With the support of the National Wine Agency, more than 40 sommeliers, wine importers, media and Horeca sector representatives attended the Georgian wine presentation and tasting event held in Helsinki, Finland.

The representative of the National Wine Agency, wine expert Irakli Cholobargia, introduced the history of Georgian wine production, varietal diversity, Qvevri, and Qvevri wine technology to the event participants. The discussion also addressed the current scale of Georgian wine production, types of wine, demand in global markets, and export trends.

The event held in Helsinki was attended by David Tkemaladze, Deputy Chairman of the National Wine Agency, who addressed the significance of an active campaign to enhance awareness and promote Georgian wine in Northern European countries.

“The National Wine Agency, in alignment with the market diversification policy, has been actively engaging with Northern European markets for several years. Market research indicates a growing demand for wine, suggesting that an increase in awareness of Georgian wine could lead to significant opportunities for boosting exports to these markets. Organized by the National Wine Agency, a series of events has already taken place in Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland to promote Georgian wine. Based on collaborative efforts with the Embassy of Georgia in the Republic of Finland, we successfully organized a large-scale event in Helsinki. We partnered with Tomi Naarvala, the owner of the company “Wine Server”. With his organizational support, a professional masterclass on Georgian wine will be conducted. I would like to emphasize that among the more than 40 guests were owners of Georgian restaurants in Helsinki and they confirmed that there is a demand for Georgian wine. However, it is essential to enhance awareness, for which the support of the official representation of Georgia is particularly important”, - said David Tkemaladze.

Lika Mamukashvili, the owner of Helsinki"s first Georgian wine bar, emphasized the importance of promoting Georgian wine within the Finnish market.

“The interest is significant. However, increased support from the state is crucial for our participation in exhibitions. The positive aspect is that there is a strong appreciation for Georgian wine. Although it is relatively new to the market, it has generated interest and enthusiasm. We are making gradual progress”, - said the owner of the Georgian wine bar.

During his visit to Finland, the Deputy Chairman of the National Wine Agency, David Tkemaladze, engaged in a working meeting with Levan Machavariani, a representative of the Embassy of Georgia in Finland. They discussed strategies for planning future events to enhance the awareness of Georgian wine in Finland. It was emphasized that an active campaign and targeted initiatives are essential and the Embassy of Georgia in Finland is playing a key role in these efforts.