In the wine industry, there’s a clear divide between two major approaches: those who produce natural wine and those who follow conventional methods. However, as Tamta Bankanashvili, an expert in the wine industry, explains, this is not merely a technological difference—it’s about ideology and its realization in practice.
What ideologies and trends are prevalent in the global wine industry? To explore this, Tboba spoke with Tamta Bankanashvili.
T: Tamta, what ideological differences exist in the wine industry?
In the wine industry, there are winemakers who lean towards industrialization, and then there are the naturalists. To put it in the simplest terms: those who produce wine with industrial methods—using filtration, sulfites, and other additives—and those who view wine as a living organism and keep intervention in the production process to a minimum.
Each of these groups firmly believes in their approach as the "correct" way to make wine. The difference lies in ideology—a belief system that goes far beyond just winemaking.
T: How much are these ideologies opposed to each other?
Using Georgia as an example, our wine industry is so small that winemakers should complement each other rather than compete. There’s space for everyone in this industry, as long as winemakers follow their ideology and find their audience.
It’s also a fact that, in recent years, natural wine has gained popularity, as many winemakers are returning to organic, low-intervention methods.
T: What does natural wine mean?
The concept of natural wine and organic processes is not new for Georgia, though it experienced a significant break due to various historical events. It could even be said that this tradition was preserved in households. This allows natural wine to remain a central part of Georgian wine culture, despite the growth of industrialization. Many naturalist winemakers are deeply aware of this process.
It’s essential that we understand what we’re doing and respect each other’s methods.
T: What does the Georgian wine industry lack?
Although Georgia’s wine industry is developing, many winemakers face challenges, especially those experimenting and introducing new approaches. Here, too, some see innovation as opposing tradition, suggesting that any change is a threat to tradition. But neither culture nor tradition is a static concept—it’s innovation that keeps them alive.
In my opinion, what the natural wine industry lacks most is openness to new ideas. We can’t lock tradition in a box and leave it untouched.
In the end, it’s clear that winemaking is not just a profession; it’s a way of life. It’s important not only to understand the product but also the values and beliefs that bring it to life.
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