The Secrets of Imeretian Wine: Tour of a Family Estate with a Winemaker
About this experience
The wine history of our family began with our great-grandfather, who planted the first grape seed under the shade of a walnut tree. From a young age, I spent hours with my grandfather cleaning huge qvevris and taking care of the wine. I watched with awe as the sacred Georgian wine aged. Crossing the age of 30, I realized it was time to return to the roots and planted my first vineyard. During the tour, I will talk about the thousand-year-old traditions we follow and treat you to the wines of our estate.
What to Expect
Family Winery
We will meet in Kutaisi and head to the estate, located 30 minutes away from the city, in the village of Nakhshirgele. For several generations, our family has been producing exclusively natural, organic wines from white and red grape varieties. We use an ancient wine production technique in qvevris, which has been recognized as a world cultural heritage. We will separately discuss the sacred significance of these clay vessels and wine in general during our meeting.
The Mystery of Georgian Wine
I will take you to our estate and open the doors of the winery, where our wine is born and matures. I will talk about the winemaking culture that has remained unchanged for 8000 years. Even now, in the era of technologies and breakthroughs, there is no alternative to the simple tools that have been used in our marani (wine cellars) for centuries. I will also share the stories and legends of our country that emerged thousands of years ago, along with the customs and culture of winemaking.
Taste of Imeretian Wines
Our winery is interesting to visit because Sakartvelo has 20 different climatic zones, over 500 grape varieties. Accordingly, winemaking technologies and wine varieties significantly differ from region to region. Imereti is known for wine rich in fruity and berry notes, with light and rich aromas of nature. At the estate, you will appreciate the taste of local wine by tasting four types of wine and chacha.
Who Would Enjoy This Tour
Wine enthusiasts as well as travelers interested in the culture and history of our country.
Organizational Details
- Transfer from Kutaisi and back, tour of the estate, and tasting (4 types of wine and chacha) are included in the price
- You can bring children along; during the tour, they will be able to walk around the winery's premises
Nadezhda
November 2, 2024
A big thank you to Giorgi for the detailed story about winemaking in their family! It was very interesting to stroll with Giorgi around the estate, inspect the vineyard, chat with the owner in his wonderful marani during the tasting of delicious wine varieties! It is clear that Giorgi is very passio...
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Vladimir
August 13, 2024
Giorgi is a dedicated man to his craft and an excellent storyteller. The winery itself is small and the whole production process is natural, yet it is professionally organized. It's a perfect tour if you want to see winemaking on a more serious level than in a 'home' setting, but not as large-scale ...
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Daria
June 24, 2024
I really enjoyed the trip. Giorgi passionately told us about the traditions of winemaking and feasting in Georgia, and the wine from qvevri was simply magnificent!
