- Georgia has a fascinating wine background, claiming to be the birthplace of wine - The historic Georgian qvevri method has seen a rise in popularity due to the currently fashionable natural winemaking movement - Georgia's rich culture puts wine at its center and wine is uniquely important to its people - Lisa Granik is a Master of Wine with long connections with the country, making her ideally placed to comment on its wines Georgia has for the last 25 years been resurrecting its unique winemaking tradition and rediscovering the distinctiveness of its native varieties. A handful of producers in 1997 has now exploded to more than 1,300. Wine is arguably more important to Georgia than to any other country and its people firmly believe their country to be the birthplace of wine. Yet Georgian wines are still largely unknown in the West. Lisa Granik, who began visiting Georgia 30 years ago, starts The Wines of Georgia with a brisk tour through the history of the country and analysis of its complex geology, before moving on to consider Georgian wine culture. She explains not only winemaking methods and viticulture but also the centrality of wine to Georgian culture. Georgia can claim more than 400 native Vitis vinifera varieties; here Granik profiles the most commonly planted grapes, as well as the many 'lost' varieties being revived. The second half of the book details each of the major regions. Of Georgia's 20 PDOs, 15 are in the east, in Kakheti. With a history of wine education dating back 900 years, this prolific winemaking region is home to the qvevri, the conical clay vessel that for many represents Georgian winemaking. Stretching west, the regions become more sparsely populated; some places are still pioneer wine territory, with more amateur and self-taught winemakers. Granik provides details on the most significant producers, along with tips on sites of interest and places to eat and stay, for those visiting the country. This definitive book on Georgian wine is an essential text for anybody studying or making wine today.

"The best book ever written in English about Georgian food and wine" —Saveur Winner Guild of Food Writers Food and Travel Award 2018 Winner Best Food Book of 2017 Gourmand Cookbook Awards Shortlisted for the Art of Eating Book Award Shortlisted for the IACP Culinary Travel Book Award The Atlantic 9 Best Cookbooks of 2017 NPR Best Cookbooks 2017 Nestled between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea, and with a climate similar to the Mediterranean's, Georgia has colorful, delicious food. Vegetables blended with walnuts and vibrant herbs, subtly spiced meat stews and home-baked pies like the irresistible cheese-filled khachapuri are served at generous tables all over the country. Georgia is also one of the world's oldest winemaking areas, with wines traditionally made in qvevri: large clay jars buried in the ground. Award-winning food writer and photographer Capalbo has traveled around Georgia collecting recipes and gathering stories from food and winemakers in this stunning but little-known country. The beautifully illustrated book is both a cookbook and a cultural guide to the personal, artisan-made foods and wines that make Georgia such a special place on the world's gastronomic map.

You may think you know the South for its food, its people, its past, and its stories, but if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that the region tells far more than one tale. It is ever-evolving, open to interpretation, steeped in history and tradition, yet defined differently based on who you ask. This Is My South inspires the reader to explore the Southern States––Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia––like never before. No other guide pulls together these states into one book in quite this way with a fresh perspective on can’t-miss landmarks, off the beaten path gems, tours for every interest, unique places to sleep, and classic restaurants. So come see for yourself and create your own experiences along the way!

Georgia Vineyards and Wineries is a historical guide to modern Georgia wines in 2016.Georgia is the largest muscadine grape¿producing state in the world. These native grapes were observed by early explores growing in the trees throughout Georgia and the South in the 1500s, but more likely had adapted to the harsh Southern environment much earlier. In 1733, James Oglethorpe, leading the first colonists to Georgia, provided European grapes to accompany other plants in the first American trustee garden in Savanah. In the first few chapters of Georgia Vineyards and Wineries, wine writer Wayne Crawford showcases this first effort to grow Old World grapes, and outlines why it failed. The history briefly highlights the wine-growing evolution in Georgia up to and after Prohibition. A brief geology, soil, climate, and weather overview sets the stage for readers to better appreciate why different varietal grapes grow across the state. This early historical overview transitions the reader into the sixty-five vineyards and wineries operating through 2016. Each winery is discussed based on five regional areas, providing the reader with additional background information on owners and winemakers. Maps are included to assist readers in touring the wineries and tasting rooms, grouped to optimize travel and enjoyment. The grapes grown and wine produced are referenced for each winery. All seventy-four grade varietals are further highlighted in detail for readers to better enjoy their tasting experience. Several appendices add additional historical information and practical information for the modern wine enthusiast to aid in their wine-drinking enjoyment

Recipient of the Geoffrey Roberts Award, this book delves head first into the 8,000 year-old wine traditions of the Republic of Georgia. A storied past, this mountainous country on the Black Sea is finally getting recognition for its unique and wonderful wines and grapes including Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Chinuri, Krakhuna, Kisi, and over 400 more. Made in both the “international method” of barrel and tank aging as well as the ancient method of terracotta pots called “kvevri“, Georgia offers up a wine for everyone and delicious local dishes to accompany them. This is your complete guide to the wines, food, and people of this beautiful land.