Expectations of Winemakers Participating in the Festival

Preparations for Georgia's main natural wine festival, ZERO COMPROMISE, typically begin in winter, even though the event, organized by the Natural Wine Association, takes place in May. This year, the festival will be held on May 2 and 3 and, like last year, will once again be hosted at the Tetsi space (formerly the Artarea building).

Georgian and international wine enthusiasts are gearing up for the festival, with many having gained considerable experience from previous editions. Most have at least some idea of what to expect, what they will see, and where to find their desired wines.

Naturally, wine importers and viticulture and winemaking specialists are also preparing, but the highest expectations lie with the festival’s main hosts — the winemakers themselves. These individuals, who dedicate an entire year of effort to crafting their finest wines, will present their creations to the event’s true "judges"—the wine aficionados.

Winemakers view this festival as an extraordinary opportunity for small wineries to showcase their products to a wider audience and build brand recognition. Events like this help attract new customers, boost sales, and provide valuable feedback. Moreover, they offer winemakers a chance to personally share their winemaking processes and traditions with guests.

Some winemakers participating in the festival have shared their thoughts and hopes ahead of the event with NWA.GE.

Zaza Mushkudiani, Tamani Marani (Lechkhumi): "Our main expectation is to connect with a wider audience, present our wines, and receive feedback from consumers. We also look forward to meeting both familiar and new winemakers, whom we will greet with great pleasure. We hope that this year's festival will exceed expectations, offering a pleasant atmosphere, numerous guests, and another rewarding experience. Over the past year, our winemaking has seen significant progress — we constructed a new wine cellar equipped with the necessary tools and facilities, enabling us to further develop our production and offer wine lovers the best possible experience. This year, we will participate in the festival with Lechkhumi Tsolikouri."

Tea Sturua, Patara Marani: "Any festival that aims to promote specific products is crucial for small entrepreneurs who face limited marketing budgets and restricted access to various resources and markets. The essence of the ZERO COMPROMISE festival is to unite consumers interested in Georgian wine, importers, wholesale and retail representatives, bloggers, and promoters.

For participating wineries, the festival provides an excellent platform to personally promote our products, hold direct negotiations, and sell wine on a smaller scale on-site. What makes this festival exceptional is its high level of recognition and trust — it is open exclusively to members of the Natural Wine Association, which signifies both prestige and responsibility.

The festival's name — ZERO COMPROMISE — is a statement in itself. It conveys that the small wineries showcased here strictly adhere to international standards of natural wine, making this an additional draw for festival guests. Patara Marani will present three types of wine made from grapes grown in our own vineyards, located in the microzones of Tsarafi and Akhoebi in the village of Kardenakhi. Fermented in Qvevri using traditional Kakhetian methods, we will showcase Tsarafi Rkatsiteli 2020 and 2022, as well as Akhoebi Saperavi 2022."

David Mosulishvili, Dano Winery: "Our expectations, as always, are high. ZERO is not just a festival. Without exaggeration, it must be said that this is a place and environment filled with abundant sunshine, amber tones, natural energy, and a sense of cosmic unity. The most important thing is that, after the catastrophically poor harvest of 2023, we have been blessed with a good harvest in 2024. We have also introduced two new wines.

Despite limited resources, this festival gives everyone the opportunity to present the fruits of their labor to wine lovers and connect with like-minded winemakers. This year, we will showcase six types of wine: Khornabuji Qvevri (Rkatsiteli aged 180 days on skin); Khornabuji Amber (Rkatsiteli aged 14 days on skin); Khornabuji Red (Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Saperavi); Nona’s Sunny Wine (a blend of Grdzelmtevana, Kakhuri Mtsvane, Rkatsiteli, and Buera); Pink Rkatsiteli + Rkatsiteli; and Rkatsiteli Udedo (aged 1 day on skin). All these wines are from the 2024 harvest."

Tornike Lomtadze, Lomtadze Cellar Velistsikhe: "For us, ZERO holds a dual significance: introducing new buyers and wine enthusiasts to our products while also bringing together members of our Association to taste new wines and share experiences. The Association offers small wineries the chance to position their wines in the world of natural wine with minimal costs, reinforcing their belief in the value of their work. This, in turn, motivates them to transform their passion into a thriving business.

Following the complete loss of our 2023 harvest, in 2024, we primarily sold off older stock while preparing new wines for consumers. At this year’s festival, we will present Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Ghvinis Tetri wines, as well as blends like Rkatsiteli/Mtsvane (50/50) and Shavkapito-Tavkveri (50/50). And, if time allows, I might even try my hand at brewing beer!"

Shorena Pataridze, Winery “Pataridze’s Rachuli”: "From this festival, we primarily expect to discover and connect with interesting players in the Georgian wine market. We will showcase a selection of wines, including our Red Dry Wine from the 2022 harvest, which won an IWSC silver medal, and our Red Dry Wine from the 2023 harvest, an IWSC bronze medalist. Additionally, we will present Rachuli Tsolikauri (dry white wine), Rose Wine, Khvanchkara (red semi-sweet wine), and a Red Dry Wine with the BIO mark (Caucascert certified).

Recently, we implemented ISO standards at our enterprise and established a warehouse in Germany. We've also expanded our export reach to several new countries. The 'Zero Compromise' festival plays a crucial role in promoting the wines of small wineries within the Georgian market while also opening doors for these wines to enter the premium segment of international markets."

Ioseb Khutsishvili, Marani “Makharebeli”: "Our main goal for this festival is to forge new connections with importers and capture their interest. Unfortunately, Georgian winemaking has faced significant challenges in recent years, making it essential to build new relationships, raise awareness, and establish contacts with importers.

At the festival, we will present a variety of wines, including Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane (2018, 2023, 2024), Pet Nat 2024, and Saperavi (Mukuzani—2020, 2023, 2024)."

Kote Topuria, Winery “Iora”: "In my view, small wineries play a critical role in the development of winemaking in our country. These wineries create truly unique wines because every bottle is cherished and the result of immense labor. When a winery produces natural wine, the challenge becomes even greater, requiring both specialized knowledge and a bold vision. This direction is evolving well in Georgia, guided by outstanding leadership from the Natural Wine Association.

Being a member of this Association has given us opportunities to participate in natural wine festivals not only in Georgia but also abroad. At this year's festival, we will present wines from our 2022 harvest, including Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Kisi-Rkatsiteli, and Kisi-Buera. I believe each of these wines is worthy of a prestigious event like this.

However, we leave the evaluation to the consumers. Every opinion, even critical feedback, is highly valuable to us. I believe this festival is directly tied to raising brand awareness. It also provides a platform to directly connect with interested individuals, share our products, and exchange experiences with colleagues. I am confident that exciting days lie ahead for all of us."

The festival is organized by the Natural Wine Association with the support of the National Wine Agency of Georgia. The festival's partner is Adjara Group.

Tickets for the festival will be available on TKT.ge: https://tkt.ge/event/465723/zero-kompromaisi-2025 

Address: Tbilisi, Dodo Abashidze #10, Tetsi, Time: 11:00 - 17:00

Levan Sebiskveradze