Page 130 - LLR-Exploration II

TBILISI, December 5 (RIA
Novosti) – Georgia’s
traditional method of

wine production, using
underground clay jars for
fermentation, has been
placed on a UN list of
protected non-material
cultural heritage.

A UNESCO committee
awarded the Georgian
jars, known as kvevri,
protected status on
Wednesday during a
Figure 109: Kvervi, above ground-- large earthenware vessels used for the
Figure 110: The keipi of three noblemen", by
meeting held this week in fermentation, storage and ageing of traditional Georgian wine the Georgian naïve artist Pirosmani.
Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku,
to review new At some keipi there may be 20 or
applications for the list. more toasts, with spaces between
Georgian wine is to ensure that no one gets overly
traditionally sealed in the intoxicated since the constant
kvevri – amphora-like clay threat of invasion called for
vessels that are buried everyone in the village to be sober
underground up to the enough to fight. He goes on to
neck – for up to six mention that "The Georgian
months to mature, giving custom is to drain the wine bowl,
the liquid a distinctive then throw away the last drops.
earthy flavor. They are the number of your
enemies.
The fermentation
tradition dates back
about 8,000 years. Figure 108: Kvervis burying process in winery