The Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University has been hosting the 14th annual conference of the American Association of Wine Economists for two days. After the end of the conference, about 100 participants visited Kartli and Kakheti, where they got acquainted with the Georgian wine producing companies, Georgian grape varieties, wine production technologies, Georgian wine culture and history, and tasted Georgian wines of different varieties. 

The delegation included the guests from the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Hungary, France, Canada, Australia, South Africa, the Netherlands, Italy and other countries.

According to the Chairman of the National Wine Agency of Georgia, Levan Mekhuzla, the holding of the said conference in Georgia once again confirms that Georgia, as a wine producing and exporting country, occupies an important place in the world wine industry. 

"As part of the tours hosted by the National Wine Agency of Georgia, the guests visited such important centers of winemaking as Ikalto Monastery and Tsinandali Estates," said Levan Mekhuzla.

As Mamuka Tsereteli, the President of the America-Georgia Business Council said, the guests had the opportunity to learn about the history of Georgian wine, as well as the modern industry.

As part of the wine tour, at the event organized by the "Georgian Wine" Association, the guests had the opportunity to taste the winning wines of the International Qvevri Wine Competition held within the framework of the Merano International Wine Festival, which took part in Georgia this year.

The 14th annual conference of the American Association of Wine Economists was held with the support of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the National Wine Agency and the America-Georgia Business Council. AAWE's 13th annual conference was held in Vienna in 2019 before the pandemic.