Almost 530 different varieties of grape are currently recorded in ten of Georgia’s viticultural regions. Over 425 of these are regularly grown (some in vine collections only) and the rest are being sought after. Some of the varieties are widespread, but the majority are only very rarely cultivated—usually in vine collections or in experimental vineyards. The greatest diversity of varieties is to be found in Kakheti, where 80 different varieties are recorded as being cultivated. Imereti boasts 75 different varieties under cultivation; Kartli 72; Mingrelia 60; Abkhazia 58; Guria 53; Adjara 52; Racha-Lechkhumi 50. Besides these regions, Meskheti also used to have some unique varieties. In the XIXth century, fungal diseases followed by phylloxera damaged the diversity of Georgia’s vines, and in the 1970s the country’s planned economy excluded even more varieties of grape from production. Nowadays, it could be said that Georgia is experiencing a revival of rare Georgian varieties of grape. New vineyards have been planted, and hitherto unknown local varieties of grape are slowly being grown. The total surface area of vineyards of less common varieties is increasing, and various illustrious varieties of grape are slowly recovering their former glory and status.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 21:12:21 +0000
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