety of vine - “Vitis Vinifera Sativa”. The ancient trails of cultivated vine and grapes are also found in other neolith ruins near ruined Gora ( Shulaveri Gora, Gadachrili Gora, Khrami Great Gora, Arxulo Gora, Khizanaant Gora and etc.). Besides the grape stones, there are remains of cultivated chorale, legumes, farm tools and clay wares, that proves, that in the VI-V centuries B.C in neolith age, people living here were farming, growing vine and corns.”
https://wine.gov.ge/En/News/18 - LEPL National Wine Agency - Legal Entity of Public Law under the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia,
“The article is about the recent multidisciplinary research on the archeological materials found on the territory of Georgia, proving that inhabitants here made wines in 6,000 to 5,800 B.C. - 8000 years ago.
Since 2014, with the initiative of "Georgian Wine" and support of the Government of Georgia, the National Wine Agency leads the International Multidisciplinary Project "Georgian Vine and Wine Culture Research". Along with the Georgian scientists, the staff of Pennsylvania, Montpellier, Milan, Copenhagen, Toronto universities, Israel's Weisman Institute and National Institute of Montpellier Agricultural Research (INRA) are involved in the project.”
https://wine.gov.ge/En/News/511 - LEPL National Wine Agency - Legal Entity of Public Law under the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia
Unfortunately, massive invasions in Kvemo Kartli, Georgia of XII - XVII centuries accompanied with genocide and mass exile of Georgians caused de-inhabitation of this region, eventually, resulting in annihilation of normal life and agriculture, including losing or becoming wild of all endemic cultivars of vines.
Later, in the end of XVII century, by a decree of Caterina II of Russia and in the beginning of XIX century by a manifesto of Alexander I, Russian Emperor, areas of Kvemo Karli, such as Bolnisi, Marneuli, Tetritskaro and Gardabani, was settled by Germans.
Restoration of feral sorts of grapes in Kvemo Kartli is related to German colonists settled in Georgia and dealing with viticulture.
Due to forceful exile of German colonists from Georgia during WW2 and due to viticulture policy of Soviets, Germans’ restored cultivars of vines did not fall under legal umbrella and was lost.
After restoration of State Independence of Georgia in 1991, activities to search, to reinstate and to legalize ancient vines of Kvemo Kartli slowly progressing. Bringing under the law of vine and wine of Georgia of “Asuretuli Shavi” as recommended cultivar of Kvemo Karli sub-zone is the only case.
Exploration of Kvemo Kartli to search and to find pre-invasion sorts of grapes is highest priority for “Ancient World Wines Georgia” Consortium.
