Eco2Wine Training Week in Tbilisi: An introduction to Georgian viticulture
From December 2-5 2025
The Eco2Wine doctoral candidates (DCs) had an informative training week in Tbilisi, hosted by Prof. David Maghradze at the Georgian Technical University (GTU). For most of the DCs, this was their first visit to Georgia and they were excited to immerse themselves in Georgian culture and winemaking traditions. Georgia has been making wine continuously for 8000 years and this legacy featured heavily throughout the training week.
The theoretical component of the training included an introduction by Prof. Maghradze outlining the history of Georgian viticulture and their indigenous grape varietals. There were also lectures on the climatic factors affecting Georgian viticulture and disease resistant genes found in the local varietals.
The lectures were supplemented by practical skills including learning about wine sensory evaluation through a tasting of different local wines guided by Prof. Mariam Khomasuridze. The DCs also spent a day in the lab, training on different analytical methods for wine testing, including determining the alcohol and volatile acids content in wine, along with the nitrogen and humus content in soil.
From L to R: DCs Elena, Capucine, Jeanne and Virgile hard at work in the lab at GTU.
During a day trip to Kakheti, the most important wine producing region in Georgia, the DCs had the opportunity to visit an artisanal qvevri maker whose family has produced the clay vessels used in traditional winemaking for generations.
Zaza Kbilashvili (kneeling) is a 4th generation qvevri maker who shared
the fundamentals of this traditional craft with the visiting DCs.
That afternoon was spent at Shumi Winery, an Eco2Wine associated partner and one of Georgia’s leading wineries. The DCs were once again treated to the famous Georgian hospitality as they toured the cellars and museum. The day ended with a wine tasting, a delicious lunch of Georgian cuisine and a visit from Shumi’s director Mr Akaki Tsopurashvili.
The DCs enjoying a wine tasting at Shumi Winery.
On the last day of training, GTU hosted a number of representatives from the Horizon Georgia office who spoke about the variety of Horizon Europe projects that are ongoing in the country and the different opportunities available to the DCs after they complete their PhDs.
It’s safe to say that all the DCs ended the week with a newfound love for Georgia, its culture and its winemaking.