Hospitable Kakheti

• Hospitable Kakheti

Kakheti - the birthplace of Georgian wine and a region with many historical monuments. We can say this is the real Georgia, where national traditions are preserved, and many of the locals do not speak in Russian.

Kakheti very much, despite the fact that most of the time we spent in grueling journeys on winding mountain paths:

The first item was Ujarma in our journey - the castle and the ruins of the ancient city, built in the III-IV centuries:

The Georgians prepare wine is not in barrels, but in special jars, called kvevri. They are buried in the ground, poured grape juice and left to ferment with the natural temperature of the ground. Our next stop is in the house, whose owner makes kvevri, and according to legend, it is perhaps the only place in Georgia where do these pitchers:

Technology passed down from generation to generation, from father to son. Kvevri mold of clay, dried in a huge walled furnace and calcined. In the background logs that are kindling:

The family business is located in the courtyard of the house: on the one hand the production, on the other - a children's sandbox:

, of course, the obligatory tasting Kakhetian wine. It was very tart taste like unripe persimmon. More than two glasses did not survive:

Then we went to Ikalto, a small but very ancient monastery, where he studied Shota Rustaveli. Interesting fact: in ancient Georgian Academy and the theological schools based in monasteries, and the students have lived and worked together with the novices:

And this is a familiar kvervi. Near many churches you can find them a mountain of: it is believed that brought the pitcher on the feast of wine can not be taken back and empty kvervi put in a special place in the territory:

This and more we spoke grandfather during an impromptu tour:

I, unfortunately, did not listen to his story until the end, because I was distracted by the local:

A wonderful illustration of the hospitality Kakhetians: without saying a word in Russian, the men invited me to the table, poured chacha and treated to an unexpected sandwich of bread and watermelon:

Then we went to the monastery of Alaverdi. His story is one of Kakheti nobleman met the elder ascetic and was so inspired by an acquaintance, he promised to build a temple. His promise he made, and this building served as the foundation for the future of the monastery:

In the temple proved a strict dress code and get inside in shorts was not possible:

I had to walk around and take a few shots of passers-by and congregation:

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After Alaverdi went to dinner at a private home, and the first thing that caught my eye - is such a "bed". Bus at the base piece, apparently, put it many years ago, when the tree was very young:

The hostess is committed to making Kakheti carpets:

The atmosphere at the table was a chamber and pleasant. Dinner was accompanied by Tamada, who talked about the Georgian customs and spoke toast:

From the offered dishes very memorable boiled honey vodka, infused with herbs, which poured straight from the kettle.

ended with a trip to the winery where they make Kindzmarauli. And so, in fact, look kvervi buried under the ground, where the wine ferments:

And here is debugged production in the basement:

And so - the finished product: