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CONTENTS

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View the Wine Pleasures website: www.winepleasures.com

Welcome to IWINETC 2014

Essential Information

Sponsors

Daytime & Evening Events

2 Day Wine Tasting Tour – Kakheti Wine Region

Exhibitor Profiles

Knowledge Programme- Day 1

Knowledge Programme- Day 2

Index of Speakers IWINETC 2014

Wine Tourism Meet Up & Fam Trip Western Georgia

Wine Tourism Meet Up & Fam Trip Kakheti Region

Wine Tourism Meet Up Participants: Buyers IWINETC 2014 is organized by

and in collaboration with our premium sponsors

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in the completion of this publication, the organizers and publishers cannot accept any liability for any errors or omissions.

Copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means – electronic, photocopying or otherwise – without written permission of Wine Pleasures.

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23-25

26-28

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WELCOME TO IWINETC 2014

Welcome to IWINETC 2014. We are delighted that you have attended the event this year to join us in our 6th year in the Cradle of Wine, Georgia.

We have an absolute fantastic event ahead of us, packed with a thought provoking Knowledge programme of over 20 talks, a varied choice of Georgian grape escape destinations and wines to discover in the exhibition area and an impressive line up of networking events to enjoy – not to mention the evening social programme and post conference wine tasting tours.

IWINETC 2014 kicked off on Thursday with the start of the Blogger-Media Fam Trip programme where wine and/or tourism media visited the historical capital of Georgia, Mtskheta and visits to the Jvari Monastery and of course wineries.

One of the key changes we have made to the event this year is the integration of the Wine Tourism Meet Up morning for wine tourism experience providers from Georgia and International destinations to present to 30 or so tour operators and/or travel agents specialised in wine and culinary tourism. This change has been designed to make it easier for Invited Buyers and providers to connect.

We are delighted to have Master of Wine Sarah Abbott with us to lead the Wines of Georgia Grand Tasting which you have free Access to. We hope you enjoy discovering Georgian wines.

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to first-time delegates. Attending a fairly large international conference can be a daunting experience. We hope you will find the after –conference and social activities particularly helpful in orientating you and enabling you to meet new friends.

This annual conference aims to be best known for its friendly and relaxed atmosphere, where wine tourism and related professionals from many countries are able to network, discuss and socialise.

Welcome again to Georgia! Enjoy meeting old friends and making new ones. Most of all, I hope you look back on your Georgian experience as memorable.

Anthony Swift Director IWINETC Wine Pleasures

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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

WELCOME

Welcome to this year’s International Wine Tourism Conference in the cradle of wine, Georgia.

The annual IWINETC is best known for its friendly and relaxed atmosphere, where wine and tourism professionals from around the world are able to network, discuss and socialise.

You can enjoy more than 20 sessions consisting of talks, workshops, panel discussions, activities and more.

REGISTRATION & CONFERENCE OPENING TIMES

Registration Conference talks

Saturday 09.00 – 18.00 Saturday 09.45 – 19.00 Sunday 09.00 – 12.00 Sunday 09.30 – 17.00 REGISTRATION

Your name badge entitles you to access all sessions, after conference activities and priority enrolment for evening events*. Your badge must be worn at all times otherwise access to conference talks may be denied. Please note the room for each session, shown on the right-hand column of the Knowledge Programme.

Access to sessions is strictly by badge only

For lunches you will be issued with tickets which you must produce and give in at the restaurant entrance on each day of the conference. Without a ticket you will not be able to enter the restaurant.

*Tickets are required for evening social activities as there are a limited number of places available for each one. On-site activities are free. Please see the Conference Programme for details of both after conference and evening events and make sure you check the Ballroom notice board for changes.

PROGRAMME CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS

Changes made to the programme after the printing of this Conference Programme will be displayed on a notice board located in front of the Ballroom entrance.

INVITED BUYERS

Invited Buyers are required to attend a welcome meeting on Saturday 29th March at 17.00 in Room Queen Tamar. On Sunday 30th March from 09.00 to 13.00 Invited Buyers must attend the Wine Tourism Meet Up programme as outlined on page 23 of this catalogue.

INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA

Free WIFI access will be provided to all registered delegates. Please ask at the registration desk for instructions on how to connect.

When we tweet something about IWINETC Georgia it would be super if you could re-tweet (RT) it on Twitter using the #iwinetc. The event twitter handler is @iwinetc should you want to draw anything specific to our attention.

If you use Facebook as a social media channel then please also add #iwinetc so people can quickly find your comments.

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We have a closed Face Book page called Wine & Culinary Tourism for participants and if you are not a member already please request to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/iwinetc/

CONFERENCE BLOGGING

The conference has around 25 bloggers and traditional media amongst us and they will be taking photographs and shooting videos for use in their respective publications and web sites. If you do not wish your photo or video to be used, please inform the media in question at the time.

The editor of the IWINETC Blog will be taking photographs and making videos for use in the blog, on our website, and possibly in other advertising and promotional materials. If you do not wish for your photograph to be used, please inform the editor at the time. Follow live – blogging on twitter #iwinetc

CATERING

Teas, coffees and light refreshments will be available for delegates in the morning in the exhibition area located around the conference rooms.

Lunch is included in the price of the registration fee and will be taken in the venue restaurant. You must give your ticket at the restaurant entrance and carry your conference badge. Should you be unable to find your ticket please contact the registration desk.

GENERAL

• Please turn your mobile phone/cell phone off during sessions

• Smoking is prohibited inside the hotel and outside the main entrance of the hotel.

• We regret that no responsibility can be taken by Wine Pleasures for the loss of personal belongings or for accidents.

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SPONSORS

The IWINETC Committee would like to thank all of our sponsors, partners and supporters. Special thanks to our Premium and Gold Sponsors:

Premium Sponsor

Premium Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Gold Sponsor 2014 & Premium Sponsor 2015

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DAYTIME & EVENING EVENTS

Thursday 27th March

19.00 dinner at the Azarpesha Wine Restaurant Book and pay through ticket system only. Meet in the Tbilisi Marriott lobby before 18.30 with your ticket.

30 Euros

Friday 28th March

15.00 - 18.00 Guided Tbilisi Walking Tour

Meet in the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel Lobby on Rustaveli Avenue at 14.45 with your ticket. Walking on Rustaveli avenue and exploring different styles of the main avenue of the city - Rustaveli theatre, Opera house, Parliament building and state museum branches, Vorontsov's Palace and Pushkin square. Then walking from Freedom square to the Old Town by the Gabriadze theatre and tower, Anchiskhati Bazilika (6 c) , Georgian Patriarchy, Peace bridge, Sharden neighborhood, Sioni Cathedral(9 c), tamada monument and jewish quarter. Old market square Maidan and Metekhi plateau, Sulphur bath houses.

Tour guide certified by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Association

15.50 Euros

19.30 dinner at the Kopala Restaurant. Arrive early to take in the magnificant views of the Mtkvari River, Narikala Castle and the City of Tbilisi. Book and pay through ticket system only. Meet in the Tbilisi Marriott lobby before 19.00 with your ticket.

35 Euros

19.30 dinner at the Restaurant In the Shadow of Metekhi with Georgian live music and Georgian dances. Book and pay through ticket system only Meet in the Tbilisi Marriott lobby at 19.00 with your ticket.

38 Euros

Sunday 30th March

19.00 dinner at the Tsiskvili Restaurant. Pay own meal to the restaurant. Meet in the Tbilisi Marriott lobby at 18.30.

Monday 31st March

19.00 dinner at the Phaetoni Restaurant. Pay own meal to the restaurant. Meet in the Tbilisi Marriott lobby at 18.30.

Restaurant reservations and payment is availale at the Conference registration desk subject to availability. Cash (Euros) payments only accepted.

* Reservations and payment only accepted from registered conference delegates. Non registered delegates will not be able to make or pay for reservations at any of the above restaurants.

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2 DAY WINE TASTING TOUR – KAKEHTI WINE REGION

Day 1 Monday 31 March – Tbilisi – Kakheti - Tbilisi

08.45 Meet in the Tbilisi Marriott Lobby with your ticket 09.00 Departure and transfer to the Kakheti Wine Region via the Gombori Pass 11.00 Visit of the Teliani Valley Winery Teliani Valley follows Georgian tradition of winemaking and at the same time, uses modern technologies, knowledge of young, motivated professionals. 12.00 Transfer to Twins Old Cellar Twins Old Cellar” was established by twin brothers Gia and Gela Gamtkitsulashvili in 2000 year. Wine making in the company is based on Kakhetian method of wine production and follows family traditions of wine making. In 2002 they restored ancestors cellar and “Zavod”. They grew Rkatsiteli and Saperavi vineyards and expanded their cellar. At the moment the cellar operates 107 Qvevris most of them having 3.5 – 4.5 tones capacity.

Visit to include a Kvevri opening - Fresh Wine tasting from Kvevri 13.00 Transfer to the Winery Kareba Over 750 hectares of the finest vineyards are owned and cultivated by the cWinery Kareba, the majority of which are to be found in the traditional Georgian viticultural regions of Kakheti, Imereti and Racha- Lechkhumi. Besides the production of fine wines, another of the company’s goals is the identification and cultivation of other old traditional Georgian varieties of grape. Winery Kareba also produces sparkling wines according to the classic 12 month ageing method. The Winery Khareba produces: appellation of origin wines; wines aged between 1 and 3 years in French oak barrels; original table wines; dry and semi-dry sparkling wines fermented in the bottle and aged for at least 12 months; and Qvevri wines.

Transfer to the Kindzmarauli Marani Winery

Established in 2001, “Kindzmarauli Marani” is a producer of exquisite Georgian Wines and Spirits. The winery is located in the heart of the Kakheti Region - Kvareli. The unique location and terroir enable the company to produce over 20 varieties of wine, including the eminent Appellation Controlled - Kindzmarauli, Mukuzani, Kakhetian Royal White, Tsinandali, etc. KM is also proud of its Chacha, a traditional Georgian spirit well known for its originality.

18.00 Transfer to Tbilisi

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Day 2 Tuesday 1 April - Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Mukhrani – Tbilisi

08.45 Meet in the Tbilisi Marriott Lobby 09.00 Transfer to Mtskheta 09.30 Guided visit of Mtskheta to include visits of the 11th century cathedral UNESCO site, Svetitskhoveli and the 6th century Jvari Monastery. 11.00 Visit of the KTW Winery (Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking)

KTW is strongly linked with Antimoz Chkaidze, a winemaker who founded one of the best wine cellars of the time in the 80-ies of the XIX century in the Gurian village of Askana, making wines from a unique grape variety - "Chkhaveri." As well as making wine, KTW also produces brandy and traditional Georgian Chacha. 12.00 Transfer to Mukhrani 12.30 Visit of the Château Mukharani Winery

Chateau Mukhrani is located in one of the most beautiful villages in Georgia – Mukhrani. The vineyards of the Chateau are located on the best selected plots of this exquisite domain. Grand castle and cellars, magnificent gardens and vineyards have made Chateau Mukhrani world-renowned. Here vines have been cultivated for centuries. Archaeological excavations in this region have found traces of wine-making as far back as the Stone Age

Visit, tasting and lunch at Chateau Mukharani

16.00 Transfer to Tbilisi

Your expert wine tourism guide for the Superb 2 day wine tasting tour will be: Natia Khidasheli

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EXHIBITOR PROFILES

Georgian National Tourism Administration 4, Sanapiro Street, Tbilisi – Georgia T. + 995 32 243 69 99 E. info@gnta.ge W. www.gnta.ge Contact: Tamari Jakonia It may surprise you to know that Georgia has the oldest continuous unbroken tradition of wine making in the world, stretching back over 8,000 years and today, there are more than 500 indigenous grape varieties still cultivated here. A quick look at its geographical position and its landscape shows you why it is the perfect place to grow grapes. Many discoveries have left historians in no doubt that Georgia is the birthplace of wine. Ancient wine vessels made of clay, bronze and silver; wine barrels dated to the 2nd millennium BC; and vine seeds found in the ancient tombs of the Bronze Age all leave a continuous story of the history of Georgian wine. Today, old Caucasian method of wine production is still practiced here using the unique and traditional style of Qvevri – Clay pots submerged into the ground are used to ferment and create delicious, unfiltered, organic wines.

Kindzmarauli Marani Mitskevichi Str. #27 b, 0192, Tbilisi - Georgia

T. +995 322 497 477 E. otar.bedoshvili@kmwine.ge W. www.kmwine.ge Contact: Otar Bedoshvili Established in 2001, “Kindzmarauli Marani” is a producer of exquisite Georgian Wines and Spirits. The vineyards and winery are situated in the heart of the historic wine region of Georgia – Kakheti. The region is well known for its perfectly compatible atmosphere for a rich viticulture and to be the first ever place where wine was made, hence “The cradle of Wine”.

Our winery is located in the heart of the Kakheti Region - Kvareli. The winery is equipped with modern technology and is supervised by a professional staff. The unique location and terroir enable the company to produce over 20 varieties of wine, including the eminent Appellation Controlled - Kindzmarauli, Mukuzani, Kakhetian Royal White,

Tsinandali, etc. Our company is also proud of its Chacha, a traditional Georgian spirit well known for its originality.

Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking 32 Saburtalo Sstreet, 0194 Tbilisi, Georgia T. +995 32 2237700 E. info@ktw.ge W. www.ktw.ge Contact: Ekaterine Khmiadashvili or Oksana Bugrimenko KTW offers two wine tourism options:

1. The Chamber of Georgian Wine is in the ancient capital of Georgia – Mtskheta, where on the four floors are: Marani- the big wine cellar with KTW production salon, The Chamber of Georgian Wine, where you have opportunity to have wine tasting, presentation, ampelography lectures and the history of viticulture, Restaurant for wine foodie, Open balcony veranda with views of the historical monuments of Mtskheta. 2. “Velistsikhe’s Veranda” is opened for guests 150 km. from Tbilisi as well. That is the typical Kakhetian barton, where you have opportunity not only to look , but participate in winemaking process and to have wine tasting in Georgian cellar “Marani”, to take part in Georgian bread baking and preparing Georgian grape vodka “Chacha” and sweet “churchkhela”. Finally guests can enjoy the real Georgian feast with Georgian polyphony songs.

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Winery Khareba

6th km, Aghmashenebeli Alley, Tbilisi – Georgia

T. + 995 99 97 24 20 E. info@winerykhareba.com W. www.winerykhareba.com Contact: Nana Maraneli

The Winery Khareba produces more than 30 kinds of wine. The company’s main priority is to produce the finest wines from grapes harvested from its own vineyards in eastern and western Georgia according to the best traditional as well as modern European methods. The Winery Khareba’s eastern Georgian winery is located in Vachnadziani (Kakheti) and has been producing wine since 1957.The Winery Khareba produces: appellation of origin wines; wines aged between 1 and 3 years in French oak barrels; original table wines; dry and semi-dry sparkling wines fermented in the bottle and aged for at least 12 months; and Qvevri wines. The Winery Khareba began producing a new line of traditional Georgian Qvevri wines three years ego. Making wine in Qvevri is the ancient Georgian way of fermenting and ageing of wine.

Besides wine, the company also produces grape seed oil, a unique product which possesses enormous health benefits. Grape seed oil acts as an antioxidant.

Winery Khareba ages and stores its wines in its unique 7, 7 kilometer- long tunnel “Gvirabi”, dug in 1962, Kvareli, into the bedrock of the Greater Caucasus mountain range, especially for the World Wine Congress. Its constant temperature remains at 10-11 degrees Celsius year round. This special tourist facility includes a big recreational park with river and old Qvevries, old Georgian bakery “Tone”, Chacha making facility, traditional Georgian Marani with Satsnakheli (Georgian traditional wooden winepress) and qvevries and much more cultural sites. The touristic complex Gvirabi includes a premium class restaurant Saperavi and it is linked with an elevator. The restaurant is the best example of a mixture of modern and ancient architecture. Winery Khareba plans to build a hotel in the nearest future and this wine oasis will become a one stop shop touristic complex.

Our Wine way also includes wine café-bar Khareba, located in Old Tbilisi district, where you can taste delicious dishes with different kinds of wine cocktails.

Vino Underground 15 G.Tabidze St. 0105 Tbilisi - Georgia

T. + 995 322 30 96 10 E. welcome@vinounderground.ge W. www.vinounderground.ge Contact: Ramaz Nikoladze

"Wine Store and First Natural Wine Bar In Georgia. Where you can taste and buy real, living, natural wines. Was founded by 8 wine growers in 2012 by a group of small wine cellars who do not use pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals in their vineyards, do not filter their wine and do not use cultured yeasts or their industrial additives. The

philosophy behind the growers represented at ღvino Underground is as much about taking care of the earth, and

drinking healthier wines as it is about the belief that this method produces wines of greater character and unique aroma and flavor transcending the standardization, and homogenization that they find when too many additives are used in too many countries making wines from different hemispheres, and countries that have no or little sense of

place. While many of the producers showcased at "ღvino Underground" use the traditional method of Qvevri, clay

vessels completely buried in the ground, used for fermenting and storing wine, and many of our white wines use traditionally long and extended skin maceration which Georgia is famous for, the wine bar was founded to promote a low intervention style of farming and wine raising, whether, wines made in Georgia or from other countries, with skin maceration or not, from Georgian varietals or not.

The bar has small snacks to accompany the wine e.g. organic bread, cheese from different regions of Georgia. "

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Château Mukhrani City Mtskheta, village Mukhrani

T. + 995 32 220 18 78 E-mail: winetours@mukhrani.com W: www.mukhrani.com Contact: Elene Otarashvili Chateau Mukhrani was founded on a tradition of winemaking in the Mukhrani region of Georgia that dates back in millennia. It was the original Georgian royal chateau, and the only winemaking chateau to unite four key components: vineyard, winery, castle and history. To compliment the modern winery, the chateau cellar was restored to its original historical design. Today the cellar can store 60,000 barrels of wine at a constant fifteen degrees Celsius. Since 2007 Chateau Mukhrani has been making the finest wine from grapes harvested from its own vineyard and receiving numerous awards in local and international competitions.

Chateau Mukhrani is located in one of the most beautiful villages in Georgia – Mukhrani. It is a 25 minute drive from Tbilisi. The vineyards of the Chateau are located on the best selected plots of this exquisite domain. Grand castle and cellars, magnificent gardens and vineyards have made Chateau Mukhrani world-renowned. Here vines have been cultivated for centuries. Archaeological excavations in this region have found traces of wine-making as far back as the Stone Age.

Lots of visitors are fascinated by Chateau Mukhrani wine tours and events. We are proud to offer essential experience for any wine enthusiast. Our wine tours invite guests to discover the Georgian royal family history and breath-taking legends, a flavor of antiquity and enchanting wines. Chateau Mukhrani guests can Visit Prince Ivane Mukhranbatoni`s Castle, garden, stable and old cellars, discover the Chateau`s art of winemaking, stroll through the vineyards and participate in the grape harvest, discover the ultramodern Winery.

The Chateau Mukhrani wine tour, an experience you will never forget.

Twins old Cellar Ltd 6 Biberakhi street, Telavi – Georgia T. + 995 32 242 40 42 E. info@cellar.ge W. www.cellar.ge Contact: Maia Nodia “Twins Old Cellar” was established by twin brothers Gia and Gela Gamtkitsulashvili in 2000 year. Wine making in the company is based on Kakhetian method of wine production and follows family traditions of wine making.

In 2002 they restored ancestors cellar and “Zavod”. They grew Rkatsiteli and Saperavi vineyards and expanded their cellar. At the moment the cellar operates 107 Qvevris most of them having 3.5 – 4.5 tones capacity.

Visitors of the Cellar have an unique opportunity to see open Qvevris and watch exclusively process of wine fermentation and wine-making during twelve months of the year.

Twins Old Cellar offers to the visitors to participate in Harvest: picking the grapes, press in Old Cellar family traditional crusher and taste fresh grape juice (machari), Vodka Distillation - "Zavodoba", Qvevri opening - Fresh Wine tasting from Qvevri, Making Tatara and rinsing Churchkhela and Baking Kakhetian traditional bread in tone.

Most interesting in the cellar is the museum of Qvevri and Wine where you can see detailed process of Qvevri making. In form of the museum there is the Qvevri 8 meters tall.

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3 e Travel Rimski Trg bb, 81000 Podgorica - Montenegro T. +382 (0)67 23 24 27 E. office@3etravel.me W. www.3etravel.me Contact: Angelika Temper The team at 3e Travel have extensive experience and intimate knowledge of Montenegro and beyond into the surrounding region of the Balkans. With our close cooperation with the local community, this enables us to give you a genuine experience throughout the country and at any time of the year. We offer tailor-made tours to cater for all tastes – from comfortable panorama and culinary & wine tours with accommodation in cosy hotels to challenging active tours in combination with culinary pleasures.

All of our wine & culinary tours will take you to the best view-points on gorgeous panoramic routes, to visit romantic old villages, picturesque fortress ruins and idyllic landscapes.

Together with the French Oenolog Nathalie Amey we are united in our love for the wine & culinary traditions of Montenegro, a fair share of idealism and the desire to offer only the best to our guests.

Join us on our organised guided tours to explore one of the most diverse, exciting and impressive regions in Europe!!

Champagne – Marne Tourism Board 13 bis Rue Carnot, 51000 Châlons-en-Champagne, France T. ++33 3 26 68 46 45 E. d.brajkovic@tourisme-en-champagne.com W. www.tourisme-en-champagne.com/en Contact: Doran Brajkovic Only 45 minutes from Paris by TGV train, Champagne is the destination of nature lovers, fine gourmets and history enthusiasts. From the production of champagne to the UNESCO World’s Heritage sites, Champagne will surprise you with a large variety of activities.

The Champagne Touristic Route offers to landscapes and heritage lovers 330 km of marked trails through the vineyards. It's time to meet winemakers. They will tell you all about the wines of champagne, assemblies and you will enjoy this subtle nectar. It is also the opportunity to visit the champagne houses internationally renowned in Reims and Epernay, with more than 110km of underground cellars, unique all around the world.

Stroll through typical and charming villages as Hautvillers where Dom Perignon discovered the method of making champagne.

Land of coronations and history let yourself be surprised by the intact architectural gems classified as World Heritage reflecting the rich history of Reims.

Come and feel the rhythm of events, shows and festivals offered throughout the year.

Participate in harvesting (picking grapes by hand) in September, a fabulous annual meeting of the manual grape harvest of champagne.

The Champagne-Marne Tourism Board is at your disposal to help you to organise your tourist packages for individuals, groups and MICE. Come to see the uniqueness of Champagne! Come to IWINETC 2015!

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KNOWLEDGE PROGRAMME – DAY 1

Enhance your knowledge, grow in your profession and be inspired! The IWINETC talk programme offers cutting edge professional learning delivered by leading international industry experts covering useful topics within the wine and culinary tourism industry for you and/or your business.

Day 1: Saturday 29 March 2014 Registration Desks Open 09.00 – 18.00 Exhibition Area Opens 09.00 – 19.00 Welcome & Opening Announcements 09.45 – 09.55 Anthony Swift, IWINETC Director The Ballroom Opening Plenary Session 10.00 – 10.55 Georgia – Cradle of Wine The Ballroom Welcome to Georgia! - Nothing tells you more about the spirit and culture of a country than its native food and wine. And Georgia’s food and wine is amongst the best in the world. It may surprise you to know that Georgia has the oldest continuous unbroken tradition of wine making in the world, stretching back over 8,000 years and today, there are more than 500 indigenous grape varieties still cultivated here. A quick look at its geographical position and its landscape shows you why it is the perfect place to grow grapes. A visit to Georgia is a true feast – let us show you how to eat and drink your way around Georgia. Speakers: Giorgi Sigua, Georgian National Tourism Administration & Levan Davitashvili National Wine Agency Coffee Break 11.00 – 11.25 Session 1.1 11.30 – 12.15 Chicken Soup for the Wine Tourist’s Soul The Ballroom Throughout the world different cultures have prescribed chicken soup as a home remedy for what ails you. At the same time, the art of storytelling has been passed on down the ages. This seminar examines how wineries and tour operators can craft stories that will touch the hearts of wine travelers. These stories will be remembered after a day of wine tasting. Speakers: Terry & Kathy Sullivan, Wine Trail Traveler

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Session 1.1 11.30 – 12.15 Re-Inventing Tradition: Qvevris, Amphorae, Concrete Eggs, & The Natural Wine Movement

King Giorgi-Mirian

Wine fermentation vessel history began with Georgia’s qvevri, and its later variants, the amphorae and pithos of the Phoenicians, Etruscans, and Greeks. Contemporary winemakers associated with the natural wine movement have re-invented tradition, fermenting wine in clay amphorae and egg-shaped concrete vessels. We offer an overview of these experiments, with case studies in Sicily, Spain, and the US. Speakers: Deborah Heath & Jeff Vejr, Lewis & Clark College/drinkSNOB.tv Session 1.2 12.30 – 12.55 Wine as Value in Tourism The Ballroom Potential of different styles of Georgian Wines in wine tourism of country. Different appellations, regional wine - gastronomical - ethnographic traditions make different experiences. Also I will talk about "Edu-tainment" within the context of wine tourism in Georgia Speaker: Shalva Khetsuriani, Georgian Sommelier Association

Session 1.2 12.30 – 13.15 Using Sensory Analysis as Games for a Memorable Visit - Workshop King Giorgi-Mirian People love playing games regardless if the game is to win money or gifts or nothing at all. Games are fun and interactive and can be educational, especially when discovering or trying to get to know a winery or wine region. This presentation will focus on ideas that wineries can use to spark consumer interest. Speaker: Melba Allen, The Wine Profilers Session 1.3 13.00 – 13.30 Kindzmarauli Marani Wine Tasting Queen Tamar Established in 2001, “Kindzmarauli Marani” is a producer of exquisite Georgian Wines and Spirits. The vineyards and winery are situated in the heart of the historic wine region of Kakheti. The region is well known for its perfectly compatible atmosphere for a rich viticulture and to be the first ever place where wine was made, hence “The cradle of Wine”. The unique location and terroir enable the company to produce over 20 varieties of wine, including the eminent Appellation Controlled - Kindzmarauli, Mukuzani, Kakhetian Royal White, & Tsinandali. Our company is also proud of its Chacha, a traditional Georgian spirit well known for its originality.

The following wines will be included in the tasting: Kindzmarauli Original, Red Semi Sweet, 2013, Mtsvane, White Dry, 2013, Saperavi Barrel Select, Red Dry, 2009

Speaker: Otar Bedoshvili, Kindzmarauli Marani

Lunch in the Tbilisi Marriott. Wines sponsored by Kindzmarauli Marani 13.30 – 14.55

Lunch served with Mtsvane, 2013, Saperavi Barrel Select 2009 & Red Semi Sweet, 2013

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Session 1.4 15.00 – 15.45 What I told Georgia and what I learned from Georgia The Ballroom Tim Clarke first came to Georgia to advise on a wine tourism strategy. Drawing on his long experience operating and leading wine tours, he advised that the country base its USP for visitors on its unique strengths, its huge number of native grape varieties and its traditional wine making methods. However, what he learned was much more interesting. The first question that I had to consider in the strategy report was whether Georgia should base its wine tourism ‘story’ on its history, traditions and its huge numbers of grape varieties or whether it should reinvent itself in the ‘new world style’, with modern wine tourism facilities and easily saleable wines. Doing the study had appealed to me both as an Ancient Historian and as someone who had spent the previous 25 years taking clients on expeditions to the source of wine. In the core of the study, I described the purposes of Wine Tourism and a hierarchy of wine tourists and their relative values. I recommended pursuing the ‘Primary Wine Tourist’ - trade visitors, opinion formers and wine lovers on wine tours. I considered wine tourism as a part of rural tourism, so looked at the condition of the villages and amenities, at steps that could be taken to improve these and means to maximize spin-off from tourism into the rural economy. The study also looked at the markets, competition and possibilities, proposing ideas and an action plan. It was one thing for me to tell Georgians their ‘story’ was unique, it was quite another to hear from them how unique it was; that the wines were not just made from rare varieties using antique methods, but were part of a vibrant, ancient wine culture and were made with deep feeling. Speaker: Tim Clarke, Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours

Session 1.4 15.00 – 15.45 Wine Tourism - The Essence of Community Tourism Development King Giorgi-Mirian As tourism increases, there is a growing division between global commodity-tourism and local participation. Special Interests, and in particular wine and culinary programs, bring visitors closer to the regions they work in and act as a catalyst to local tourism development; this talk looks at how this trend may evolve, and the symbiosis between tourism and general economic growth. Speaker: Max Johnson The Great Canadian Travel Company.

Session 1.5 16.00 – 16.45 In a World of Many Brands, How Do You Create a Life Long Customer? King Giorgi-Mirian Our returning customers spend on average $900 per year while new customers spend $30.The greatest single impact on improving existing business is learning how to master service to guests. Wine and Culinary Tourism is fiercely competitive. Many businesses compete for the same guests. It is survival of the most gracious. Who are your guests and what are their expectations and needs? Learn what makes you fail and how to improve hospitality. Speakers: Paul & Merrill Bonarrigo Messina Hof Wine Cellars, Inc. Bryan, Texas, USA

Session 1.5 16.00 – 16.45 Wine as Culture. Case Study: Lazio Queen Tamar Overview of the importance of local cultural heritage in visiting a wine region. The humanities & people of a region as important to experiencing a wine region as the vines and wines themselves. People as Terroir. Case Study: Lazio wine region and getting visitors beyond Rome for a well rounded cultural experience which includes people, wine, food and cultural heritage Why wine is not enough in wine tours. Learn why cultural heritage can sometimes sell wine regions, especially in unknown regions. Most importantly: Be a cultural ambassador of your wine region!

Speaker: Sarah May Grunwald, Antiqua Tours, Italy

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Session 1.6 17.30 – 19.00 Wines of Georgia Grand Tasting The Ballroom Georgia has one of the oldest, continuous, unbroken traditions of wine making in the world, stretching back for 8,000 years. Georgian vine growing and wine production are mentioned in the works of Homer and Apollonius of Rhodes. Many archaeological finds suggest that Georgia is a birthplace of wine.

Wine is certainly an integral part of a rich, evocative culture, which values connection, expression and passion. Wine consumption in Georgia is intertwined with traditions of feasting, poetry and song.

Over 500 indigenous grape varieties are still cultivated here, many of them rescued, preserved and now propagated by a new national viticultural research station at xxxxx. White wines predominate, and range from the zesty and aromatic such Mtsvane, to the firm, stony Rkatsiteli. Reds are in the minority, but increasingly in the news. One of the most striking, and exciting, is Saperavi, described by Andrew Jefford as “a grape variety of astonishing potential”.

There is a third way, in Georgia. Neither red, nor white, nor rosé, so called ‘Orange Wines’ are derived from white grapes fermented on their skins to give darker, tannic whites. The traditional clay amphora used for these wines - Qvevri – are employed by both technologically-minded oenologists, and ‘natural’ wine makers, who eschew conventional preservatives and additions.

The challenge, and delight, for Georgia is to celebrate its unique heritage and diversity, while reaching out to contemporary wine consumers and winning the confidence of both mainstream and specialist wine importers. Georgia’s wines are not a museum piece, but they have a unique opportunity to retain a link with our deepest wine-loving past.

Speakers: Sarah Abbott MW & Shalva Khetsuriani. President of Georgian Sommelier Association

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KNOWLEDGE PROGRAMME – DAY 2

Day 2: Sunday 30 March 2014 Registration Desks Open 08.30 – 13.00 Exhibition Area Opens 08.45 – 17.00 Session 2.1 09.30 – 10.15 Wine Tourism in British Columbia: Small Wine Region - Big Visitor Impact King Giorgi-Mirian The Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada is a hotbed of wine, and was named one of the top ten most talked about destinations on social media. Online influencers are clamoring to visit. Why? Learn about the history, varietals grown and the challenges faced by a small wine region. Find out how the BC wine community creates a big social impact through partnerships, social network leaders and engaging multiple networks. Speakers: Allison Markin, All She Wrote & Erin Korpisto, BC Wine Information Centre / Okanagan College Session 2.1 09.30 – 10.15 Wine Tourism Boom: The Phenomenon of Wine Queens in Slovenia Queen Tamar Like elsewhere in the world, wine tourism in Slovenia is relatively young type of of tourism. Over the past two decades we can follow to the development of an extremely interesting Wine Queens phenomenon – at different levels: national, regional, local and on the level of selected grapes varieties. They are connected in the newly established Slovenian wine Kingdom. Institution of Wine Queen of Slovenia is responsible for the promotion of Slovenian wines, viticulture and of Slovenia as a wine country too. They are spreading the culture of cultivation, care and culture of wine consumption. Across the globe they represent Slovenian tourism, cultural heritage and specially a local, regional and national wine culture. Therefore it is important, which girl will be selected in a public tender for the Wine Queen of Slovenia by a special committee. Špela Štokelj has been chosen as the eighteenth & 2014 Wine Queen of Slovenia. Wine Queen of Slovenia. Over the last decade, we also get more regional and local Wine Queens, which communicate selected wine region or local community. We also have some Wine Queens, who are the ambassadors of certain grape varieties. At the lecture will be presented a historical and cultural context, protocol, fashion, typology and mission of Wine Queens and specially their communicational role, »power« and influence on the development and promotion of wine tourism. In vino veritas? Speakers: Dr. Aleš Gačnik Facutly of Tourism, University Of Primorska & Marijan Močivnik, Revija Vino

Session 2.2 10.30 – 11.15 A Lasting Impression King Giorgi-Mirian Although it is easy to seduce people when you take them to beautiful places and taste wines with them, how do you keep that memory alive once they are back home and keep them engaged with that region? Focus on trading up and staying there. Speaker: Ashika Mathews, London Love Wine

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Session 2.2 10.30 – 11.15 A Rest Day on a Wine Tour – Wine Wellness/Wine Therapy in Spas Queen Tamar My experience as a tour leader has shown that a wine tour should include a rest day, preferably at the end of the tour. Undertaking a wine tour can be quite exhausting. A tour will cover as many wineries and vinothèques as possible. This normally leaves no time to “digest” the impressions from the previous days and to relax. An available day at the end of the tour also gives an opportunity to purchase wine, as most wineries are prepared to deliver wine to the hotel. The ideal place to rest on a wine tour is a spa, preferably a spa resort with a natural mineral source. Wine lovers will appreciate those spas which offer wine wellness/wine therapy. I will discuss the various brands of wine-based products made and used in Europe. In particular I explain how Caudalie came to be the first product for wine therapy on the market. Caudalie continues to be the leading product worldwide. At the end of my talk I will highlight the most attractive wine spas in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Portugal. Speaker: Jochen Erler, Circle of Wine Writers Coffee Break 11.15 – 11.40 Session 2.3 11.45 – 12.25 Round Table: Wineries can hold Twitter Wine Tasting Events. What can Tour Operators & other Wine Tourism Experience Providers do that may be similar?

The Ballroom

Representatives of various companies in the wine tourism sector explain different ways of branding and marketing using online activities currently going on in the wine travel blogsphere. Participants will leave the session with a list of things that they can say “I can do that!”

Speakers: Terry Sulivan, Wine Trail Traveler, Melba Allen, The Wine Profilers, Paul Bonarrigo Messina Hof Wine, Cellars, Tom Plant, WINEormous, Sarah May Grunwald, Antiqua Tours Session 2.4 12.30 – 13.10 Wine tourism in Beaujolais, A potential to exploit King Giorgi-Mirian "The Beaujolais region has recently suffered a severe crisis due to a problem with the Beaujolais Nouveau and the mediocre quality of the wine. France and traditional markets like the USA, Japan and the UK have stopped making the Beaujolais Nouveau a major international wine event. Beaujolais has many assets: its location near Lyon with its international airport; beautiful landscape and elegant chateaux; great food - and only one hour from Beaune, with its unique architecture, possibly the traditional heart of Burgundy. Despite all its assets and the dynamism of key wine-growers and wine merchants (George Duboeuf) wine tourism is largely under-developed. Some wine-growers with the help of the wine promotion board of the region are trying to exploit the opportunities and use wine tourism to rejuvenate the sales of their wines. Key success stories. Recommendations for future developments".

Speaker: Laurence Cogan-Marie , Dijon Business School-School Of Wine & Spirits Business

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Session 2.4 12.30 – 13.10 Republic of Moldova an emerging wine tourism destination The Ballroom Moldova wine tourism during soviet times and after the collapse of the USSR. Appearance of new wine destinations, due to private investments. Popularization of the wine tourism through association in Wine Guilds. Wine education of the consumer. Development of the national program MOLDOVA WINE ROUTE. Alignment of the wine and touristic industry to a common promotion and development strategy Speaker: Veronika Raetchi-Tomescu, JV Chateau Vartely Ltd: National Center for Promotion of the Wine Tourism of Moldova; Moldovan Association for Incoming Tourism Moldova Holiday. Lunch in the Tbilisi Marriott. Wines sponsored by Winery Khareba 13.15 – 14.55

Lunch served with Krakhuna 2013 (white) & Saperavi 2013 (red)

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Session 2.5 15.00 – 15.55 Authentic Terroir The Ballroom This talk will offer a practical exploration of how to share, the authenticity of a wine region with food and wine lovers. What do the cuisine, wine, and folk songs of a distinct region have in common. How can we foster that unique spirit of a place, through wine tourism and help it retain the authenticity that makes it attractive. We will take a visual and audio journey through different wine regions of Georgia and describe how their cuisines, and wine developed in tandem creating a unique harmony. We will describe the dominating chords of flavor in the food, characteristics of the wine, and even share the unique feasting songs of the region with live singers, to see how these cultures are impacted by history, climate, landscape and the spirit of a place. Why some are similar, and why some differ so much. Parallels of European Wine regions will also be made to help demystify, Georgia’s plurality of grape varieties and regions. In a fast changing world where there are so many international styles of wine, we will describe through our experience at Living Roots, why curious wine lovers long for a unique experience that allows them to enjoy local food and wine cultures in a deeper and more focused way then standardized food and wine pairings would offer. This approach helps one understand how wines evolved in their place of origin, taking an understanding of terroir further than only climate and geological structure of the site. This talk, illustrated with live songs, and visuals will be beneficial both for tour companies that run wine and food tours, as well as, writers looking for new themes to write about, as well as help participants understand more about regions they will visit during the excursions. Speakers: John Wurdeman & Ia Tabagari, Living Roots Travel Session 2.6 16.00 – 16.10 IWINETC 2014 round up and farewell. Welcome IWINETC 2015 host The Ballroom Session 2.7 16.15 – 16.40 Closing Plenary Session: A Sparkling Tale The Ballroom Champagne Essentials for Wine and Culinary Tourism. Speaker: Elisabet Vidal, La Champagne, Comité Départemental du Tourisme de la Marne

Conference Ends 17.00

Depart for FAM Trips 17.15

7th

Annual International Conference & Workshop 2015 will be

travelling to France - La Champagne Region!

Registration open May 2014.

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INDEX OF SPEAKERS IWINETC 2014

Aleš Gačnik ales.gacnik@turistica.si

Allison Markin allison@allshewrote.ca

Ashika Mathews ashika@londonlovewine.com

Deborah Heath heath@lclark.edu

Elisabet Vidal cdt51@tourisme-en-champagne.com

Elizabeth Slater e@inshortmarketing.com

Erin Korpisto

Giorgi Sigua

Ia Tabagari info@travellivingroots.com

Jochen Erler jochenerler@hotmail.de

John Wurdeman jwurdeman@pheasantstears.com

Kathy Sullivan kathy@winetrailtraveler.com

Laurence Cogan laurence.cogan@escdijon.eu

Marijan Močivnik marijan@studio-ajd.si

Max Johnson max@gctravel.ca

Melba Allen melba.allen@oenocom.fr

Merrill Bonarrigo

Otar Bedoshvili otar.bedoshvili@kmwine.ge

Paul Bonarrigo

Sarah Abbott sarah@swirl-me.co.uk

Sarah May Grunwald info@antiquatours.com

Shalva Khetsuriani shalva.khetsuriani@gmail.com

Terry Sulivan terry@winetrailtraveler.com

Tim Clarke tim@winetours.co.uk

Tom Plant tom@wineormous.com

Veronika Raetchi vraetchi@vartely.md

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WINE TOURISM MEET UP & FAM TRIP WESTERN GEORGIA

*Important Note: Access to The Wine Tourism Meet Up Programme is strictly open to Invited

Buyers and speaker representatives included in the speed presentation programme only.

Batumi, Adjara & Western Georgia Programme

Day 1 Saturday 29 March

Flights from home Destination to Tbilisi International Airport, Georgia.

Transfers to the IWINETC venue hotel –Tbilisi Marriott, 13 Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, 0108 Georgia

17.00 Welcome & Program Presentation in Room Queen Tamar 17.30 Wines of Georgia Grand Tasting in the Ballroom with Sarah Abbott, Master of Wine 19.00 Meet in the Hotel Lobby 19.15 Walk to the Azarpesha Wine Restaurant 19.30 Typical Georgian Dinner with plenty of singing 21.30 Accommodation at the Tbilisi Marriott Day 2 Sunday 30 March

Breakfast and check out. Leave luggage in appointed area

Wine Tourism Meet Up – in the Ballroom

08.30 – 09.15 Flight Subsidy Reimbursement 09.20 Welcome & Announcements 09.30 The Definitive Directory of Wine & Culinary Tourism Providers – Speaker: Anthony Swift, Spain Wine Pleasures Speed Presentations on Georgia & International Grape Escape Destinations Representatives of wine tourism experience providers from both national and international companies & organisations will tell us in 5 minutes all about their wine tourism options.

09.35 – 09.40 GEORGIA Speaker: Nana Maraneli, Winery Khareba 09.40 – 09.45 GEORGIA Speaker: Ramaz Nikoladze, Vino Underground 09.45 – 09.50 GEORGIA Speaker: Elene Otarashvili, Château Mukhrani

09.50 – 09.55 GEORGIA Speaker: Maia Nodia, Twins Old Cellar 09.55 – 10.00 GEORGIA Speaker: Ekaterine Khmiadashvili, Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking 10.00 – 10.05 GEORGIA – Speaker: Alexander Mamulashvili, Tourist Agency “Visit Georgia” 10.05 – 10.10 GEORGIA – Speaker: Aleksandre Sulamanidze, ALLTOURS 10.10 – 10.15 GEORGIA – Speaker: Natia Khidasheli, Caucasus Journey-Traveler’s Club 10.15 – 10.20 GEORGIA – Speaker: Shorena Niniashvili, PROMETHEA Voyages 10.20 – 10.25 ARMENIA – Speaker: Nelli Malkhasyan, Princess Maneh Tours 10.25 – 10.30 SPAIN – Speaker: Fabio Abugna, WineTime Barcelona 10.30 – 10.35 GREECE – Speaker: Georgios Mastrakoulis, Vintage Routes Crete 10.35 – 10.40 MONTENEGRO – Speaker: Angelika Temper, 3e travel DMC

10.45 Coffee and networking time

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11.30 Round Table: Wineries can hold Twitter wine tasting events. What can tour operators and other wine

tourism experience providers do that may be similar?

Representatives of various companies in the wine tourism sector explain different ways of branding and marketing using online activities currently going on in the wine travel blogosphere. Participants will leave the session this session with a list of things that they can say, “I can do that.” Please be punctual for this session.

Participants:

Melba Allen, The Wine Profilers, Paul Bonarrigo Messina Hof Wine, Cellars, Tom Plant, WINEormous, Sarah May Grunwald, Antiqua Tours

Moderator: Terry Sulivan, Wine Trail Traveler

12.30 – 17.00 Follow the Conference Programme on pages 20 - 21

17.00 Meet in the hotel lobby, get luggage & place on bus. Please make sure you put your luggage on the right bus. 17.15 Transfer to through Western Georgia which is a home to some of the country’s most splendid scenery, special cuisine and ancient sights. Tbilisi – Mukhrani – Kutaisi 18.15 Chateau Mukhrani was founded on a tradition of winemaking in the Mukhrani region of Georgia that dates back in millennia. It was the original Georgian royal chateau, and the only winemaking chateau to unite four key components: vineyard, winery, castle and history. Visit, wine tasting and dinner 20.00 Transfer to Kutaisi. Kutaisi was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis, now the second biggest city in Georgia. Kutaisi has an ancient cultural tradition.

23.00 Check in at the Hotel Empire and refreshments

Day 3 Monday 31 March

Breakfast and check out

09.30 Transfer to Gelati 10.00 Visit of the 12th century Gelati Monastery 11.00 Transfer to the Guria wine & tea producing region, with lush forests, stunning hilly landscapes & sub tropic farming. Guria is well known for the mineral water, Nabeglavi. 12.30 Winery tour, wine tasting and lunch at the Zura Topuridze Winery, Dablatsikhe village. Zura is producing rare amber & rosé dry wines from the Chkhaveri grape variety 14.30 Transfer to Adjara which has been part of Colchis and Caucasian Iberia since ancient times. Adjara is the main center of Georgia's coastal tourism industry. Mountainous and forested, the region has a subtropical climate, and there are many health resorts. Adjara has excellent terroir for growing tea, citrus fruits and tobacco. 17.30 Guided City tour of Batumi. Twisty streets and sea-side boulevards, views of Batumi – modern architecture and sculptures of Medea & heroes Ali and Nino - love story by Kurban Said 19.00 Check in at the Hotel Sheraton Batumi and free time 20.00 Dinner at city restaurant Megrul-Lazuri with traditional Georgian coastal food. The large list of local delicious dishes provides a wide choice for gourmands. After dinner visit musical fountains by the Black Sea, listen the best of classic music under open air.

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Day 4 Tuesday 1 April

Breakfast and check out

10.00 Visit of Batumi’s Botanical gardens with gorgeous views of the Black Sea. Currently, the garden consists of nine floristic sectors, those of Caucasian humid subtropics, East Asia, New Zealand, South America, the Himalayas, Mexico, Australia, and of the Mediterranean. The garden collection has 2037 taxonomic units of ligneous plants, including 104 of Caucasian origin. 11.30 Transfer through the mountainous area of Adjara with short stops to view an old bridge & water fall 13.00 Lunch & wine tasting at the Adjarian Wine House 14.30 Transfer to Mtskheta with short stops enroute 20.00 Dinner at the Restaurant Old Armazi 21.30 Transfer to Tbilisi 22.00 Check in at the Hotel Tbilisi Marriott

Day 5 Wednesday 2 April

Breakfast and check out.

Transfers to Tbilisi Airport for flights to home destinations

For those of you not leaving at the crack of dawn or earlier the following programme is available:

10.00 Guided tour to historical part of Tbilisi, visit of the Narikala fortress, Caravanserai, the National Museum of Georgia, viewing archaeological, medieval, fine art and ethnographic sections. 13.00 Lunch at Restaurant Kala, renowned for its seasonal vegetables, special dishes & fresh wines 14.30 Free time or Wine tasting at “Vino Underground“, a wine bar specializing in Natural Wines owned by a collective small artisan producers Transfers to Tbilisi Airport for flights to home destinations

Your expert wine tourism guides for the Fam Trip visit programme will be: Maka Tarashvili & Elene Bukhaidze.

Nikoloz Kerkadze from the Georgian National Wine Agency will also be with you.

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WINE TOURISM MEET UP & FAM TRIP KAKHETI

*Important Note: Access to The Wine Tourism Meet Up Programme is strictly open to Invited

Buyers and speaker representatives included in the speed presentation programme only.

Day 1 Saturday 29 March

Flights from home Destination to Tbilisi International Airport, Georgia.

Transfers to the IWINETC venue hotel –Tbilisi Marriott, 13 Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, 0108 Georgia

17.00 Welcome & Program Presentation in Room Queen Tamar 17.30 Wines of Georgia Grand Tasting in the Ballroom with Sarah Abbott, Master of Wine 19.00 Meet in the Hotel Lobby 19.15 Walk to the Azarpesha Wine Restaurant 19.30 Typical Georgian Dinner with plenty of singing 21.30 Accommodation at the Tbilisi Marriott Day 2 Sunday 30 March

Breakfast and check out. Leave luggage in appointed area

Wine Tourism Meet Up – in the Ballroom

08.30 – 09.15 Flight Subsidy Reimbursement 09.20 Welcome & Announcements 09.30 The Definitive Directory of Wine & Culinary Tourism Providers – Speaker: Anthony Swift, Spain Wine Pleasures Speed Presentations on Georgia & International Grape Escape Destinations Representatives of wine tourism experience providers from both national and international companies & organisations will tell us in 5 minutes all about their wine tourism options.

09.35 – 09.40 GEORGIA Speaker: Nana Maraneli, Winery Khareba 09.40 – 09.45 GEORGIA Speaker: Ramaz Nikoladze, Vino Underground 09.45 – 09.50 GEORGIA Speaker: Elene Otarashvili, Château Mukhrani

09.50 – 09.55 GEORGIA Speaker: Maia Nodia, Twins Old Cellar 09.55 – 10.00 GEORGIA Speaker: Ekaterine Khmiadashvili, Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking 10.00 – 10.05 GEORGIA – Speaker: Alexander Mamulashvili, Tourist Agency “Visit Georgia” 10.05 – 10.10 GEORGIA – Speaker: Aleksandre Sulamanidze, ALLTOURS 10.10 – 10.15 GEORGIA – Speaker: Natia Khidasheli, Caucasus Journey-Traveler’s Club 10.15 – 10.20 GEORGIA – Speaker: Shorena Niniashvili, PROMETHEA Voyages 10.20 – 10.25 ARMENIA – Speaker: Nelli Malkhasyan, Princess Maneh Tours 10.25 – 10.30 SPAIN – Speaker: Fabio Abugna, WineTime Barcelona 10.30 – 10.35 GREECE – Speaker: Georgios Mastrakoulis, Vintage Routes Crete 10.35 – 10.40 MONTENEGRO – Speaker: Angelika Temper, 3e travel DMC

10.45 Coffee and networking time

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11.30 Round Table: Wineries can hold Twitter wine tasting events. What can tour operators and other wine

tourism experience providers do that may be similar?

Representatives of various companies in the wine tourism sector explain different ways of branding and marketing using online activities currently going on in the wine travel blogosphere. Participants will leave the session this session with a list of things that they can say, “I can do that.” Please be punctual for this session.

Participants:

Melba Allen, The Wine Profilers, Paul Bonarrigo Messina Hof Wine, Cellars, Tom Plant, WINEormous, Sarah May Grunwald, Antiqua Tours

Moderator: Terry Sulivan, Wine Trail Traveler

12.30 – 17.00 Follow the Conference Programme on pages 20 - 21

17.00 Meet in the hotel lobby, get luggage & place on bus. Please make sure you put your luggage on the right bus. 17.15 Transfer to the Kakeheti wine region 19.45 Check in at the Hotel Royal Batoni 20.00 Dinner in the Hotel Royal Batoni Restaurant

Day 3 Monday 31 March

Breakfast 09.00 Departure and transfer to Twins Old Cellar 09.30 Visit to include the unique opportunity to see open Qvevris and watch exclusively the process of wine fermentation and wine-making during twelve months of the year. Visit of the Qvevri Museum housed in the winery 11.00 Transfer to the Tsinandali Estate 11.30 Tsinandali is a House come Museum and it has one of the oldest wine cellars and oldest wine. Once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze. 12.15 Transfer to the Shumi Winery 12.30 Shumi was the first company in Georgia to establish a museum dedicated to viticulture and wine-making. Vine and Wine Museum “Vazioni” is located on the premises of the winery and combines the exposition hall with a vineyard consisting of a unique collection of grape varieties. The exposition hall presents unique archaeological artifacts, which tell a lot about the long history of Georgian Viticulture and Wine-Making 13.30 Transfer to the Schuchmann Winery 13.45 Visit, wine tasting and lunch at the stunning Schuchmann winery combining ancient and modern wine techniques, with unique culinary interpretations of traditional Georgian dishes. Kisiskhevi, Telavi area. 16.00 Trransfer to the Kvaeli región 16.40 Visit of the Kvareli Edeni Hotel & Spa 17.40 Transfer to the Khareba winery 18.00 The Khareba Winery has a complex called Gvirabi which houses a premium class restaurant Saperavi and it is linked with an elevator. The restaurant is an example of a mixture of modern and ancient architecture. Winery Khareba plans to build a hotel in the near future and aims to become a one stop shop touristic complex. Visit, tasting and dinner in the Saperavi Restaurant 21.00 Transfer to the Hotel Royal Batoni and free time.

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Day 4 Tuesday 1 April

Breakfast and check out

10.00 Departure and transfer to Ikalto 10.40 Visit of the 6th century Monastery of Ikalto and 12th century wine academy 11.45 Visit of the Alaverdi Monastery and its 1,000 year old wine cellar! This 6th century facility has a wonderful story, and the few priests who still live there continue its long pedigree of winemaking using traditional wine making techniques. 13.30 Transfer to Château Mere 13.45 Visit of the hotel and winery. Lunch in the Château Mere Restaurant 16.00 Transfer to Sighnaghi 17.15 Guided Walking tour of Sighnaghi affording stunning views of the Alazani Valley. Visit wine cellar, carpet and picture gallery at Pheasants Tears winery. 19.00 Traditional Georgian Dinner (Supra) with polyphonic music, many delicious courses and eloquent toasts by the toastmaster at Pheasant’s Tears Wine Restaurant. 21.00 Transfer to Tbilisi 22.30 Check in Tbilisi Marriott Day 5 Wednesday 2 April

Breakfast and check out.

Transfers to Tbilisi Airport for flights to home destinations

For those of you not leaving at the crack of dawn or earlier the following programme is available:

10.00 Guided tour to historical part of Tbilisi, visit of the Narikala fortress, Caravanserai, the National Museum of Georgia, viewing archaeological, medieval, fine art and ethnographic sections. 13.00 Lunch at Restaurant Kala, renowned for its seasonal vegetables, special dishes & fresh wines 14.30 Free time or Wine tasting at “Vino Underground“, a wine bar specializing in Natural Wines owned by a collective small artisan producers Transfers to Tbilisi Airport for flights to home destinations

Your expert wine tourism guides for the Fam Trip visit programme will be: Mariam Iosebidze & John Wurdeman.

George Sikharulidze from the Georgian National Wine Agency will also be with you.

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WINE TOURISM MEET UP PARTICIPANTS: INVITED BUYERS

Fam Trip participants: Western Georgia

Company Country Aslema Tours Travel Agency Poland

Cosmopolis France

Fogt Studie- & Grupperejser Denmark

Vedi Group Russia

Tentours Slovenia Slovenia

Lido Travel Agency Poland

KonferensBolaget Sweden

Transeagle Vacations USA

Power Travel Germany

Food and Wine Travel Australia

Tour Gourmet Italy

Quotient TravelPlanner Singapore

Far Eastern Travel International USA

The Real Events Group UK

Fieldwood Travel Sweden Fam Trip participants: Kakheti Company Country The Great Canadian Travel Company Canada

Vedi Tourgroup Russia

Sports Incentives Conventions International France

Trade & Travel Company Poland

Paveway Explorer Holidays Singapore

Thomas Schilde Sport+Reisen Sweden

Big Travel Sweden Sweden

Leron Travel Ukraine

Music and Markets Tours USA

Sallingresor AB Sweden

J&T Concierge Czech Rep

Lombard Gate Italy

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