https://doi.org/10.56079/20222/5

Winemaking has a big part in world economy. Every year wine production and consumers are being increased. Traditional winemaking of Georgia has a small but important part in this big sector. Recent years were quite hard for world industries. Economic and Technological changes brought us new challenges and a desire for adaptation.

         Georgian Winemaking has a 8000-year history. During 8000 years of history winemaking and viticulture has always been part of Georgian culture, religion or social life.  Because of the big connection and long history Georgian people have developed different winemaking methods like: Qvevri wines, Besides Qvevri wines Georgian people have also developed Kakhuri (Kakhetian) wines that nowadays are classified as Amber (orange) Wines. In the 1900s Georgian people also started to make semi-sweet wines that became the big part of the Georgian viticulture. As we start discussing international markets only the history is not enough. In the 21^st century it is necessary to adapt with modern technology and get close to international demands.

         Technological development has always been part of world winemaking. Modern Technology gives us chance to increase quality and quantity of production. Even for the “Qvevri Winemaking Method” – we can find suitable industrial possibilities that will increase the quality of the product and not lose the cultural values of product. Modern Technology gives us chance to make production faster, cheaper and safer. In the article we have discussed possibilities like: Qvevri temperature control systems, მanagement apps from around world, აdvance yeasts and additives, etc. All of them have possibilities to make Georgian traditional winemaking more industrial and keep the cultural, economic and social values untouched.

Besides the industrial possibilities we have discussed how we can modernize Georgian Wine Sector. We analyzed importance of appellations in wine quality. In the article we demonstrated what opportunities does Georgian traditional winemaking has if we start to use Appellation type system for wine micro zones and create new zones for viticulture and winemaking.

         In the article we have underlined all the opportunities that Qvevri wine has. We have discussed topics like temperature control inside or outside Qvevri to protect wine from overheating or how to create stabile fermentation atmosphere for the wine. Also we have discussed the possibilities of using modern cleaning or sanitation chemicals for creating sterile environment for the production. Besides this topic we have discussed how we can use modern applications for stock, inventory, sales control and how modern applications can create new possibilities for Georgian Traditional Wines on the international wine market. Besides modern technology we have discussed possibilities of creating new Appellations for the grape and wine production. We have possibilities not only create several new wine micro zones but to create Grand Cru type zones that will create highest quality wine production areas. All of the aspects will increase the quality of produced Georgian traditional wine and also will decrease production cost. The most important part is that it will not affect the cultural and social values of wine and will demonstrate best features of Georgian traditional winemaking.

         In this article we have analyzed all the possibilities that will help world wine sector to adapt with modern challenges. We have discussed innovations and possibilities that are brought by modern technology and also their economical profit. Also, we have analyzed possibilities of using modern methods for Georgian traditional winemaking.

         In the conclusion part we have summed up all the possibilities that Georgian traditional winemaking has. We have reviewed all the methods that we have discussed during the main part of the article and we came to the conclusion that Georgian traditional winemaking has a big potential to use modern ways of winemaking and not to lose cultural and social aspects. We have underlined importance of technological development not only in winemaking but in viticulture and management of the winery. Besides modernization possibilities we have summarized importance of micro zones and Appellation wines for Georgian wine quality and also for the international value. We have summarized how we can use the French winemaking systems in Georgian winemaking. In the end we have concluded that Traditional Georgian Winemaking has to make choice to use modern ways of winemaking and during the modernization must try not to lose the important aspects like culture and social impact on the Georgian people.

Keywords: Innovative methods, wine economics, international experience, traditional winemaking, Qvevri wine, winemaking micro zones.

JEL Codes: L66, O31, Q55