Georgian wine takes over one of London’s most respected wine destinations
21 Sep 2026
This October, Georgian wine is getting a whole month to itself!
Georgian Wine Month launches across the UK in October 2026, celebrating Georgian wines in the restaurants, wine bars and independent retailers around the country. And in London, one of the most exciting places to discover them will be Trivet: the two-Michelin-starred restaurant founded by chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal.
Throughout October, Trivet will put an additional spotlight on Georgia, with a special selection of Georgian wines, including excellent opportunities to explore the country by the glass.
And these aren't wines that simply landed on the list because October happens to be Georgian Wine Month. The selection has been tasted and approved by two people who know both fine wine and Georgia very well: Isa Bal MS and Sarah Abbott MW.
Why Trivet?
If you need to find a London restaurant where Georgian wine is put in the context, it is probably Trivet.
Its wine list is famously organised not by the usual countries and regions, but chronologically, following the history of wine itself. The journey begins around 6,000 BC with Georgia and its neighbours before travelling through the ancient Mediterranean wine cultures and eventually reaching the modern wine world. Today, Trivet's cellar contains more than 350 wines, from established classics to bottles from Georgia, Armenia and Turkey.
It isn't history for history's sake, either. Bal has spoken about wanting guests to discover interesting wines without turning the list into a lecture. Georgia therefore sits exactly where it should: at the beginning of the story, but offering something for contemporary drinking.
Bal is one of the most respected sommeliers working in Britain today. He was named Best Sommelier of Europe in 2008, became a Master Sommelier in 2009 and spent more than 12 years as Head Sommelier for The Fat Duck Group before opening Trivet with Jonny Lake in 2019.
For Georgian Wine Month, he is joined by Sarah Abbott MW, who heads the Wines of Georgia campaign in the UK and has worked extensively with Georgian wines, producers and the British trade.
Together, they have selected wines that show why modern Georgian wine deserves attention beyond its ancient history.
Georgia by the glass
One of the aims of Georgian Wine Month is simply to make Georgian wine easier to try. You shouldn't necessarily need to commit to a bottle of a wine you've never heard of, pronounce unfamiliar Georgian words, or already understand the difference between Kakheti and Imereti.
A good by-the-glass list can do the introduction for you.
At Trivet this October, that means the chance to explore Georgian wine in the context where it shines especially bright: at the table, supported by a knowledgeable team. Plus, indigenous varieties do become more understandable when there is food alongside them – regardless of the style they are made in (contemporary vs traditional qvevri/skin contact).
Georgian Wine Month begins here
Georgian Wine Month runs throughout October, with restaurants, wine bars, shops and independent merchants around the UK taking part through special listings, tastings, events and by-the-glass offers. The campaign coincides with International Orange Wine Day on October 6th — a symbolic date for a country where skin-contact white winemaking has a history stretching back thousands of years.
Trivet will also host a Georgian Palate event on 13 October, giving wine professionals and buyers the chance to explore Georgian wines alongside carefully considered fine-dining pairings.
But you don't necessarily need to attend a masterclass to start exploring. This October, you can simply sit down at Trivet and order a glass. For a wine culture with 8,000 years behind it, that's a fantastic place to begin!
