A Toast To Tradition: The Vibrant Wine Festivals of Georgia
- History
- November 16, 2024
On a crisp autumn day, locals and tourists alike gather in the open air, surrounded by the rolling vineyards of Kakheti and the scenic streets of Tbilisi. They are partaking in a festival that is 8000 years in the making. This is the wine festival of Georgia, annually held in the wine region of Khaketi.
So old is the tradition that there aren’t even folklores associated with the festival, but what is certain is that the ancestors of the Georgians were the oldest if not the best winemakers of their age.
Vibrant stalls showcase Georgia’s unique qvevri wines, fermented in traditional clay vessels buried underground. Winemakers from every region, from the lush valleys of Kakheti to the mountains of Svaneti, come to share their stories and their best wines. Each glass is a journey through history, filled with flavors of ripe fruits, earthy minerals, and the essence of the Georgian landscape.
As lively folk music fills the air, dancers in colorful traditional attire perform, encouraging onlookers to join in the rhythm. Visitors feast on Georgian delicacies like khachapuri, warm cheese-filled bread, and chakhokhbili, a savory chicken stew. There’s laughter, camaraderie, and a sense of timeless joy as people toast to the past, present, and future of Georgian wine. The festival is more than a celebration of wine; it’s a tribute to Georgia’s soul, where wine flows as freely as the stories of its people.