I knew I was going to a wine tasting event featuring the wines of Georgia. What I didn’t expect was for my wine glass to become a passport.

Most of what I write about is close to home—Washington and Oregon wines. I love and appreciate our Northwest wines and the incredible wine country we have right here in our own backyard.

But recently, I was invited to a Wines of Georgia event.

I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy wines from many of the places I’ve traveled—Italy, Spain, Portugal—and one of the things I love most about wine is how it can connect you to a place.

But this experience felt different.

The moment I walked into the room and began talking with the people representing Georgia, I could feel their enthusiasm and genuine love for their country. As they shared their stories, the wine became more than something in my glass. I was getting a glimpse into Georgia itself—its landscape, its people, its history and its traditions.

They spoke about the beauty of Georgia, from its mountains to its shores, and about the challenges the country has faced throughout its history. They shared how traditional crafts and ways of making things were disrupted during the Soviet era as Georgia was pushed toward industrialization.

But traditions have a way of finding their way home.

As Georgia regained its independence, there was a renewed desire to return to those old-world traditions and honor the craftsmanship, knowledge and history passed down through generations.

And as I tasted the wines, I found them to be soft and earthy, with a sense of place that made me want to know more.

That’s what I love about wine.

Sometimes a glass of wine doesn't just tell you about the grape or the region.

It tells you about the people.
It tells you about the land.
It tells you a story.

And that evening, through the wines of Georgia, I felt like I had traveled somewhere new.

My wine glass became a passport.

D.