The letter, signed by 49 Georgian winemakers, was published by Andro Barnovi, the founder of the Wine Masters Association. The main purpose of the letter is to give a boost to the campaign to recover Georgia's damaged image in the eyes of the international community.
"Georgian winemakers, who join their signatures to this letter, appeal to you all, our fellow citizens, connoisseurs of our wine, people who know our way of life, our friends, insiders of our world, partners, professionals, aspirant winemakers, old and new generation. We are people who keep, create and represent one of the most important traditions of our country, winemaking, as an important part of our national identity and the business card of Georgia.
Vast majority of the signatories to this letter are the owners of small wineries across the country. We do this work primarily not as just business, but out of love to our country, our traditions, with natural interest in viticulture and winemaking, and with the belief that we make our fair input in the development of our homeland.
People of different professions, while progressing in their respective fields, create the present and the future of this country. It is vital interest of our society, of every its member, to have peace, economic growth and development, in order to create long-term conditions for the prosperity of our citizens. Any civil strife, intolerance of each other, internal tensions affect both winemakers and every single sector of our economy. The problem is not so much the damage to our pockets as the delay in the development of each sector, the collapse of the image built over the years, the loss of markets and the death of tourism, which will ultimately affect the pockets and well-being of our citizens.
Going to Western markets was decisive for the reinvention of winemaking in Georgia. Forced reorientation from Russian markets has done an excellent service to the development of our industry. Today, not only do we sell wine at a higher price, but we produce a much better product and firmly establish ourselves in the world wine family, from which we were unjustly exiled after the Bolshevik occupation. Today we feed a much larger segment of the Georgian economy than we could 10-15-20 years ago. The development of our field vitally depends on our value and business connections with the West, which is a source of knowledge and nourishes Georgian winemaking with ideas and new creative impulses.
The development of both the economy and society in general depends directly on the degree of freedom in the country. Freedom is crucial in all aspects - as a moral and philosophical principle and as giving special dynamism to any sphere of public life. Diversity, tolerance, peace, social capital ... is an incomplete list of the benefits that freedom brings to a society.
It is dangerous and in principle completely unacceptable when the image of Georgia, from a dynamically developing, very interesting Western-oriented country, turns into a symbol of internal disunity, intolerance, chaos, backwardness. It will eventually bury all sectors of our economy, severely hurting our society and state.
We are signing this letter in the hope that the public will see other similar responses from various professional circles. We believe that it is our duty as a part of the society, together with other professional groups, to openly declare our position and show that business and creative part of Georgian society strongly condemns homophobia, violence and anti-Western sentiments, which, unfortunately, are cultivated by the current government.
We believe that our greatest enemy is intolerance of minorities, which has had dire consequences in the past and threatens us only with destruction and stagnation in the future. We also believe that the state must strictly protect the constitutional rights of the citizens, and hold those accountable before the law, who reveals homophobia, intolerance, commits or calls for violence, regardless from who the violators represent: government, clergy, business, or any other sector of our society.
By signing this letter, we declare that the most precious thing for us is sovereignty and development of our country, the freedom of our citizens, provision of constitutional rights, protection of civil peace and the unwavering integration with the West, where historically we always belonged. We, Georgian winemakers, will always make personal decisions in the public arena according to these principles!
Signatories:
1. Aleko Sardanashvili, Sadranashvili Wine Cellar
2. Aleko Tskitishvili, “Tchortauli Vineyards”
3. Aleksi Tsikhelishvili, Tsikhelishvili Wine Cellar, owner
4. Ana Tcheishvili, Historian, Courator of Cultural Heritage
5. Andro Barnovi, Association “Wine Artisans”, founder, wine-maker
6. Anton Khetsuriani, Marani Khetsuriani, viticulturist
7. Archil Guniava, Archil Guniava Wine Cellar
8. Archil Kapanadze, wine-maker
9. Beka Lachkepiani, “wine artisans”, wine-maker
10. Beka Nasrashvili, Nasrashvili Family Winery, director, wine-maker
11. Daria Kholodilina, Wine Junkies, co-founder
12. Data Mgeladze, “Artisani”winery, wine-maker
13. David Katchkatchashvili, “Nukriani” winery, wine-maker
14. David Mosulishvili, “Dano” winery
15. Gela Danelia, LTD Danelia & Co 1907, owner
16. Gia Chubinidze, winery “NANUA”
17. Gia Togonidze, LTD Togonidze Wine, founder, wine-maker
18. Giorgi Babunashvili, corporation “Georgian Wine, commercial director
19. Giorgi Ghvardzelashvili, “Ghvardzelashvili Wine Cellar”
20. Giorgi Malatsidze, Tedzami Wines, founder
21. Giorgi Mkhatvrishvili, Mkhatvrishvili Wine Cellar, wine-maker
22. Giorgi Mshvenieradze, Mshvenieradze Winemaking
23. Giorgi Paroshin, LTD “Digimeda”, director
24. Ioseb Mukhiguli, “Mukhiguli 1770”, founder
25. Kakhi Pareshishvili, “Kakhis Ghvino” winery
26. Keto Ninidze, family wine-cellar “Oda”
27. Keto Puturidze, Keto Puturidze Wine, wine-maker
28. Manana Akhvlediani, LTD “Madamwine”, founer
29. Marina Kurtanidze, wine “Marina”, owner
30. Mikheil Tchonishvili, “Chona Winery”
31. Nika Vacheishvili, Nika Vacheishvili Wine Cellar, wine-maker
32. Niko Totladze, “2 Kvevri”
33. Nino Chitoshvili, cellar “Chitos Ghvino”, founder, wine-maker
34. Nino Nadiradze “Two Sisters”
35. Nukri Kurdadze, viticulturist, wine-maker
36. Rezi Tsetskhladze, wine-maker
37. Shio Maisuradze, “Arbos Marani”, wine-maker
38. Shorena Botchorishvili, LTD Ghvenakhe, founder, viticulturist
39. Sophio Nikabadze, wine blogger
40. Tako Zhuruli, Zhuka-Sano Wine, viticulturist, wine-maker
41. Tamar Botchoridze, “Rotcho Vineyards”, Director General
42. Tamar Eristavi, “Eristavi Wine”, owner
43. Tornike Chubinidze, “Chubini” wine cellar, founder, wine-maker
44. Tornike Lomtadze, Lomtadze Winery in Velistsikhe
45. Winery “Tevri”
46. Zaur Natsvlishvili, cellar “Mzetevani”, founder, viticulturist, wine-maker
47. Zaza Jakeli, LTD “Jakeli Organic Vineyards and Wines”, founder
48. Zurab Khvtisiashvili, LTD Khvtisia
49. Zurab Sadagashvili, Winemaker
