I engaged in embedded anthropology in a project in the Bolnisi region of Georgia (Kvemo Kartli). I assisted in interviewing winemakers in the region, learned some of the processes of blockchain implementation, and sat in on interviews with state and upper-management representatives. I also participated in FinTech-related conferences, where I spoke about the importance of winemaking in Georgia and the localized aspects of this project.

The project aimed to showcase Bolnisi’s rich winemaking heritage and to trace the origins of current-day Bolnisi winemakers to their ancestors and material heritage, much of which has strong ties to Swabian German immigration, resulting in regionally distinctive contemporary winemaking approaches such as fermentation in oak barrels or large oak vats. FinTech discourses emphasized protecting the “provenance” of wine through “transparent” supply chain transactions.

I examined the ideological divergences and convergences between technocapitalistic actors, rural winemakers, and the Georgian state. In the dissertation, I specifically analyze FinTech and winemaking discourses, material symbols of the project like QR codes and labels, and the environmental politics of viticulture and digital gold mining.

The last two photos below are courtesy of Goga Chanadiri.