On October 25-27, 2017, an International Scientific Conference on “Viticulture, Winemaking in European Countries, Historical  Aspects and Perspectives” was held at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia.

The Conference was financially supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation.

The Aim of the Conference was to discuss the current problems of Viticulture and Winemaking in European Countries and in Georgia. The Conference outlined the future perspectives of development of the viticulture and winemaking  and worked out some recommendations for business development. One of the aims of the Conference was to generalize the recent scientific achievements of EU countries in the field, the innovative technologies, and to prepare basis for the future exchange programs between Georgia and EU countries.

Together with Georgian Scientists, the representatives of many countries such as: France, Italy, Rumania, Spain, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Moldova took part in the work of the Conference.

The leader of the delegation from France was   Michel Thibier (France) – The president of the  Union of European Academies for Science applied to Agriculture, Food and Nature.

The Conference was opened by the President of GAAS Academician Guram Aleksidze who welcomed the Conference participants, the special guests who arrived from Europe and talked about the Conference aims and briefly outlined rationale behind organizing the conference. Welcoming speeches were also made by: the Ministry of Agriculture Levan Davitashvili, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Science Tamaz Marsagishvili, the President of Georgian Academy Giorgi Kvesitadze, the President of the Academy of Agriculture Prof. Michel Thibier, The President of Rumanian Academy  of Agriculture, Georg Sin, Academician Secretary of the Academy of Agriculture, Academician Vladimer Khareba, the Minister of Agriculture of  Ajara Autonomous Republic - Avtandil Meskhidze, the Dean of Agrarian Sciences and Bio-systems engineering Prof. Giorgi Kvartskhava,  Jozef Turok (Slovakia) – University of Bratislava, Doctor;

Fabio Quaglino (Italy) – University of Milan, Doctor; Rafael Ocete Rubio (Spain) – University of Seville, Doctor; Brigitte  Laquieze, Academy of Agriculture of France Vlasov V., Ludmila  Konup, Odessa, Ukraine,  the Head of laboratory of the Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking - M. Ion, V. Filip, Elena Brînduse, and other guests. Also, the Director of Scientific- Research Centre Levan Ujmajuridze welcomed the Conference participants and wished them successful work.

The Conference presentations lasted three days and totally 68 presentations were delivered, among them 18 articles were presented at plenary Sessions which dealt with the development of viticulture and winemaking, the scientific studies conducted in this field and the measures regarding protection of gene-fund, as well as future perspectives for advancement of the branch.

The Conference participants affirmed that the European World of Viticulture and Winemaking got acquainted with the origins of Georgian viticulture, the specificities of family-based wine-making traditions, modern technologies, the  gene-fund of Georgian vine towards which international interest is increasing.  Raising awareness in the world regarding our rich and the oldest grapevine gene-fund is very important as it will support its further protection throughout the world.

 Organizing International forums in this field is particularly significant for the development of the economy of Georgia, because Georgian wine is one of the most important products exported from Georgia.

In the result of the Conference, the scientific contacts between the International and Georgian experts and scholars have been deepened based on which the practice of exchange of specialists, researchers, farmers  and agrarian science personnel will be involved in exchange programs.  The GAAS and the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia will be able to implement the theoretical results and practical assumptions presented at the conference into the farm industries and winemaking.  Thus, the Conference results will be widely publicized which will be very helpful, particularly in the direction of implementation of  modern technologies.  After the Conference the Academy is planning to organize seminars, round tables, field days , and excursions not only in Georgia but outside it to publicize and make the Conference results accessible for a wide circles of farmers, industries and private enterprises.

At the Conference Summing-Up Session, A declaration was adopted which acknowledges the importance of close cooperation among the researchers of different countries, and therefore the scientific forums have great significance.

The Conference declared  that:

1. it is very important for Governmental, non- governmental organizations as well as wide society to be involved actively in the development of viticulture and winemaking to work out the plan for achievement of the common goals.

2. It is particularly important that the Academy of Agriculture of European Union supports Georgia and its endeavor to develop and broaden the scope of activities, enhance the quality of production through implementation of modern technologies and methodology will undoubtedly resulted in more close cooperation and enhancement of scientific researches in the field.  

3. The value of the Conference in promotion common policystrategy for effective development of viticulture and winemaking with active participation of government, non-governmental organizations, citizens and scientific society;
4. The significance of the forum conducted in independent Georgia which will undoubtedly promote popularization of Georgian wines and open the door to European markets; 

 Following the Conference Agenda, the participants visited Jighaura Experimentation Station, also Al. Chavchavadze House museum in Tsinandali, Kakheti, also “Twins Winemaking Company” where the guests were able to visit a unique museum of Georgian Kvevri , and finally, the “Winemaking Company Khareba” hosted the participants and organized excursion in the  ancient “Tunnel” –  wine cellar, and showed  winemaking facilities and a wine museum.

 At the end of the Conference all participants received Certificates of Participation.