The Diplomat
Last week, the Embassy of Azerbaijan and the Savalan wine company held a tasting of wines from their harvest at the Centro Riojano in Madrid. This event was held in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the “State programme for the development of winemaking in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2018-2025”.
The event was attended by members of the Government of Spain, leaders of the accredited Diplomatic Corps, the delegation headed by the Chairman of the State Agency for Tourism of Azerbaijan Fuad Nagiyev, the head of the Savalan company Fuad Seyidaliyev, local experts and representatives of the media.
Aygun Hasanova, representative of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, in her presentation stressed that “Azerbaijan has now become a centre of regional wine making. The wine route of our country has received the nomination ‘The best product developer of wine tourism’. Although famous varieties such as ‘Pinot Grigio’, ‘Vermentino’, ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, ‘Cabernet’, ‘Petit Verdot’, ‘Muscat’ and ‘Saperavi’ are widely used in Azerbaijan’s wine production enterprises, our country stands out for a number of valuable local wine grape varieties.”
Aygun Hasanova, concluded her speech by pointing out that “in many regions of Azerbaijan modernised wine-growing production areas have been created and expanded”, and emphasised the importance of the Karabakh region in Azerbaijan’s wine-making history and culture as one of the most brilliant areas of Azerbaijani winemaking.
Javid Seyidali, Vice-President of the Savalan company, then pointed out the existence of favourable conditions for the cultivation of quality grape varieties in the foothills of the Great Caucasus mountain range, which is noted for its fascinating nature, in the Savalan valley of the Gabala region, stressing that its winemaking history goes back 2,300 years.
Javid Seyidali pointed out that the Savalan company, which has 360 hectares of vineyards located at an altitude of 400 metres above sea level with a unique climatic zone, “is the winner of the first prize at the 5th International Wine Fair, held in Hong Kong, in 2012.” He also stressed that in its cellars “international experts work, led by Italian oenologists, and that in the last 10 years the company has won a number of international competitions, including “Decanter World Wine Awards”, “International Wine and Spirit Challenge”, ” Mundus Vini”, “Monde Selection”. The brand has been awarded more than 55 medals and prizes.
