Hard by a Great Forest: Georgian Book Club Q&A + Georgian Wine Night

Hard by a Great Forest: Georgian Wine Night + Author Q&A

Join us for an intimate evening of storytelling, wine, and conversation, as we welcome acclaimed author Leo Vardiashvili, travelling to Edinburgh, for a special book club experience.

On Tuesday, 19 May, we'll be taking over Sotto in Stockbridge for a cosy night celebrating Georgian culture through both literature and wine.

The evening will feature an in-conversation with , hosted alongside Rebecca Roberts of , paired with a guided tasting of Georgian wines led by Isobel Salamon of Slonk

What’s included:

• A paperback copy of Hard by a Great Forest (posted in advance), with the opportunity to have it signed on the night
  (Audiobook option available – just email )
• Two glasses of Georgian wine (or non-alcoholic alternatives)
• A selection of curated nibbles
• A live author Q&A and discussion

The wine:

Georgia — the cradle of wine for 8,000 years — crafts unique terroir-driven wines naturally aged in massive underground clay qvevris. These orange, amber, & deep red wines reveal layers of texture and centuries of history.

From Kakheti’s fertile valleys to Kartli’s rolling hills, taste grapes bursting with fresh, savoury, + intensely aromatic profiles.

The book:

In a winding pursuit through the magic and mystery of returning to a lost homeland, Hard by a Great Forest is a rare, searching tale of home, memory and sacrifice – of one family’s mission to rescue one another, and put the past to rest.

Saba’s father is missing, and the trail leads back to Tbilisi.

Arriving in a city he has not seen for more than two decades, where escaped zoo animals prowl the streets and the voices of those left behind beckon him along a path of cryptic clues, Saba embarks on a quest that will lead him into the heart of a lost homeland.

About:

Leo Vardiashvili came to London as a refugee from Georgia when he was twelve years old. Hard by a Great Forest is his extraordinary debut, which has now been translated into over 15 languages. He was selected as an Observer Best New Novelist 2024. Hard by a Great Forest was longlisted for the Ondaatje Prize 2025, and shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award 2025, and the Premio Gregor von Rezzori 2025.

Slonk is an international wine consultancy brand dedicated to working with Winemakers, Sommeliers, Venue Owners, Importers and more to provide on demand sommelier services, and create an inclusive atmosphere for education, inspiration and team/business development, all while demystifying wine.

Night Owl Books is an independent bookshop in East Linton, East Lothian. Founded by Rebecca Roberts in 2022, the bookshop was a finalist for Independent Bookshop of the Year Scotland in the British Book Awards 2024 and 2025. Rebecca has previously been a Reading Challenge Ambassador for the International Booker Prize, and Chair of the Judges for the Indie Book Awards.

Sotto is a relaxed and contemporary Enoteca & Trattoria in the heart of Stockbridge, well-served by local bus services, and within walking distance of Waverley Station.

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