Georgia is considered to be one of the oldest homelands of viticulture in the world. It is proved that wine-making in Georgia has been practiced since the 5th millennium BC. From 4000 BC Georgians were cultivating grapes and burying clay vessels, "kvevri", in which to store their wine ready for serving at perfect ground temperature. Vine growing is one of the ancient branches of economic activities of people in Georgia.
The presence of a large number of aboriginal sorts of grape (more than 500) also proves that Georgia is the cradle of initial inter-mutation of wild cultivated grapes.
For many centuries vine remains one of the fascinating symbols of Georgian history and culture. Famous sorts of Georgian wines are Rkatsiteli, Manavi, Napareuli, Tibaani, Tsinandali, Vazisubani, Mukuzani, Saperavi, Kindzmarauli, Khvanchkara, etc. The head of the Georgian table is Tamada, a person who proposes traditional toasts.
We offer to travel the main wine-growing region Kakheti and relax after Mt Kazbek climb. Here we visit the wineries where we taste the best sorts of Georgian wines and learn about traditional and modern ways of wine making. As we stay at locals’ houses we taste home-made wines with delicious food.
Drive to Kakheti - the main wine-growing region of Georgia. On the way we visit a unique 300-year old wine-cellar at a farmer’s house where people still keep wine the same way as their ancestors did centuries ago - in huge underground wine jars. This traditional wine-cellar also has a big wooden wine-press.
We start exploring wine-making traditions and different kind of Georgian wines at the winery in the nice village Kvareli. We visit one of the most famous wine factory Badagoni in the village Khodasheni. Drive to Telavi - the main town of the region. Staying in private houses in Telavi would be a great experience for us as we learn local traditions and customs.
After short excursion in the town we visit Alaverdi Cathedral (X-XIc.c). After that visit to the main winery in Telavi and test unic wines at the wine factory of the famous GWS company. Night in Telavi.
Drive to the picturesque village Tsinandali, where we visit the wine museum and factory. Then we continue exploring Georgian winery traditions at the winery of the town Gurjaani. Drive back to the hotel in Tbilisi. Farewell dinner at a restaurant.
Drive to the airport for the return flight home.
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