The Georgian Wine Association released the first ever guide for wine tourism in the country. The guide is, in fact, a map with scannable QR codes that enable oenophiles to find their favorite destinations, information, and much more.
The digital wine guide features more than 300 cellars, as well as accommodation and restaurants that serve Georgian wines. The guide is available in libraries all over the country, currently only in English, but the Georgian Wine Association plans to have German and Russian versions too.
Wine tourism is a growing niche in this dreamlike part of the Caucasus. The country even has a unique wine museum in the historic Napareuli region. This oenophile attraction occupies part of the cellars at Twines Wine Cellar, a business established by Gia and Gela Gamtkitsulashvilis who are very familiar with the Georgian Qvevri wine-making tradition. Qvevri is a specific clay vessel used in this part of the world to ferment and store wine since 8000 BC. The “Qvevri and Qvevri” wine museum is thus dedicated to this Georgian tradition. Visitors can see how the clay is prepared to manufacture qvevri vessels, how wine is then fermented and stored in these special recipients, and other typical wine-making processes. The museum is open to visitors of all ages, and children aged six and under pay no entry fee.
The Twines Wine Cellar is a production winery with a passion for tradition: they ferment wines in qvevris, then bottle and sell. Guests can learn a lot about the wine-making process, see open qvevris, taste the wines, press grapes in a 18th century Satsnakheli when the season comes, and even enjoy local cuisine in the cellar or on the veranda when the weather is fine. Purchasing qvevri wines is an option too. The company has a second restaurant in Tbilisi.
Whther you find your way to the Twines Wine Cellar or not, the wine guide released by the Georgian Wine Association will help you find some of the best spots to enjoy Georgian wines. If you want to enjoy Georgian wines year round, you can purchase your favorites from this online shop. Here you also find information about wine tastings and festivals organized in Georgia and abroad.
