This platform has been created based on the vineyard of Benedikt and Julia Gegechkori, here everyone can experience the beauty of making wine.
From childhood Benedict helped his grandfather take care of the grapes and harvest
That’s why Benedict purchased his first hectare of land in the Kisi grape microzone and began to apply all the family knowledge of winemaking traditions successfully.
Yulia, Benedict's wife, has been living in Georgia for 7 years. She always dreamed of seeing and participating in the grape harvest by herself. Perhaps that is why fate met her with a man who could fulfill her dream. And now they lovingly show this process to their son David.
Yulia, Benedict's wife, has been living in Georgia for 7 years. She always dreamed of seeing and participating in the grape harvest by herself. Perhaps that is why fate met her with a man who could fulfill her dream. And now they lovingly show this process to their son David.
This family shares its love with those who also want to learn the art of winemaking
They are happy to receive guests, organize tours of the vineyards and introduce them to the traditions and culture of Georgia. Their mission is to help everyone experience the joy of having their own vineyard and to show that viticulture and winemaking are accessible to everyone. Benedict and Julia are happy to bring the European culture of vine patronage to the Georgian land.
History of winemaking
The history of Georgian wine and viticulture has its roots deep in the Neolithic era (VI-IV millennium BC), as evidenced by numerous archaeological discoveries.
For example, in Kvemo Kartli (south of Tbilisi) archaeologists found a kvevri (clay wine jug), they found grape seeds in it that were 8000 years old. Currently this kvevri is located at the National Museum of Georgia and it is considered the oldest wine vessel in the world.
Vineyards and wine in Georgia became more important with the spread of Christianity: Saint Nina (the Christian education of Georgia) appeared with a cross made of bound grapevine and continued the education of Georgia. Wine for sacred rituals has always been produced in large quantities in the monastery walls, this old cellars (Marani) can still be found in many monasteries. |
At that time the Georgian people had a tradition of donating wine to the church, and they did it in large quantities. This wine was called "Zedashe".
It is safe to say that the Georgian people know and apply special methods of winemaking that are not typical of the modern world: they came from the depths of centuries and are carved with a rich history and vast experience working with vineyards.
This allows you to convey the unusually interesting taste qualities of wines, moreover the taste of some of them is completely excluded from the experience of the average amateur.
This allows you to convey the unusually interesting taste qualities of wines, moreover the taste of some of them is completely excluded from the experience of the average amateur.
Georgia is the birthplace of a great variety of modern European grape varieties.
However, the main distinguishing feature of the Georgian winemaking technology, unlike the European one, is the fermentation of grape juice with the skin and twigs together, and further, the maturing of wine on pomace, which gives the drink extractivity, fruity aroma, harmonious taste and attractive rich color.
The Georgian people have preserved and cherished the wine culture for centuries. The result of this knowledge and experience is a special technology of wine production, which includes:
the process of slow fermentation of grape juice with the skin, twigs and bones in kvevri together (while the vessels are dug into the ground to maintain a stable temperature)
fermentation on natural yeast
mixing bagasse in kvevri during fermentation 3-4 times a day (it is very responsible!)
sealing kvevri for fermentation for 4-6 months
The chemical consequences of this technology are the transfer of a large amount of extractive substances into wine from skins, seeds and twigs. Therefore, the taste is stronger, tart and saturated. |
We invite you to become a part of this rich culture and history, to touch the art of Georgian winemaking and try the taste of this special wine that you will not be able to forget.
