Georgia’s wine scene rolled into San Diego like a clean winter swell—quietly powerful and impossible to ignore. Backed by the National Wine Agency of Georgia and organized with U.S. partner Colangelo & Partners, Georgian producers poured at the San Diego Food + Wine Festival, one of America’s most respected culinary gatherings.
According to Georgia Today, the lineup included professional tastings plus a masterclass, aptly titled:
“Wines of Georgia: Ancient Roots, Modern Flavors.” — Georgia Today (Mariam Razmadze)
And this wasn’t just any tasting tent. The San Diego Food + Wine Festival is, as the article notes,
“recognized by USA Today readers as the best festival in 2023 and 2024.” — Georgia Today (Mariam Razmadze)
That’s a serious platform—think main stage at sunset, not the side hustle by the porta potties.
So why should California drinkers care about what’s happening 7,000 miles away in the Caucasus? Because Georgian wine occupies this sweet spot where history meets high flavor. We’re talking 8,000 years of winemaking, clay qvevri buried underground, and styles that hit differently—amber (aka skin-contact) whites with grip, and reds that can swing from bright and juicy to brooding and powerful. It’s wine with identity, not just marketing.
The San Diego masterclass and tastings showcased around 30 labels from various producers—a smart cross-section to show breadth: traditional qvevri expressions, modern stainless and oak, plus the increasingly popular amber wines that sommeliers love to sneak into pairings. If you’re new to Georgian wine, two names worth memorizing for your next shop run: Rkatsiteli (white, great for amber styles) and Saperavi (red, naturally dark, often spicy and structured). They’re like the reliable surf breaks you return to: always worth the paddle.
This showing wasn’t a one-off cameo either. Georgia’s U.S. campaign has momentum—from the Wines of Georgia Grand Tasting in Los Angeles to New York’s Karakterre, Orange Glou, Amber Georgia, and RAW Wine NYC. As Georgia Today reports, the National Wine Agency and Colangelo & Partners are backing tastings, masterclasses, trade outreach, international exhibitions, and even organizing wine tours in Georgia for American pros. That’s how you build a category: put bottles in hands, context in minds, and terroir under feet.
For consumers, the play is simple: seek out Georgian wines at festivals and by-the-glass lists, then bring a bottle home to test-drive with food. Amber Georgian whites crush with roasted squash, pork chops, and anything spiced but not fiery. Saperavi handles grilled lamb, mushroom-heavy pastas, and yes, a post-surf tri-tip. If you’re a natural wine fan, you’ll find plenty of low-intervention styles—but Georgia isn’t a monolith. There’s clean, classic winemaking alongside the wild stuff.
From a market perspective, this matters. The U.S. wine scene is crowded, but it rewards authenticity. Georgian wine doesn’t need to reinvent the story—it already has one. Putting it front and center at a marquee event in San Diego is smart: tastemakers attend, consumers explore, and retailers take notes. Translation: expect to spot more Georgian SKUs on shelves and lists, especially in coastal cities where curiosity is a competitive sport.
And a quick nod to the organizers: props to the National Wine Agency of Georgia for playing the long game, and to Colangelo & Partners for helping coordinate a cohesive U.S. push. Strategically, stacking touchpoints—LA grand tastings, NYC fairs, San Diego’s headline festival—creates a drumbeat that keeps Georgia in the conversation. Two industry tours to Georgia this autumn? That’s how you turn awareness into advocacy.
Bottom line: Georgian wine isn’t just visiting America—it’s moving in, bringing clay, character, and a modern edge to an ancient craft. If you’re in SoCal, keep an eye on festival programming and local tastings. The wines are here, they’re different in the best way, and they deserve a pour.
Original reporting by Mariam Razmadze for Georgia Today.
Source: https://georgiatoday.ge/georgian-wine-showcased-at-san-diego-food-wine-festival/
