According to the Georgian Embassy in the United States, the Georgian grape variety Rkatsiteli is gaining popularity among American winemakers.

Virginia-based winery Horton Vineyards is one of the first wineries in the United States to produce wine from Rkatsiteli grapes. Rkatsiteli wines from American wineries were also presented at the event: Horton Vineyards, Blenheim Winery, Stinson Vineyards and Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery.

Ambassador Giorgi Tsikolia thanked Horton Vineyards for promoting Rkatsiteli wine and noted that pressing the Rkatsiteli wines by the American Wineries is a symbol of Georgian-American friendship and a good way to promote Georgian wines.

Ambassador also noted that Georgian wine exports to the United States are at a record high this year and are projected to reach 1 million bottles by the end of the year, exceeding industry estimates and expectations. A pitcher [qvevri] was presented to Horton Winery on behalf of the Embassy and it will be placed in Horton Winery as a sign of Georgia-US friendship.

Wine expert from Marqwine Energy, Julie Peterson, presented Rkatsiteli wines of Georgian winemakers – Burjanadze-Shanidze Wine Cellar, De Vino, Chateau Kumsishvili, Kizikuri Traditional - and spoke about the unprecedented expansion of Georgian wine exports to the United States.