Country: Georgia
Region: Lechkhumi
Style: Wine better than a Molotov cocktail

Back in the day, when Georgia was merely a puppet-state of the Soviet Union, Vyacheslav Molotov stated that Tsolikouri was one of the favorite wines of Joseph Stalin. But what neither of them knew was that Georgia was holding out on the good stuff and sending third press swill to the communist leaders who extolled its brilliance. That middle finger attitude still exists in Georgia with their wines being exemplars of that independent spirit. The fertile valleys of the Transcaucasia were home to grapevine cultivation and neolithic wine production for at least 8,000 years. In fact, due to the many millennia of wine in Georgian history and its prominent economic role, the traditions of wine are considered entwined with and inseparable from the national identity. Teliani Valley Wine Co. adds a modern touch to the ancient way of Georgian winemaking while still observing the old traditions to make approachable wines for novice and veteran, alike.