I am Irakli Getsadze, a graduate of the Agribusiness Management Bachelor's program at the Agricultural University of Georgia, a graduate of the one-year professional course in Viticulture and Winemaking at the Agricultural University, and the founder and winemaker of "Tsero Wines."
T: How and why did I end up where I am?
You could say I chose winemaking by accident. For years, I had the desire to have my own wine, but I never imagined that I would dedicate my full time to this profession. During my second year of university, while working, I started attending tasting courses, where I discovered that winemaking required serious knowledge and effort. I realized that I wanted to learn more, so I enrolled in a professional course.
T: Why did I choose this profession?
Probably because I feel comfortable here. I love the work I do, and I do it without any sense of force. I’ve found myself in this profession, and I believe that people should do what makes them feel good. That’s when our potential is highest, and the results are of higher quality.
T: My goal
My goal is to gain as much experience as possible and better prepare myself for future challenges. Of course, I continue learning alongside my work. I also have a strong desire to share the knowledge I’m accumulating with the next generation. I want more people to be interested in thoroughly studying this field.
T: What motivates me to do what I do?
I know it sounds cliché, but it's love. Love is the motivation to work hard, sleep little, or sometimes not sleep at all. Every piece of feedback we receive as winemakers gives us the drive and motivation to create better wines. This is a field where you clearly see the result of hard work. It takes a lot of time and energy to produce a quality product, but the end result is worth it.
T: What is lacking in Georgian winemaking?
More experimentation. I understand and appreciate our ancestors' traditions, and I agree that we should follow them and not forget. However, to move forward more quickly, we must experiment more alongside these traditions, listen to each other, and be open to different approaches.
T: Advice for those choosing this profession now:
First and foremost, approach this work with love. Ask as many questions as possible, read various literature, because in this field, both theory and practice are very important. Winemaking is not just about a diploma; it’s about the results you achieve through hard work.
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