Wine Historian

Giorgi ‘Kvevri’ Barisashvili is one of the leading experts on the history of wine in Georgia ( for my interview with him). He’s written books about wine made in the clay vessels that he prefers to spell as kvevri in English.

‘Kvevri’ as he likes to be called, has a fascinating collection of wine receptacles, old photographs and books. He’s researched wine-related archælogical sites in Georgia and beyond and is a winemaker consultant to people making traditional wines. He lives in the centre of Mtskheta where his front garden is easy to spot: it’s full of giant kvevri! He demonstrated how to drink from some of his collection of wine vessels. The ceramic marani he is using in the photo was used by families only on feast days.