The Land of Vineyards
Elite Tour
Georgian Wine History Since ancient times, Georgia is considered to be the homeland of wine. Georgia has deep-seated tradition in winemaking. Xenophon (401-400) remarked about Georgians: “Caucasian race, inhabited on the Black Sea shore, was making the delicious strong wine”. The French traveler of 17th century mentioned, that there was no other wine in the world but Georgian, to be so splendid and sweet to drink. The wine, which our ancestors used to drink, the great Homer identified as "fragrant wine" in his "Odyssey". Archeologists and historians possess historical materials about 7000 years old Georgian grape and much more antique wine vessels. As the scientists remark, the oldest grape sorts were discovered right in Georgia. On the basis of the evidence, it is safe to say that viticulture has a long record in Georgian history. All the above mentioned is confirmed with the following statements:The grape seeds of 7th - 6th millennia B.C., are unearthed in Akhalcikhe (South Georgia); Big clay vessels, “Kvevri”, buried in the ground, were the best way to store the wine ready for serving at perfect ground temperature. These vessels were filled with the fermented juice of the harvest; then were topped with a wooden lid and sealed with earth. The approximate age of the oldest “Kvevri” is 3000 years. In the oldest human settlements archaeologists have unearthed the stony presses and different wine vessels, all of which makes sure to say that wine culture existed in Georgia earlier than 2000 years B.C.
Cradle of Wine
During the archeological excavation in Alazani valley, the ceramic utensils have been discovered in the numerous graves dated by 1st millennium B.C, which testifies that their owners were engaged in grape growing. The vessels of different shape, size and design used for wine drinking and also golden, silver and bronze wine storing pitches, have been unearthed by archaeologists. They refer to the II-III millennium B.C Georgians believe that their country had been predestined to the Mother of God; the Blessed Virgin herself is even likened to a grapevine and as for the vineyard, it is the hymn of our churches. The wine cult has the principle part in Georgian church history. Most of Georgian churches are decorated with the wine ornaments. St. Nino arrived to Georgia in the firs part of the IV century, with cross in her hand made of the wine wood and interlace with her own hair and thus brought the light of Christianity religion to the country. The interlace wine cross is unique and has no analog all over the world. One of the greatest educational centers of those times - Gelati Academy, founded in X-XI cc, was the core of wine-making technology. The special “Maranies� that were used for keeping the special wine storing pitchers, have been discovered on Gelaty Academy territory. The grapevine is the very part of Georgians and they adored the wine cult. The evidence of this is the name of October month in Georgian - "GVINOBISTVE" (the wine month). About 500 unique sorts of grapes, among existing 4000, are of Georgian origin.
The Land of Vineyards Often what makes a holiday really special is discovering the local culture, planning a tour and making the most of all the facilities an offer. After all, our enjoyment is based around touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. Dedicated guide and the staff of the company are on hand and your disposal throughout your tour with the knowledge about your destination.
Day 1 – Tbilisi The Old part of the city gives you opportunity to meet three religions and to view churches,synagogues, mosque as well as famous 19th century houses with wooden multicolored balconies. Major highlights of Tbilisi: •Sulphur Baths •Sameba Church •Narikala Fortress (4th c) - main citadel of the city,which overlooks the oldest part of Tbilisi. During centuries Narikala was considered the best strategic point and every ruler local or invader was adding some new construction to previous fortification •Special wine hall •Ethnographical museum under open air •Dinner in one of the traditional restaurants Overnight in Hotel.
Day 2: Tbilisi – Kakheti After the breakfast you will drive to Tsinandali,Kakheti. Kakheti is called the homeland of vine growing,which can be traced back to about the 6thmillennium B.C. At Tsinandali you visit the Estate museum commemorating the famous Georgian poetAlexander Chavchavadze. We will walk through the botanical garden and enjoy it bursting with color. The path will bring us to the wine cellar where the oldest bottle of wine dated 1814 is placed. Moreover,enjoy your lunch and get sample of 5 kinds of different local wines: red and white. Lunch. Our next stop is Alaverdi Monastery. Parts of the monastery date back to 6th century. The present day cathedral dates to the 11th century. You will have a possibility to visit the local cellar and to find out about the traditions of wine making. Later on we continue our journey in Napareuli to visit “Twins Wine Cellar”. In the cellar you can taste “Bio wine” from the pitcher at the moment of opening it and enjoy your time with traditional kakhetian feast with a toast –maker called ‘Tamada’ in the company of “ Tsinandali” folk- song singers. You can participate in baking the bread in “tone” (kakhetian bread bakery) and making churchxela. Travel to Kakheti isn’t complete without treating your taste buds. The Local Cuisine is renowned for using a combination of fresh local products and ingredients, fresh vegetables, traditional reci pes. Overnight in Guest House.
Day 3: Telavi After the breakfast we start our journey to Nekresi Monastery. Afterwards we visit Telavi Wine Cellar to taste different kind of wines. Arriving in early afternoon in Gurjaani, located in Alazani Valley. The town is one of the centers of Georgia’s Wine Industry. Your guide will take you to visit the old family cellar and discover the traditions of winemaking process. Lunch in family wine cellar.You can participate in vintage called “Rtveli” and taste different kinds of wine. After that, once again to enjoy the traditional “Supra” where the gastronomies paradise awaits you. Overnight in Guest House.
Day 4: Telavi – Sighnaghi After the breakfast we begin the tour with the unique All Saint’s Church in Gurjaani, the only one two-domed church in Georgia. From Gurjaani we continue our trip to Signaghi. On our way to this ‘City of Love’ we’ll make a stop in Tsnori at ‘Zavod of Temo Papa’. You will partici pate in “Chacha” (Georgian Vodka) making and discover the secrets of this tradition. Luch at Zavod of Temo Papa’. After the arrival in Sighnaghi you will have free time to walk around this beautiful, colorful and the smallest town of Georgia. Sighnaghi has recently undergone a fundamental reconstruction program and has become an important centre of Georgia's tourist industry. At the end of the day we offer you an unforgettable Gala Dinner. Overnight in Tbilisi
Day 5 : Tbilisi – Mtskheta Mtskheta - standing at the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers, one of the oldest towns in Georgia has been populated since the second millennium BC. It was the capital of the Eastern Georgian kingdom of Iberia from the third century BC. Mtskheta is designated as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Major highlights of Mtskheta: •Jvari Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox monastery of the 6th century •Svetitskhoveli Cathedral,built in the 11 th century After the lunch in one of the traditional taverns “ Salobie”, we’ll return back to Tbilisi, capital of Georgia..
Day 7: Racha Today we’ll enjoy the most beautiful nature of Racha. Acquaintance with Racha cuisine in Sadmeli village near Ambrolauri (4 km). We will see how Racha lobiani is baked,will taste Racha ham and home-made Khvanchkara. In the afternoon we will go back to Ambrolauri. On our way we will visit Barakoni Church of the Mother of God (18th c.). After visiting Nicortsminda (11th c.) one of the most unique churches in Georgia, we will visit wine factory in the village of Khvanchkara. We'll taste Khvanchkara. Overnight in Ambrolauri. Nikortsminda - this domical church is located in the village of the same name in Ambrolauri munici pality. Nikortsminda was built in 1010-1014 during the reign of Bagrat III of Georgia and was repaired in 1534 by the King Bagrat III of Imereti. Three-storied bell-tower in the yard of the Cathedral was built in the second half of the 19th century. Barakoni Church of the Mother of God, commonly known as Barakoni – one of the last significant monuments of old Georgian domical architecture, located in Racha, in Ambrolauri munici pality, near the village of Tsesi. Barakoni was commissioned,in 1753, by the local lord (eristavi) Rostom of Racha from the architect Avtandil Shulavreli.
Day 8: Racha – Tbilisi After breakfast departure to Tbilisi. Free time. Transfer to International Airport
Delicious Georgia
Elite Tour
Day 1: Tbilisi Meeting at Tbilisi International Airport. Hotel accommodation.
Day 2: Mtskheta - Tbilisi After breakfast we will go to Mtskheta. We will see Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Monastery. Svetitskhoveli and Jvari Monasteries are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visiting Samtavro Convent. Strolling about Mtskheta streets. Visiting Shio Mgvimi Monastery. Return to Tbilisi. City tour. Transfer to the hotel. Description of monuments. Svetitskhoveli – was originally built in the IVth century when Georgia adopted Christianity in the period when St. Nino came in Georgia. And the current appearance it assumed in the XIth century during the reign of Giorgi I and Melkisedek I being the Catholicos. Christ's robe is preserved in Svetitskhoveli. Jvari Monastery – was built in the VIth century at the very place where St. Nino, the Enlightener (missionary of the Christian faith) of Georgia, erected a wooden cross. It was due to St. Nino’s sermons that the Georgian king Mirian was converted (IVth century). Samtavro Convent - was built in the XIth century. Shio Mgvimi monastic complex - was built in the VIth century (by Shio Mgvimeli) when Assyrian Fathers headed by Ioane Zedazneli came to Georgia. The Assyrian Fathers laid the foundation of monachism in Georgia. Within the framework of Tbilisi tour you will visit: The Georgian greatest and the most beautiful Sameba Church (2005); Metekhi Temple (Vth century). According to the legend Metekhi church and fortress was built by King Vakhtang Gorgasali, and it served also as the king’s residence. From this the name “metekhi” originates, which in old Georgian means “surroundings around palace”. This was the place where in the Vth century St. Martyr Shushanik was buried. Abanotubani; here you will be given the opportunity to bathe in the well-known sulfur baths. Mosque; Synagogue; The Bridge of Peace; Shardeni street. The most modern street with cafés and bars. Anchiskhati Church – is a three-nave basilica dating from the VIth century, which was built during the reign of Dachi Ujarmeli. Narikala - is an ancient fortress overlooking Tbilisi and the Mtkvari (Kura) River. The fortress consists of two walled sections on a steep hill between the sulfur baths and the botanical garden of Tbilisi. On the lower court of Narikala there is the recently restored St. Nicholas church and a small café. Most of extant fortified walls date from the XVI-XVII centuries. In 1827, a large part of the fence of the fortress was damaged by an earthquake and demolished. Lunch in the famous "Salobie" of Mtskheta.
Day 3: Tbilisi – Ananuri - Kazbegi After breakfast we will set out to Kazbegi. We will visit Ananuri monastic complex and head for Kazbegi. We will visit Gergeti Sameba(Trinity Church), 200-man monastic complex under construction in the Darial Gorge. Hotel accommodation. Ananuri castle blocked the road tending from the north through the Darial Gorge and was the seat of the eristavis (Dukes) of Aragvi. Originally here stood a five- storied tower now found in the center of the citadel (XIV-XV cc.). To the east of the citadel there is a small one-nave church (XVI-XVII cc.) which is called by the locals “Mkurnali” (healer). A small domical church (Gvtaeba) (Deity)) dates from the middle years of the XVIIth century approximately. The upper fortress was built in first half of the XVIIth century, within the fence walls of which 4 round towers are included. The main architectural building of the Ananuri complex is the big Church of Assumption with dome. The inscription on the south wall shows that the church was built in 1689. The bell-tower to the east of the big church was also built in XVIIth century. The lower fortress of Ananuri was built at the beginning of the XVIIIth century. Since October 24, 2007 the Ananuri complex has been on the tentative list for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage Site program. Gergeti – is a walled-in Georgian architectural complex situated at an elevation of 2200 meters above sea level. The complex includes Trinity Domical Church (the 30-ieth of the XIVth century), the bell-tower (II half of the XIVth century) and vestry (XV c.). Darial Gorge is cut in 1000 m depth in axial zone of the Caucasus mountains in the River Tergi Ravine. The Military Road of Georgia passes through Darial Gorge. The name Darial originates from “Dar-e Alān” meaning Gate of the Alans in Persian. The gorge was already well-known for geographers of the antique era. Here is Russian-Georgian border where 200-man monastic complex is under construction. This monastery is called also “Borders watchman”. Lunch in Bulachauri restaurant on the bank of the Aragvi River. Overnight in Tbilisi
Day 4: Tbilisi – Racha After breakfast - departure to Racha direction. On the way we will see Shaori reservoir. Then we will head for Ambrolauri. Nikortsminda and Barakoni. Acquaintance with Racha cuisine in Sadmeli village near Ambrolauri (4 km). We will see how Racha lobiani is baked, will taste Racha ham and home-made Khvanchkara. Overnight in Ambrolauri. Nikortsminda - this domical church is located in the village of the same name in Ambrolauri municipality. Nikortsminda was built in 1010-1014 during the reign of Bagrat III of Georgia and was repaired in 1534 by the King Bagrat III of Imereti. Three-storied bell-tower in the yard of the Cathedral was built in the second half of the 19th century. Barakoni Church of the Mother of God, commonly known as Barakoni – one of the last significant monuments of old Georgian domical architecture, located in Racha, in Ambrolauri municipality, near the village of Tsesi. Barakoni was commissioned, in 1753, by the local lord (eristavi) Rostom of Racha from the architect Avtandil Shulavreli.
Day 5: Racha – Batumi After breakfast - departure to Batumi direction. Supper - acquaintance with the most delicious Adjarian cuisine in remarkable surroundings, in willow forest. Hotel accommodation. Batumi – a city in Georgia, the administrative center of Autonomous Republic of Adjara, has been a city since 1878. Population – 124 000. At 400 km distance from Tbilisi. Renovated Batumi hosts numerous tourists during the year.
Day 6: Batumi – Kutaisi After breakfast - departure to Kutaisi direction. City tour. Hotel accommodation. Acquaintance with most delicious Imeretian cuisine. In Kutaisi we will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Bagrati Cathedral (11th c.) and the Monastery of Gelati (12th c.). After that we will set out to visit Motsameta Monastic Complex (8-11th cc.) situated near Kutaisi. Also we will visit Sataplia Caves where ancient dinosaur tracks were discovered. Overnight in Kutaisi. Bagrati Cathedral - The Cathedral of the Dormition built at the turn of X-XI cc. during the reign of Bagrat III (975-1014) in the city of Kutaisi, the cathedral rests upon the top of Uk’imerioni Hill. The Monastery of Gelati - one of the main cultural centers of Georgia of the middle ages. It is built 11 km northeasterly of Kutaisi in the gorge of river Tskaltsiteli. It was founded in 1106 by the King David the Builder. It is surrounded by fence. Motsameta Monastic Complex – is situated in Tkibuli municipality near Motsameta Village, close to the Monastery of Gelati in the gorge of river Tskaltsiteli. It was built to immortalize the name of martyr brothers David and Konstantin Mkheidzes, (the Eristavs of Argveti). Sataplia State Reserve – is located on the territory of Gumbra Village of Tskaltubo municipality, on the Sataplia Mountain, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea level. It was founded in 1935. Area – 354 ha. Overnight in Kutaisi.
Day 7: Kutaisi - Gori – Tbilisi En route we will visit Stalin Museum in Gori. We will also see Uplistsikhe. Uplistsikhe - is a rock-hewn town, one of the ancient settlements and urban centers of the Caucasus, It is situated 10 kilometers east of the town of Gori, on the left bank of the Mtkvari River. In written sources it is first referred to in the 7th century. Uplistsikhe and its surroundings contain a group of archeological and architectural monuments, the most ancient of which dates from the Early Bronze Age. Joseph Stalin state museum – the museum in Gori named after Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union leader. It was founded in 1937. Up to 60 000 exhibit items are kept there. The museum complex comprises the memorial house where Stalin was born, the exhibition building with tower and Stalin’s personal business car by which he travelled to Teheran, Yalta and Potsdam. Stalin’s personal things are also kept in the museum. Overnight in Tbilisi
Day 8 : Kakheti – Tbilisi After breakfast we will go to see Alaverdi Monastery. Alaverdi Monastery was founded in the middle age of the 6th century by Joseph Alaverdeli (Assyrian father). At the beginning of the 11th century, Kakhetian King Kvirike the Great built a cathedral, today known as Alaverdi Cathedral, in the place of a small church of St. George. At present it is also considered a cathedral church where there is acting monastery. On the territory of the monastery Alaverdeli wine cellar is located where wine pressed out by the monks is being sold. Then we will head for Tsinandali. We will visit Aleksandre Chavchavadze House Museum and the botanic garden, as well as Tsinandali wine cellar and the Enoteca famous for its collection of old wine samples, where an ancient wine bottle is kept dating from 1814. Here you will taste 5 kinds of Georgian wine. Transfer to Tbilisi International Airport with unforgettable impressions
Proud to serve you Elite Tour For further information, please contact us: A: 43, Saburtalos Str., Tbilisi, Georgia T: +995 32 2 107 107 +995 32 2 477 444 E-mail: info@elitetour.ge URL: http://elitetour.ge/georgia/