What Did I Find in the World’s OLDEST Wine Country? GEORGIA Blew My Mind!

Georgia isn’t just another wine country; it’s the birthplace of wine, with over 8,000 years of continuous winemaking history. From clay qvevris buried in the earth to the ancient songs sung at the supra, Georgia’s wine culture is unlike anywhere else in the world. In this episode, Vince travels through the world’s oldest wine country to uncover how faith, history, and family intertwine in every glass. Meet the winemakers reviving ancient grapes like Saperavi and Rkatsiteli, explore the dramatic landscapes of the Caucasus Mountains, and discover why Georgian wine is more than a drink; it’s a way of life.

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DESCRIPTION:
Georgia genuinely changed the way I see wine, and this was one of the greatest wine trips I’ve ever taken. The episode opens with me being presented a bowl of wine during the ancient qvevri-opening ceremony at Khareba Winery. From there, I travel to the modern, reborn city of Tbilisi, explain why Georgian history has been so turbulent, and stop for a traditional scrub-down at the historic Abanotubani bath district. I have an unforgettable lunch at Chveni, the restaurant by Guram Bagdoshvili, together with my new friends Irakli Cholobargia (Wet Dog Wines) and Shota Natroshvili (Teliani Valley). Over incredible food, I learn why wine sits at the core of Georgian culture. After breaking down grapes like Rkatsiteli and Saperavi, I grab a quick coffee at Kvarts before heading to Château Mukhrani, a stunning French-inspired estate. There, winemaker Keti guides me through indigenous varieties and a deep dive into amber wine and qvevri tradition. Next, I visit a very different kind of winery: Iago’s. Iago embodies natural, honest, home-grown winemaking, and his hospitality is unforgettable. A roadside stop for fresh puri leads me to Vazisubani, where I meet Lado Udonashvili, a true rockstar of Georgian wine. I try his 3 Qvevri amber and Saperavi before taking a cooking class to learn khinkali and khachapuri. Then it’s back to Khareba to explore its incredible wine caves with winemaker Vladimer, tasting his Aldasturi and Kindzmarauli; surprising, vibrant, and so much fun. Finally, the episode closes at Gotsa Wines with Nina and Beka Gotsa, who host a legendary Georgian supra, the traditional feast. We’re joined by Baia (Baia’s Wine), Shorena Pataridze (Rachuli Winery), and a quartet of singers. It’s an experience I will never forget and the perfect ending to an extraordinary trip.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:26 Tblilisi
08:54 Bath House
10:37 Lunch at Chveni
19:11 Georgian Grapes
22:46 Coffee Art in Tbilisi
24:12 Chateau Mukhrani
31:52 Qvevri and Amber Wine
35:38 Iago’s Winery
43:08 Roadside Puri
44:40 Vazisubani Estate
51:44 Cooking Kinkali and Khachapuri
55:05 Khareba Winery
01:03:20 Supra at Gotsa’s
01:08:37 Outro

WINES FEATURED:
(in order)
Wet Dog Wine
• Pet-Nat (Tsitska–Tsolikouri)

Teliani Valley
• Tsolikouri
• Glekhuri Amber
• Saperavi

Château Mukhrani
• Goruli Mtsvane Reserve
• Shavkapito Reserve

Iago Bitarishvili
• Chinuri “Iago”
• Mtsvane “Marani”

Vazisubani Estate
• 3 Qvevri Amber
• Saperavi

Khareba Winery
• Aldasturi
• Kindzmarauli (Semi-Sweet Saperavi)

Supra Producers
• Baia’s Wine
• Shorena Pataridze
• Gotsa

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