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How old is Georgian wine, and where were the oldest traces of winemaking found?

About 8,000 years and excavations in Marneuli.

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Short answer

Georgian winemaking has about 8,000 years of tradition, and the oldest traces of wine were found at Gadachrili Gora in Marneuli Municipality. The research, led by Patrick McGovern, was carried out over three years by Georgian scientists and specialists from seven countries. Grape pips and potsherds have been found at more than 50 sites across the country.

Georgian wine: Madloba article faq-cover-facts-about-georgia.png

Why

  1. Georgia is called the birthplace of wine, with an 8,000-year winemaking tradition.
  2. The first winemaking traditions were developed by the Shulaveri-Shomu culture around 6000–4000 BC.
  3. Traces of wine are backed by grape pips and potsherds found at more than 50 sites.

Details

Among the finds are gold cups and a silver pitcher from the 2nd millennium BC at the State Museum of Georgia, as well as wine jugs and cups from ancient tombs. The qvevri, an egg-shaped earthenware vessel for fermenting and storing wine, was already used 8,000 years ago and is still used today.

Read more about the vessel in what a qvevri is, and about the age of the country in when Georgia emerged.

Tip

To see the wine culture in person, look at the Madloba article on Georgian wine and the Kakheti region.

What may differ

The 8,000-year figure partly rests on a belief ("many Georgians believe"), and scientific estimates may be refined by new excavations.

Common misconception

Georgian wine has only been made for the last couple of centuries.

What actually happens

Winemaking has an 8,000-year tradition, with grape pips and potsherds found at more than 50 sites.

People also ask

  • How old is Georgian wine?
  • Where was wine invented?

Sources

This answer is for reference. See the official links below.

Georgian wine: Madloba article
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