{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Bringing Georgia to Your Glass: Mallory Tsipouria\u2019s Journey Promoting Ancient Wines in the US","description":"Georgian wines have been around...well, I suppose over 6000 years. In fact, it is a disputed fact between the Armenians and the Georgians as to which country made wine first. The best analysis I can come up with is that 6100 years ago, when what is now called Areni 1 Cave located in Armenia was established, there was no Georgia and there was no Armenia, but regardless, the disageement lives on. Georgian wines have been in the US since I can remember. At least since the '80's. And back then they carried a pecular, indigenous character; earthy, ozidized and cloudy. That has all changed but the history. A politician turned wine guy is trying to change the perception of Georgian wine...Melory Tsipouria. Listen to him tell his story. When I first sat down with Mallory Zippor, I realized he wasn\u2019t just a guest\u2014he was a force of nature. Imagine a man who\u2019s fought for his country\u2019s democracy, worked in Congress, and now deploys that same relentless spirit to put Georgian wine on the American map. Mallory Zippor doesn\u2019t just sell wine; he crafts a movement\u2014one handshake, one tasting, one story at a time. You\u2019ll hear him lay out his vision with the same confidence he used to take four congressional delegations to Georgia, making it clear that introducing 8,000 years of winemaking tradition in a land where most people haven\u2019t even heard of his homeland is not for the faint of heart. This isn\u2019t your average wine conversation. It\u2019s a blueprint for making the future, not waiting for it. Over the course of our conversation, I watched as Mallory Zippor demystified not only the process of importing and advocating for a little-known wine region, but the uniquely personal approaches that set him apart. He\u2019s rocked 300 in-store tastings in just eight months, recruited family and friends into his passionate crew, and outmaneuvered corporate gatekeepers at every turn. He has a knack for turning an ignorant \u201cI didn\u2019t even know Georgia was a country!\u201d into genuine curiosity, using everything from ancient clay amphorae to vivid bottle artwork, all while keeping his wines affordable and intensely personal. As Mallory Zippor tells it, with every taste poured, a new ambassador is born\u2014a theory he\u2019s putting to the test every single day. If you join me for this episode, here\u2019s what you\u2019ll discover, one clay pot at a time: \ud83c\udffa What makes Georgian wine \u201cthe birthplace of wine,\u201d and how 500 indigenous varietals survived centuries of empires and the Soviet machine \ud83c\udffa How 300 grassroots tastings outshine digital marketing and create lasting relationships\u2014one poured glass at a time \ud83c\udffa The role of ancient clay amphorae in crafting both orange (amber) and red wines, and why American palates are finally catching on \ud83c\udffa Why clean, natural wines with minimal intervention are more than a health trend\u2014they\u2019re a strategic advantage in today\u2019s market \ud83c\udffa How educating store staff and restaurant crews is the secret weapon for making \u201cimpossible-to-pronounce\u201d wines into local favorites \ud83c\udffa What it really takes to punch through massive industry headwinds, from bypassing distributors to scaling a personal vision from one store to 300 You\u2019ll come away not only knowing more about Georgian wine, but inspired by the sheer persistence, creativity, and human touch it takes to make a cultural dent in the world\u2019s most crowded wine market. YouTube: https:\/\/youtu.be\/rQ6oTcBY584     ","author_name":"Wine Talks with Paul K.","author_url":"https:\/\/www.winetalkspodcast.com","html":"