WinExpo Georgia in Georgia: dates, meaning and how to experience it

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 25 October 2026 · Editorial policy

What it is

WinExpo Georgia is an international exhibition dedicated to wine, spirits and related trades, held annually at the ExpoGeorgia exhibition centre in Tbilisi. Unlike the feasts and saints’ days that fill the rest of the Georgian calendar, its name is not a Georgian word but an industry title — a contraction of “wine” and “exposition” used across many countries for trade fairs of this kind. It belongs to the modern, commercial layer of Georgian life rather than to the church or folk calendar, yet it draws directly on a much older heritage: Georgia’s standing as one of the world’s earliest and most continuous wine-producing regions.

The fair is attended mainly by winemakers, distillers, exporters, importers, sommeliers, restaurateurs, equipment and packaging suppliers, and journalists, alongside members of the public on designated tasting days. Georgian wineries ranging from large commercial houses to small family producers using qvevri clay vessels exhibit alongside international brands, making the event as much a meeting point of old and new winemaking methods as a straightforward trade show.

Historical background

• c. 6000 BC — Residue analysis of ceramic jars from Neolithic sites south of Tbilisi, including Gadachrili Gora, points to grape wine production among the earliest documented anywhere in the world.
• antiquity to the present — The qvevri, a large egg-shaped clay vessel buried in the ground for fermenting and storing wine, has remained in continuous use in Georgian villages across many centuries.
• 2006 — A trade embargo closed the Russian market, historically Georgia’s largest wine buyer, prompting producers to diversify into European, Asian and North American markets.
• 2013 — UNESCO inscribed the “Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making method” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• early 2010s — WinExpo Georgia was established at ExpoGeorgia, according to organisers, as the country’s principal international trade fair dedicated to wine and spirits.
• 2010s — The Russian market reopened, and Georgian producers continued expanding exports to dozens of additional countries.
• 2010s–2020s — Georgia’s National Wine Agency and export statistics bodies began publishing regular data on volumes, markets and the growth of qvevri and “amber” wine categories internationally.
• today — WinExpo Georgia is held annually, typically on the first weekend of June at ExpoGeorgia, with exact dates confirmed by organisers each year.

Georgia’s claim to deep winemaking antiquity rests on archaeological and chemical evidence rather than legend alone, which is part of why the country has been able to build a modern trade identity around an ancient practice. The qvevri method’s UNESCO listing formalised what Georgian communities had long understood: that burying clay vessels to ferment grape must with skins, stems and seeds is not a stylistic choice but a living technique passed through families and villages, particularly in Kakheti and Imereti.

WinExpo Georgia sits at the intersection of this heritage and the country’s post-Soviet economic recovery. The 2006 market closure forced an industry reckoning that pushed Georgian wine toward quality certification, geographical indications and international marketing — the same priorities that trade fairs like WinExpo exist to serve. The event has grown alongside government efforts, including those of the National Wine Agency, to position Georgia internationally as the cradle of wine rather than simply a regional producer.

Meaning and traditions

At WinExpo Georgia, exhibitors present still wines, sparkling wines, qvevri (“amber” or “orange”) wines, chacha (grape pomace spirit), brandy and craft beverages, often organised by region — Kakheti, Imereti, Racha, Kartli and others each with distinct grape varieties and styles. Visitors encounter core Georgian wine vocabulary: ghvino (wine), qvevri (the clay fermentation vessel), saperavi and rkatsiteli (two of the best-known native grapes), chacha (pomace brandy), and gaumarjos, the toast meaning roughly “victory” or “to your health,” used at the Georgian feast known as supra.

Trade days typically involve business meetings, masterclasses with winemakers and sommeliers, and sometimes an accompanying wine competition judging entries from Georgian and foreign producers. Public tasting sessions, where included, allow visitors to sample widely across pavilions, often guided by a tamada-style host explaining each wine’s origin and method. Regional variation shows most clearly in the wine styles themselves: Kakheti’s long-skin-contact amber wines differ markedly from the lighter semi-sweet styles historically associated with Imereti and the fresher reds of Kartli.

When it happens

WinExpo Georgia follows a variable civil-calendar rule rather than a fixed church or national date: it is generally scheduled for the first weekend of June, with the precise Friday-to-Sunday dates confirmed by the organisers each year. The 2026 edition took place in early June 2026; the next edition is planned for 4–6 June 2027, though organisers note these dates are to be confirmed closer to the event. It is not a public holiday in Georgia, and it has no effect on government offices, transport schedules or church observance — the city operates normally, and the fair proceeds as a standard trade and public exhibition event.

Where to experience it

The fair is held at ExpoGeorgia, Tbilisi’s main exhibition campus in the Saburtalo area near Vake, a short taxi or bus ride from the city centre. Visitors typically move between indoor pavilions housing winery stands, tasting counters and masterclass stages; business-oriented mornings tend to be quieter, while afternoons and any public days draw larger crowds. There is no church etiquette to observe, since the event is secular, but standard trade-fair courtesy applies: carry a business card if attending as a professional, use spittoons provided at tasting counters if sampling many wines, and ask before photographing a producer’s private stand displays.

Did you know

• Chemical residue analysis of Neolithic jars south of Tbilisi has produced some of the earliest known evidence of grape wine production anywhere in the world.
• The qvevri wine-making method was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
• Georgia’s National Wine Agency documents several hundred indigenous grape varieties, far more than most wine-producing countries retain in commercial use.
• The word “amber wine,” now used internationally for skin-contact white wine, describes a style long practised in ordinary Georgian households before it became a global wine-trade term.
• A single Georgian feast, the supra, traditionally features a tamada who leads structured toasts throughout the meal, a social institution distinct from, but historically intertwined with, the country’s wine culture.

Practical tips for visitors

ExpoGeorgia is reachable by taxi, ride-hailing app or city bus from central Tbilisi; traffic can be heavier on weekend afternoons when the fair is busiest. Business casual dress suits trade days, while smart casual is appropriate for any public tasting sessions. Visitors planning to attend as trade professionals should register in advance through the organiser’s channels, since accreditation is typically required for business-only areas. Early June in Tbilisi is generally warm, so light layers are advisable, and it is worth checking official announcements close to the date, since the exact June weekend is confirmed annually rather than fixed years in advance.

Combine it with

Visitors interested in the wine culture behind WinExpo Georgia often extend their trip to Kakheti, Georgia’s principal wine region and home to many qvevri producers, or combine Tbilisi with Imereti, known for its own distinct winemaking traditions. A stay in Tbilisi itself allows easy access to the exhibition alongside the capital’s restaurants, wine bars and historic quarters.

Questions travellers ask

Is WinExpo Georgia open to the general public, or only to industry professionals?

The fair is organised primarily for trade visitors — producers, importers, distributors and press — though many editions include sessions or days open to interested members of the public. Visitors should check the current year’s programme, since public access varies by edition.

Do I need to book a ticket in advance?

Trade accreditation is typically required in advance for business areas, while any public tasting access may be sold at the venue or online depending on the year’s arrangements. Booking ahead is recommended given limited capacity at tasting counters.

Can I buy wine to take home from the exhibition?

Some exhibitors sell bottles on site or can arrange purchases through their commercial representatives, but WinExpo Georgia functions primarily as a business-to-business fair rather than a retail market. Visitors wanting to buy wine directly are better served by shops and wineries outside the exhibition.

How is WinExpo Georgia different from Tbilisi’s New Wine Festival?

The New Wine Festival, usually held in spring, is a public celebration centred on tasting the season’s young wine directly from producers, while WinExpo Georgia is a trade exhibition focused on business, export markets and industry networking. They serve different audiences even though both showcase Georgian wine.

How do I get to ExpoGeorgia from central Tbilisi?

ExpoGeorgia is located in the Saburtalo district, reachable within roughly fifteen to twenty-five minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app from the city centre, or by local bus routes serving the area. Traffic should be factored into timing on busy fair days.

What is the best way to taste a wide range of Georgian wines in one visit?

Moving systematically between regional pavilions — rather than a single large stand — gives the broadest sense of Georgia’s range, from Kakhetian amber wines to lighter styles from other regions. Pacing tastings and using spittoons allows for sampling more producers comfortably.

Will the June 2027 dates be confirmed closer to the event?

Yes. The fair follows a general pattern of occurring on the first weekend of June, but organisers confirm the exact Friday-to-Sunday dates annually rather than fixing them years ahead. Travellers planning a visit around the 2027 edition should verify dates nearer the time.

Does anything close in Tbilisi for WinExpo Georgia?

No. WinExpo Georgia is not a public holiday and has no effect on government offices, churches, shops or transport schedules. The city continues to operate normally throughout the event.

Sources

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage – Qvevri wine-making method
• National Wine Agency of Georgia
• Georgian National Tourism Administration
• National Statistics Office of Georgia