History of the Region – Meskheti
Meskheti, located in southern Georgia within today’s Samtskhe–Javakheti region, is believed by many Georgian scientists to be the birthplace of Georgian wine itself.
The region endured nearly four centuries of Ottoman occupation, during which vineyards were destroyed, wine villages abandoned, and local endemic grape varieties nearly erased. As a result, Meskheti disappeared from Georgia’s winemaking map for hundreds of years.
Over the past decade, Giorgi Natenadze has explored remote mountain forests near the Turkish border, uncovering ancient wild vines growing naturally up trees Some of these vines are more than 100–200 years old, while one remarkable vine is estimated to be over 400 years old and still. producing grapes
To date, more than 40 rare grape varieties have been discovered, with 24 already identified and reintroduced into winemaking.