Why is Saperavi a unique variety of vine and is it only found in Georgia?
Georgia is one of the main hubs for forming various classical vines. An important book called, “Georgian Amphelography”, was published in 1960, where Georgian grape varieties were discussed. The complete amphelographic included a description of 57 standard and perspective varieties. The book contains in total 525 varieties of vines.
After final verification, 414 varieties of Georgian vine description were included in the amphelographic book.
Among them is Saperavi, a unique grape variety that originates in Georgia. Biological features and morphological signs of this breed identify Saperavi as the oldest breed. None of the Georgian varieties have the same number of additional names as Saperavi. This can be explained by the fact that Saperavi is an old breed. The most famous and varied types of Saperavi are Budeshuri, Otskhanuri Sapere, Meskhi Saperavi, Ateni Saperavi, Saperavi Pachkha, and many more.
The growing of the Saperavi vines spread from Georgia to almost all neighbouring countries: Azerbaidjan – from Saingilo, mostly in the regions such as Kakhi, Zakatala, Shamkori, Ghanja; Armenia – in the districts of Alaverdi, Shamshadin and Ijevani. However, the Saperavi vine is less common in Armenia. Since 1927, Saperavi cultivation has been extensive in the former Soviet farm at Ararat. Saperavi was introduced in Dagestan from the region of Kakheti, mostly in the districts of Darubandi and Makhachkala.
In the Middle Asian countries Saperavi was brought together with European varieties by 1860, and in France it is fetched by French habitant of Kutaiasi Longale, who was sending Georgian breeds to ampheliographist Pule.
The reason why Saperavi is widely grown and cultivated in different countries is down to its high agricultural and technological properties (productivity, quality, frost-resistant). According to the chemical analysis, Saperavi belongs to a saint wine vines’ group. It is among the world’s best red wines. The high quality of Saperavi Wine is often acknowledged by official tasting commissions. Director of Nikitin Garden, Hartvis, G. Tsabel and others give it a high rating. The prominent French amphelographist Odari wrote: “Everything gives me the right to think that Saperavi is the best of all grapes to make red wine.”
The best Saperavi wine is made from grapes, harvested in the middle of the Kakheti region, especially in Kvareli and Mukuzani. These are truly the pride of Georgian wine. The most popular wines made from Saperavi grapes are “Saperavi”, “Kindzmarauli”, “Kvareli”, and “Mukuzani. The best dessert wines from Saperavi grapes are seen in the Crimea and Uzbekistan. In some places the wine is a dark ruby-colour, a pomegranate colour, or can even be a blackcurrant colour. But in every case it is accompanied with a strong flavor and a harmonious sensation of its components. According to the Ukrainian winemaker, Okhremenko, the “softness of the wine is integral with the the character of wine its originality and integrity.”
Source: www.allwine.ge
Georgian alphabet in the metro of Frankfurt
Frankfurt U-Bahn has been decorated with the posters of Georgian alphabet. The posters are the reminder of the fact that Georgia is the honorary country of Frankfurt Book Fair 2018. Every year, the fair chooses a country as guest of honour.
The chosen country has a chance to introduce all its cultural and intellectual treasure to the international audience. The honourary country has a special opportunity of putting out its works through the major theatres, concert halls, galleries, cinemas, libraries and
Georgia decided to represent the country through the characters of Georgian alphabet at the fair. The concept of the project is “Georgia made by characters”. Cultural events of 72 Georgian writers and German translations of about 200 Georgian literary works will also be represented at the fair.
The beauty and uniqueness of the Georgian alphabet are recognized all over the world. Georgian scripts are among the only 14 existing scripts worldwide. Georgian scripts include three writing systems: Asomtavruli, Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli. The three systems show three levels of development of the Georgian alphabet. It is worth to admit that today all of them are still in use. The third system – Mkhedruli or designated for wider society is used as a literary language. The first two are used in church services – all of the books used in church and liturgy are written with the Nuskhuri and Asomtavruli script. Although the systems differ in appearance, all three are written in the lower case (in other words no capital letters are used).
Their letters share the same names and alphabetical order and are written horizontally from left to right. Mkhedruli is now the standard script of modern Georgian. The Georgian alphabet was announced as one of the world’s most beautiful scripts by www.matadornetwork.com (a collection of millions of travelers across the globe with an unquenchable thirst for adventure and exploration).
The fair is going to commence on the 9th of October.
Georgian guda cheese wins first place at cheese festival in Italy
Traditional cheese made in Georgia’s historical region of Tusheti has become the winner of the International Cheese Festival in Italy.
A Tushuri ‘guda’ cheese, made by young Georgian farmer Kakha Abuladze, 22, came in first place at the Festival.
Tushuri guda is a cheese produced from sheep’s milk that ripens in a “guda” (the Georgian word for a bag made from the skin of a sheep, goat, or calf)..
Since 2011, Slow Food has awarded shepherds and craftsmen who reject shortcuts and continue to produce cheese and other food products while preserving naturalness, traditions, and flavors.
Shepherds and chefs who produce cheese and other organic products according to traditions were awarded as well.
The other winners of the four-day festival were farmers from the United States, Italy, and the Cape Verde Republic.
The international cheese festival in Italy is held once every two years and gathers hundreds of farmers from all over the world.
Opening ceremony of Georgian Fine Arts Museum
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze attended the opening ceremony of Georgian Fine Arts Museum and addressed the gathered community.
According to Kakha Kaladze, the City Hall will always support similar projects.
“As the mayor of the capital, I would like to once more reiterate, that the capital of any European country would dream of such space and the environment. Younger generations will also be able to develop and I am really happy in this regard. I would like to thank to Gia Jokhtaberidze and his family for everything, “said Kakha Kaladze.
The private collection of the museum founders, Gia Jokhtaberidze and Manana Shevardnadze’s family paintings were exhibited in the museum, which has been composed of 3500 paintings of 80 artists since 1945.
Exhibition space is relevant to modern standards. Gradually, new paintings will be added to the museum and besides permanent exposition, temporary exhibitions will be arranged as well.
The event was attended by members of the Government of Georgia, representatives of diplomatic corps, artists and representatives of world leading museums.
Tbilisi Marathon
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Half Marathon (21.1 km) – 20 ₾
1km run for 11-15 year old youngsters.
Tbilisi
Cheese Festival
Every year Georgia invites gourmets from all over the world to the Cheese Festival. In 2015 it became international, as Armenia and Azerbaijan filled the list of participants, which means you can enjoy even more varieties of this loved-by-all food. Moreover, it was decided to hold the next festival in the region that wins the competition. Previously, a celebration of the senses had been hosted by the Rike Park in Tbilisi.
The name makes the purpose of the event obvious – to introduce visitors to the regional types of cheeses. Hard flavorful dambal-khacho prepared according to technology which is recognized and protected by UNESCO, spicy Guda cheese matured in a bag made of sheepskin, Tenili Kveli from Southern Georgia, tightly woven into a braid, cheese in honey, oils, flowers, spices, and even wine! Please, come hungry to Georgia festivals to feel the rich taste of all this awesomeness!
Peasants from different regions enjoy showing the ancient tools used for preparing cheeses and tell visitors about specific details of preparation of different sorts of cheeses.
If you appreciate the culture of cheese making and huge variety of cheeses to taste, welcome to Georgia!
Wine Festival in Tbilisi
In the last several years month of May in Tbilisi feels great not just because of blooming nature and splendid weather, but also because the New Wine Festival is held in the city. End of spring is the time to unseal huge clay vessels called qvevri, filled with pressed grapes and buried under the ground according to the traditional Georgian winemaking technology. The young wine is ready and waits for the moment when wine lovers come to taste it.
Usually the festival is held in one of green areas in Tbilisi in the beginning of May. Travellers, bloggers, journalists, winemakers and sommeliers from all around the globe enjoy tasting more than 60 varieties of excellent Georgian wine of the last harvest. Traditional Georgian barbeques and fresh bread are available at the festival to try keeping you sober. Accompanied by Georgian dances and songs performances, the festival lasts the whole weekend. Outdoors, under the warm May sun the wine tastes gorgeous!