On June 21, the third Sparkling Wine Festival was held on Mtatsminda in Tbilisi, transforming the Underwheel club space into a true odyssey of sparkling wines. The festival was sponsored by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the National Wine Agency (LEPL), with informational support provided by the Marani website (vinoge.com) and the Wine Information Center.
Opening at 12:00 PM, the festival welcomed a wide audience throughout the day, including wine professionals, enthusiasts, sommeliers, exporters, and international guests.
The Sparkling Day began with warm greetings from the Wine Club team, including festival organizer Natia Gachechiladze and concept author Giorgi Barisashvili, alongside Iago Bitarishvili, Aleko Tskitishvili, Levan Sebiskveradze, Giorgi Mshvenieradze, Mamuka Nozadze, and Vanichka Stepanishvili. Traditionally, the festival’s opening was led by Malkhaz Kharbedia, founder and head of the Wine Club, who played a pivotal role in the event’s success over the years. This year’s festival was tinged with sadness as Malkhaz passed away on June 2—a profound loss felt deeply across the Georgian wine community.
This year, 32 small wineries and companies showcased a broad spectrum of sparkling wines, representing all major styles: Champagne method, Pet-Nat (natural sparkling), Charmat method, and fizzy wines.
Throughout the day, guests had the unique opportunity to engage directly with winemakers, ask questions about production techniques, and share in the passion and expertise that define Georgian sparkling wines.
The festival reaffirmed that Georgian wine is a full-fledged part of the global wine discourse. Once overlooked, Georgian sparkling wine now commands significant attention—not only as a promising economic product but also as a vital expression of cultural identity and sovereignty.
The Sparkling Wine Festival highlighted the rich diversity and dynamic growth of Georgia’s wine industry, proving once again that Georgian winemaking is fully competitive internationally. By blending tradition, innovation, and warm hospitality, the festival created a vital platform for dialogue between producers and consumers.
Initiatives like this are crucial for elevating Georgian wine’s profile and reinforcing its cultural significance both at home and abroad.
© Georgian Wine Club
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