40,000 valuable bottles: Stalin’s wine collection is auctioned

Tbilisi (Georgia) – Many of the bottles are hidden behind huge spider webs, covered in a millimeter-thick layer and have not been seen, let alone moved, by anyone for decades. An ancient treasure is stored in the dim, well-kept wine cellar, which will soon be made accessible to lovers and collectors. But first its value is estimated.

It is the collection of Josef Stalin (*1878 in Georgia, † 1953 in the Soviet Union). The communist dictator was a brutal mass murderer – and apparently an enthusiastic wine drinker and collector. His collection includes wines from Bordeaux’s most famous wineries, once owned by the Russian Tsar Alexander III. and his son Nicholas II.

The Soviets confiscated the imperial Romanov collection after the Russian Revolution of 1917. Stalin became its guardian, gradually adding his favorite Georgian grape varieties.

Early 19th century wine

The rare, around 40,000 French and Georgian ones Wines belong to the government of Georgia. This week she opened the wine cellar in the capital Tbilisi for the first time in decades. Now the company “Gilauri Wines” is planning to auction off the bottles, some of which date from the early 19th century. The proceeds will be used to open a wine school.

“Gilauri Wines” owner Irakli Gilauri is working with the local Ministry of Agriculture on the project. He said that Auction will help “put Georgia on the collectors’ map.” The country in the South Caucasus has been trying to market itself as the birthplace of wine for a long time. Because: Archaeological finds prove an uninterrupted wine-growing tradition for 8,000 years.

Collector speaks of a historical moment

Collector Victor Chen, who came to Tbilisi from Dallas, Texas Georgia had traveled, was able to take a look at the bottles – and was amazed by the amber-colored liquids behind the layers of dust: “I felt like Indiana Jones opening a cave. There could be anything or nothing in there,” he said, alluding to the fictional archaeologist from the adventure film series. There aren’t many historical moments left these days. But this could be one of those.