"The Cradle of Wine Civilization" - Current Developments in the Wine Industry of the Caucasus

Abstract

Wine has been cultivated in the Caucasus for thousands of years. Caucasian viticulture experienced its greatest evolution and development during Soviet rule. However, Gorbachev's anti-alcohol policy and the transformation processes in the 1990s led to a dramatic decline in wine production. For the last 15 years, the viticulture in this region has experienced rediscovery, renewal, and growth. Although Russia remains the largest and most important export market for the wines from Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, all three countries try to diversify export destinations and to penetrate non-CIS countries. The following article outlines the developments in the wine industry of these three Caucasian countries and identifies similarities between them.