On October 25, the historic village of Asureti hosted the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Wine Festival, which brought together winemakers from Kvemo Kartli, wine professionals, and enthusiasts under one roof.
The festival featured traditional and modern-style wines from around 40 winemakers representing the municipalities of Bolnisi, Tetritskaro, and Marneuli. Guests had the opportunity to taste the region’s unique wine varieties and meet a new generation of local winemakers.
According to winemaker Artur Akobyan, Kvemo Kartli is gradually securing its rightful place on Georgia’s wine map:
“Just as everyone now knows about winemaking in Kakheti, people will soon recognize Kvemo Kartli and learn that we also have wines with great potential.”
The event served not only as a space for wine tasting but also as a platform for sharing experiences and strengthening professional partnerships. During the festival, the Kvemo Kartli Winemakers and Viticulturists Association was presented, aiming to promote the region as a distinguished wine brand and support the development of local winemaking.
According to Gvantsa Iremashvili, Deputy Team Leader of the Local Economic Development Project, the Asureti festival marked the first joint effort of this newly formed association:
“We have already established the association uniting winemakers from the three municipalities — Marneuli, Bolnisi, and Tetritskaro, including Asureti. This festival represents our first collective initiative, and we are delighted that it has attracted such great public interest.”
Visitors also had the chance to explore local handicrafts and take part in various educational and recreational activities designed for both children and adults.
The event was organized by the “Wine Bolnisi” Association in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Agrocenter, and Banhof. Financial supporters included the National Wine Agency, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The Asureti PDO Wine Festival once again highlighted Kvemo Kartli’s important role on Georgia’s winemaking map, demonstrating the region’s strong potential in both high-quality wine production and tourism development.
