Is this tiny country in the Caucasus really the place where man first “tamed” a grapevine and created his first ever batch of the intoxicating drink from it? Both Georgian and foreign scientists, archeologists and historians agree that it is indeed so. Their insight is affirmed by the incredible archeological find that recently took place near the village of Imiri in the Marneuli region. Apparently, millennia ago this place was a prime spot for winemaking. National Geographic has already published a large article on it, and Euronews followed suit.

A millennia ago, the village of Imiri was a prime spot for winemaking.
In 2014, with government support, an international project named “Researching Georgian Viticulture” was established, managed jointly by the Georgian National Museum and the Georgian Wine Association. It is intended to facilitate development and popularization of Georgian wine and everything associated with it worldwide.
Georgian scientists involved in the project are supported by their counterparts from universities of Pennsylvania, Milan, Copenhagen, Toronto and Montpellier, as well as the Weizmann Institute of Science. Thanks to their joint efforts, an archeological dig at the hill near Imiri has resulted in the discovery of several grape-stones dated at 6,000 B.C., which makes them at least 8,000 years old. After extensive analysis, it was established that these grape-stones come from a variant of a wild grapevine that was domesticated on Georgian territory for the first time in human history and subsequently made into wine. Samples scrubbed from pottery found in the same area have yielded motes of dust that turned out to be crystallized wine particles, further affirming the analysis results.
Archeologists spare no effort in delving into the hill further. They are confident that within it are concealed artifacts that will serve as additional proof of the notion of Georgia being the birthplace of wine. But despite the Imiri hill not being fully excavated yet, all evidence unearthed so far points at the fact that this place, Shulaveri – Shumitepe ruins in Marneuli Valley, was host to vineyards in the Neolithic period.

“I believe that Georgia used to be a part of a Fertile Crescent (the territory currently spanning Iraq, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and the Sinai Peninsula) in the past,” _ explains Davit Lortkipanidze, Director of Georgia’s National Museum.
Stephen Batiuk, Professor at the University of Toronto: “The Imiri site produced some of the earliest examples of domesticated grapes, which we believe were involved in the earliest production of wine. We know that a wine vessel was discovered in Shulaveri, which also provides evidence of early wine production. But here [at the Imiri site] wine could be produced even earlier, taking wine production in Georgia all the way back to 6,000 BC.”
“The fact that something could be found in Imiri was known long ago,” explains Davit Lortkipanidze, Director of Georgia’s National Museum. “Pottery that we discovered there affirms some of our theories. When analysis reveals that this or that vessel was used to store wine, then it is ample proof that the place where it was found used to hold some sort of significance for winemaking. We are also analyzing the samples themselves, trying to determine their exact chemical composition.”
According to Davit Lortkipanidze, yet another purpose of the project is to show the world that Georgia has possessed viticulture since times immemorial: “We are going to let the entire world know that since the dawn of humanity, wine was made and consumed in Georgia. The fact that there are many foreign researchers involved in our project will only serve to make it even more popular.”
The Imiri site was not monopolized by archeologists, though. At the moment, it is also home to a whole range of studies – paleobotanical, genetic, biomolecular and others. Mr. Lortkipanidze has also shared an interesting theory with us: “I believe that Georgia used to be a part of a Fertile Crescent (the territory currently spanning Iraq, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and the Sinai Peninsula) in the past; I was led to this conclusion by the fact that there exist other places similar to Imiri and Shulaveri, such as Arukhlo, which served as hosts to not only grape, but wheat cultivation as well.
Our findings here are proof enough that our lands conceal very important scientific information. Here are buried traces of humanity’s earliest ancestors and one of the most ancient civilizations. These are the places where a plough first struck the ground, where first metal object was forged and so on.” Studies taking place at Imiri and generally in Georgia do not only serve a scientific purpose, however. Such amazing discoveries increase awareness of Georgia worldwide, and as a rule, tourists always go wherever interesting things await them. What will the project reveal next? Only time will tell.