Georgia’s Claim as “Cradle of Wine” Confirmed by Archaeological Finds

June 10, 2016 – An archaeological dig in southeastern Georgia’s Kevmo Kartli region has revealed grape seeds and dust that date back 8000 years confirming Georgia’s claim to be the cradle of winemaking.  Vine dust found in ancient ceramic vessels confirmed they were used for wine around 6000 B.C.  Grape seeds and skins have also been found in qvevri, the clay pots used for making wine.

The excavations at the Gadachrili Gora site are being undertaken by a partnership of the Georgian National Museum and the University of Toronto.  The area is about 35 kilometers south of the capital of Tbilisi near a village called Imiri.

Georgians are justifiably proud of having their ancient culture and heritage confirmed. Findings at the site indicate that the Neolithic people from this area were the first to use wild grapes and vines for health, religious and spiritual reasons, with the vine culture later spreading around the globe.

The project involves scientists from leading universities from the United States, France, Italy, Denmark, Canada and Israel.

For more on the history of Georgian wines, what’s happening today and where to stay and visit if you go, check out the article by Harriet Lembeck we published on October 9, 2014 http://www.wineandspirits.com/the-wines-of-historic-georgia/