Our astute readers will have picked up that traditional Georgian wine is made in qveveri – distinctively shaped earthenware jars buried in the ground.
We have seen ancient qveveri in the grounds of churches – in this case a a sixth-century one: (the monks and nuns were and are expert winemakers):
We have seen qvevri being dried in the sun ready for the new wine and we have seen them for sale on the side of the road.
So we were very excited to stay at the Hotel Qvevrebi where we got to sleep in a qvevri!
And what a fine couple of grand crus they have staying tonight. I hope you found something halfway drinkable to toast the sunset on your balcony xx
Yes, we did! A very nice red which somehow involved oak casks ( search me – inside the qvevri? Post qvevri?). Anyway, it was delicious..
Well done you two! An admirable tribute to this ancient if strange wine production. Any interesting odours to report?
Not a thing! V comfortable place to stay with an amusing dog ( runs up looking for biscuits, dances around, sits still looking hungry) for entertainment…
Looks lovely!
Yes, it was!
But also a bit lunar landscape…
Lovely wooded hills sort of folded into each other – not very lunar – soft and green
The builders having included their quite realistic portraits is very touching but important information, usually there is mystery about all the effort made.
I loved their small and modest self portraits – so much about these very old churches is very moving..
And love the Qvevrebi hotel!
Me too! May be my favourite of the places we’ve stayed – eccentric AND comfortable..
They look surreal dotted around the field – I take it these were never actually functional qvevri but buildings designed to look like them.
No, novelty rooms. Unless, I guess, they were Qvevri for a particular grand cru that needed nice sheets, air conditioning and an excellent shower – now that would be one definitely worth drinking..