{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/62301a5c63c97500122f8a76/6a716b06e9d2c023de938311?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Reconnecting with ancient terroir w/ Irakli Gilauri, Gilauri Wine","description":"<p>As the birthplace of wine and the vinifera grape species, Georgia (the country), has wine deeply embedded in its culture.&nbsp; Yet, having survived conquest by three empires, fine wines are not the current norm in Georgia, where the Russian Communists focused on quantity over quality.&nbsp; Irakli Gilauri is launching <a href=\"https://gilauri.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Gilauri Wines</a> to change that and to give wine collectors all over the world a chance to taste and connect with the best of the Ancient Terroir that is his home country of Georgia.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Detailed Show Notes:&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Irakli’s background: public company CEO (Bank of Georgia, Georgia Capital), wine collector for 20 years, took UC Davis winemaking courses</p><p>Mission: to make a fine wine from Georgia that showcases the original terroir of wine</p><p>Georgia (the country) wine history</p><ul><li>The birthplace of wine, 8,000 years ago</li><li>Where vitis vinifera originated (the broader South Caucasus region)</li><li>Located between the Caucasus Mountains, Black Sea and Caspian Sea; between Russia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan</li><li>One of the only biodiversity hotspots with a mid-temperate climate</li><li>Main wine region Kakheti (Eastern Georgia), ~85% of grapes grown there, similar to Napa as it sits between 2 mountain ranges</li><li>Main grape is Saperavi, closest to vitis silvestris, one of the original vinifera grape varieties</li><li>Wine is embedded deep in Georgian culture, people believe grapes and wine allowed it to survive 3 empires (Persian, Ottoman, and Russian) and keep their language, script, and faith</li></ul><p>The “oldest wine cellar in the world”</p><ul><li>~40k old bottles, from the early 1840s, including First Growth Bordeauxs</li><li>Collection of the Russian Romanovs (originally housed in St Petersburg)</li><li>During WWII, Stalin moved the cellar into three places, including one in Tbilisi</li><li>Georgian government is authenticating the wines and will auction some off</li></ul><p>Gilauri Wines</p><ul><li>Started w/ 10 grape varieties (incl Saperavi, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) in 5 locations, needed to conduct research on mapping terroir to deliver top quality because the Communists only cared about quantity</li><li>Started in 2022, but first vintage will be 2024, 2022 and 2023 wines will not be released as the quality was not high enough</li><li>Has the potential to produce 75k bottles, but 1st vintage will only be 1,800 bottles (1,200 Saperavi, 600 Chardonnay), with the rest bulked out</li><li>Winegrowing is very different from the Georgian norm; focused on quality (e.g. - mixed Guyot pruning with only 1 cane, cover crops, green harvesting, 500L barrel fermentation, cold maceration for aromas (which cannot be done in traditional qvevri)</li><li>Saperavi clonal material from Italy, Georgian nurseries have too much virus</li></ul><p>DTC focused brand; in order to share with fellow wine lovers, not enough for retail&nbsp;</p><ul><li>US, UK, EU, Switzerland available</li><li>In US, also producing a Vine Hill Ranch Napa Cabernet with Nigel Kinsman at Wheeler Farms, and can use that license to import and sell Georgian wines DTC; Napa Cab as the sister wine to Georgian Saperavi</li><li>Has conducted blind tastings of top New World and Old World wines to compare with Gilauri’s “Ancient World” wine</li><li>Allocations of 1st Georgian wines Dec 2026, 1st Napa wines Spring 2027</li><li>Vanessa Conlin MW coming on to help promote the wines in the US</li><li>Join the allocation list at Gilauri.com</li></ul><p>Wine, food, &amp; travel go together</p><ul><li>SommTV producing a cooking show for Georgian cuisine, which is a mix of Asian, European, and Middle Eastern influences</li><li>Will have a free private concierge to organize wine trips to Georgia</li><li>Trying to get access to “Stalin Cellar” for list members</li><li>Loyal clients will also have access to 4 bedroom house in Georgia</li></ul><p>Expected pricing: &lt;$200 for the Saperavi, &lt;$100 for the Chardonnay; want more people to taste the wines over time</p><p>Wine and public companies have similar business models, both require roadshows to sell wine or the stock; have brokers or distributors to market to investors or accounts; and you have analysts or critics who rate the company/product</p><p><br></p>","author_name":"Robert Vernick, Peter Yeung"}