Oda, Keto Ninidze

Goal 1: Train the staff on how to create a safe space at a winery and at our restaurant for people of all race, ethnicity, gender identity, cultural beliefs, abilities - discussing the fundamental values, proper language and the related issues.

In 2022 we had several discussions and a staff trainings at the winery and Oda restaurant about what does equality mean as a value. Now we share the same communication and customer service policy at the job place. So the employees have an awareness of hosting/communicating the peoples with the belonging of certain race, ethnicity, sexual identity or physical ability.

Georgia is rather conservative and still a very patriarchal society. All the powers from the "vertical" (governing party, Orthodox church) are sadly supporting aggressive, ultra-rightist movements, making enemy images from cultural minorities, people with different sexual identities, NGO's etc. These manipulative narratives work pretty well here and I know for some of my co-workers, this is still a problem, according to their religious beliefs.

On the other hand, I believe it's not necessary for the team to be on the "same page"  in our views (a man who works for Oda in the garden supports Putin in the ongoing war). We still have to respect each other's space and attitudes, of course, if they don't violate someone's rights. And we continue working on raising awareness and developing sensitivity towards the issues of cultural minorities, race, LGBTQI, gender / economic / social equality.

Finalizing the book about my wine experience where I try to figure out the female gaze of viticulture-wine-making in my culture.

My new book - "Apocryphal Toasts" has been already published and I have a book launch on April 18.  The book is an attempt to show the vine/wine culture of the post-Soviet Georgia, beyond such romanticized patriarchy, beyond the main region - Kakheti (strong focus on Western and North-Western Georgia) and beyond the old, soviet paradigm - Industrial Winery + Russian market. I think the book will be translated into English as well.

To continue adjusting the winery infrastructure to the abilities of the people with special needs (finalizing the restroom equipment).

Last year was a bit challenging in terms of finances for tourism in Oda. It was a post-COVID time period, and there was a war in the region. International tourists canceled Georgian trips because of the war and domestic tourism was also not successful because of the economic situation. As a result, we weren't able to finish  adjusting the infrastructure for the requirements of inclusive tourism as we planned, in 2022. I think we'll be able to finalize it this spring.

Serve as a mentor for someone looking for social media/e-commerce guidance or create a free course.

I taught several women entrepreneurs how to write a project proposal and one of them succeeded in the grant competition. I also collaborate with the local, female owners of the guest houses in my area and send the guests to them without any financial interest.  

Create a healthy networking community between female wine-makers of Georgia.

It seems like I didn't find time to create a healthy networking community between female wine-makers of Georgia. On the other hand, almost all of my co-workers are women. In 2022 I started to work with the female grape grower in Imereti region and are going to work with more female growers in 2023. Oda is not only a woman-led business, but the wines are 100% made by female employees and employer. Our experience is real proof that women can make worthy wines, independently and they succeed by themselves.  

Besides the planned activities of 2022, a couple of weeks ago, I was the initiator of the protest of wine-makers against the so called "Foreign Agent" law. The law was risking the civic society and SME existence in the wine sector (and generally) of Georgia. The purpose of the law was to demonize and marginalize the commercial and non-profit organizations, that share democratic values and work hard to protect the rights of the minorities and small entrepreneurs. About 150 wineries signed our petition and overall, strong press towards MP's from the non-governmental and public sector, as well as massive demonstrations made the ruling party to vote down the law.