This morning we left Tblisi to drive to the eastern part of Georgia to the Kakheti region. It is recognized as Georgia’s premier wine-producing region, renowned for its ancient winemaking traditions, picturesque landscapes, and many castles and monasteries.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Georgia, particularly the Kakheti region, has a history of winemaking dating back 8,000 years, making it the oldest wine region in the world. Many wineries in Kakheti still use the traditional method of fermenting and aging wine in large, egg-shaped clay jars (qvevri) buried underground. The region is home to over 500 endemic grape varieties. The most common varieties include the red grape Saperavi and the white grape Rkatsiteli. The white wine is often an amber color while the red wine is known in Georgia as “black” wine.
We walked through the town of Sighnahgi where we also had the most amazing lunch with wine tasting. Pheasant’s Tears winery uses the qvevri method of wine making. After lunch Nick treated us to some Georgian classical music.
We visited Bodbe monastery which is very close to Sighnahgi and situated on a hillside with views of the Alazani Valley and the Greater Caucasus mountains.
It is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Georgia because it houses the tomb of Saint Nino, a 4th-century female evangelist who is credited with bringing Christianity to Georgia.
The monastic complex includes the original church built over St. Nino’s grave, a more recent cathedral, and a three-story bell tower that was added between 1862 and 1885. The original church, a three-nave basilica, was first constructed in the 9th century.
Along the way we saw at least 20 trucks filled with grapes.
We are spending the night at Tsinandsli at the very modern Radisson Collection Hotel which sits in the midst of the huge park that was formerly the land of Chavchavadze family for centuries. Exactly two centuries ago, Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, a prominent figure of aristocratic Georgian society of the time, turned his family estate into a cultural-intellectual center boasting a magnificent garden.
The Tsinandali Music Festival is an annual classical music festival held at the historic Tsinandali Estate featuring performances by world-renowned musicians, conductors, and composers, and provides educational opportunities through masterclasses for young musicians from the Caucasus and neighboring countries.
