With the Support of Sakpatenti, Traditional Annual Wine Festival was Held in Gurjaani

With the support of the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia –“Sakpatenti”, the annual Wine Festival was organized in Gurjaani. The Festival, held for the eighth time this year, gathered in total 424 participants. The event took place in Akhtala Park and more than 30 thousand people participated in it. 

Mr. Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia, Mr. Shalva Papuashvili, Chairman of the Parliament, Mr. Levan Davitashvili, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mr. David Songulashvili, majoritarian deputy of Gurjaani Municipality, and Mr. Giorgi Aladashvili, State Trustee in the Kakheti Region, attended the Festival.

Mr. Soso Giorgadze, Chairman of the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia, showed the Head of the Government round the Sakpatenti corner arranged for the Festival and provided him information regarding the registration, protection and use of appellations of origin and geographical indications.

The objective of the Wine Festival is to support the development of the unique and natural product - Qvevri wine, as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage monument, and bottle wine, as a high-quality market product, popularize wines of appellations of origin, introduce Georgian culture and promote wine tourism. 

The National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia, as a supporter organization of the event, participated actively in the implementation process of the Festival. During the celebration within the event, a corner of Sakpatenti was arranged, where an exhibition stand with an appropriate banner and materials showing geographical indications were displayed. Visitors of the Sakpatenti area were handed over information booklets, Sakpatenti representatives offered consultations to interested persons in the direction of geographical indications and appellations of origin, and also took part in various activities held at the Festival.

The event included a culinary area, specially created for the Festival, where along with wines of different types, colours and ages, Chacha and other drinks, authentic dishes were presented, prepared on the spot by chefs invited to the Festival.

The Festival guests had an opportunity to taste wine, Chacha and other drinks, also to participate in sports competitions related to making churchkhelas and pressing grapes and other entertainment activities. A show of sommeliers and wines winning IWSC gold medals were presented in Akhtala Park. In addition, a Georgian market was organized - exhibition and sale of fruit and vegetables, Kakhetian sweets and handmade items. 

The active involvement of the Office in the event will facilitate distribution of information and popularization of registered unique Georgian products, arousing  of interest in geographical indications and appellations of origin and formation of public opinion regarding their importance, as well as introducing of Sakpatenti activity in this direction and raising awareness about the Office in the public. 

The general sponsor of Gurjaani Wine Festival 2024 was Bank of Georgia Business, and the official sponsor – Teliani Valley Winery. The sponsors were: m², the Georgian National Tourism Administration and the National Wine Agency of Georgia. Along with Sakpatenti, the supporters of the event this year were the Ministry of Culture and Sport of Georgia, water “Bakuriani”, “Borjomi”, “Bolero” and “Gurjaani Ice Cream”. The partners of the Festival were the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), Gurjaani City Hall and Gepra.