Kakheti 18.05.2017


Image for Kakheti

Our Kakhetian journey has started with visitingDavid Gareja monastery and continued with Sighnaghi. This extremely popular among tourists town is located on the hill just above the Alazan valley.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1216
(cc) by Rushan

The town seems neat and cosy on the surface.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1217
(cc) by Rushan

There are many tourists wandering about in the streets. Surprisingly there are many Germans and other non ex-USSR foreigners among them.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1218
(cc) by Rushan

But deeper look reveals poor condition of what is hidden behind pretty façades. There are many abandoned and decrepit houses. Here's what common staircase in our house looked like:

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1219
(cc) by Rushan

Old town is surrounded by the stone wall with towers.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1220
(cc) by Rushan

There is a Bodbe Convent situated 2 kilometres away from Singhaghi with Saint Nino buried inside.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1221
(cc) by Rushan

Local nuns are occupied with rural activities. They harvest strawberries and host cattle.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1222
(cc) by Rushan

Kakheti - is the main wine producing region in Georgia. The most famous wines are produced here. Therefore any road is surrounded by vineyards.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1223
(cc) by Rushan

Wineries here organize tours to present their production. We did not miss a chance and visited Kinzmarauli Corporation - main wine producer in Georgia. 10 acres of vineyard yield 750 litres of wine per year.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1224
(cc) by Rushan

Wine is produced according to two technologies: Eropean and Kakhetian. By European technology only grape juice (with rind for red wine) is used for production. By Kakhetian, grapes and branches are used as well. This substance is yeast in underground ceramic jars. One jar contains up to 3000 litres of wine.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1225
(cc) by Rushan

According to European technology wine is produced in huge cisterns.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1226
(cc) by Rushan

Visitors are allowed to see laboratory and bottling line. Please note, that the line is not fully automatized and still hand-labour is required.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1227
(cc) by Rushan

There is a wine storage under bottling line. Not only wine for sell is stored here, but also special orders and collection wine. Customers can rent their own bottle storage for 10 GEL (4 EUR) per year only.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1228
(cc) by Rushan

There is Nekresi Monastery located near Kinzmarauli factory. One can get there by foot (1.2 kilometres up along the steep road) or by bus (2 GEL).

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1229
(cc) by Rushan

Kakhetians monks also produced wine, like many other Kakhetians did. Vessel on the photo was used for wines squeezing with bare feet,

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1230
(cc) by Rushan

From the height of monastery it is clearly seen how Alazan valley is turned into hills.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1231
(cc) by Rushan
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(cc) by Rushan
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(cc) by Rushan

A bit further there is Gremi town, the former Kakheti capital. In XVII it was moved to Telavi and there is only royal palace and Church of Archangels worth to visit nowadays.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1233
(cc) by Rushan
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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1234
(cc) by Rushan

Stock raising is developed rather good in Kakheti, however people suffer from it sometimes: cows walk right on the road quite often and it's really hard to pass by them. Though it's not all from Kakheti, to be continued...

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1235
(cc) by Rushan