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Georgian Tasting at Belle View Conservatory A very convivial evening was enjoyed when Newport Kutaisi Association organised a wine tasting in the Belle Vue Park Conservatory on 10th July 2008. Wine is an inseparable part of the Georgian Feast. Some archaeologists claim that wine making dates back 7000-5,000 years, a tradition that has been unbroken ever since. The Georgian word for wine is ‘Ghivino’. The country cannot be imagined without wine. Both hosts and guests love making toasts to friends present, family and anyone else they can think of. Around forty people attended the wine tasting presented by Leicester wine merchant Simon March. He introduced the group to seven different wines explaining their qualities and from which area they came from. Georgian wine is particularly pure due to both the soil and the weather. The mountains are full of natural springs and the rivers drain mineral-rich water into the valleys. About forty varieties of grape are grown there, with Rkatsiteli and Saperavi being the most important. Among the wines the group tried Saperavi and Mukuzani from the Teliani Valley, which is considered by many as one of the best grape growing regions in the country. The Georgian winemakers consider themselves successors of Georgian traditions but using modern technology, this with investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As a result of winning a major award in 2005 they have set up the first school for sommeliers. The varieties of wines tasted on the evening covered every occasion and dish which could be served, aperitifs, for beef or fish, roast or barbecue, cheese dishes or fruit tarts or chocolate puddings. By bringing in investment, technology and help from consultants from Australia and Italy they are making a success of an inherited tradition that can compete with other countries around the world.
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