Georgia uncorks the value of Stalin's 40,000-bottle wine collection
Georgia has unveiled a wine collection of approximately 40,000 bottles that once belonged to Josef Stalin. The government plans to auction the collection, which includes rare wines dating back to the early 19th century, to fund a wine education school. This initiative aims to enhance Georgia's reputation as the birthplace of wine and attract collectors worldwide.
- ▪The wine collection was unsealed for the first time in Tbilisi this week.
- ▪Funds from the auction will be used to establish a wine education school in Georgia.
- ▪Stalin's collection includes wines from Bordeaux and was expanded with his favorite Georgian varieties.
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Georgia uncorks the value of Stalin's 40,000-bottle wine collectionSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 29, 2026, 05:14 PMUpdated May 29, 2026, 05:14 PMTBILISI, May 29 - Tangled cobwebs dangle from the ceiling in dim light and a pleasant, musky sweetness pervades the air in this repository of a precious wine collection, once owned by Georgia's most infamous son, Josef Stalin.The Georgian government, which owns the roughly 40,000 French and Georgian rarities, unsealed the wine vault for the first time this week in the capital Tbilisi.It plans to auction off the collection, some of which dates from the early 19th century, and use the funds to open a wine education school in Georgia.Irakli Gilauri, the owner of Gilauri Wines who worked with Georgia's…
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