September 5, 2026
winespeed-by-karen-macneil
September 4, 2026

Wine People Close Up – Irakli Gilauri

Twice in my career, a man from Georgia (the country) has walked into my office and changed the way I think about the world of wine.

The first time, two decades ago, the man was an Eastern Orthodox monk from an 11th century monastery. The second time, a few weeks ago, the man was Irakli Gilauri, who is changing the future of wine from the most ancient of terroirs where wine was born—Georgia.

 

A. Because white wine does not need to be swirled as vigorously to open it up

B. Because white wine is generally not as complex as red wine

C. Because in traditional, elegant place settings, white wine glasses and red wine glasses needed to be differentiated from one another

D. No one knows