Sponsors

Bagrationi 1882

The rally is sponsored by Bagrationi 1882, which is a Georgian Sparkling wine maker company. Bargationi is the ancient Georgian royal family, who ruled the country from the 10th century AD. They were related to Romanovs of Russia and when Russia annexed Georgia, the Bagrationis served the Russian Tsar. Marshal Bagration, the victor over Napoleon being the most famous one. 

It is known that one of the princes, while studying in Sorbonne at the end of the 19th century heard about the then relatively new French method of making wine. Being a prince of the country of birth of wine (ghvino is a Georgian word later adopted by Greeks), he took a leave from school and went to the province of Champagne to study the method.

He returned to Georgia and produced in 1882 the first Georgian sparkling wine using authentic Georgian sour grapes, hence the name, Bagrationi 1882. 

For more information please visit http://www.bagrationi.ge/

Levan Vasadze Levan Vasadze was born on December 20, 1970 in Tbilisi (Georgia). He is married and has 6 children. He has a MS in Geophysics from Tbilisi State University and MBA from Emory, Atlanta USA. Levan has been a business executive for many years including the First Vice President of sistema Corporation and CEO of Rosno, Russia`s leading insurance company.  In 2006 he was awarded Person of the Year in Russia`s top 100 CEO contest in Kremlin by RosBusinessConsulting. Now he is a Chairman of Prometheus Capital Partners, at the same time, sponsoring various projects in religion, education and sport. Part-time he is involved in managing his own assets in real estate, financial services and Georgian sparkling wine production. Levan used to play for the national Georgian rugby team and still has a keen interest in sports.

Lord Paddy Gillford Lord (Paddy) Gillford started his business career in 1983 with Hanson Plc. and was seconded to the Home Office shortly afterwards to advise the Rt. Hon Douglas Hurd CBE, then Home Secretary. In 1993 Lord Gillford founded a company of his own - The Policy Partnership Limited. From 2000 to 2004 he was the non-executive Chairman of the Board at Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd , Europe`s leading bridge and large steel construction company. In March 2006 Lord Paddy was elected to the Board of Directors of OJSC Polyus Gold as Independent Director.  In 2007 he was appointed Chairman of Eurasia Drilling, the largest drilling company in Russia,  He is a founding patron of the Ukrainian British City Club. In his spare time he enjoys surfing holidays with his 3 children, motorcycling of course and whenever possible, helicopter flying.