A Visit to Chateau Mukhrani

Last weekend we were invited to Chateau Mukhrani Winery, for their Harvest Festival. It was a day full of wine and food degustation and great company.

Chateau Mukhrani lies on the estate of a Georgian Prince, a descendant of the oldest royal dynasty in the world, the Bagrationi. Prince Ivane learned the fine art of win making in Bordeaux and Champange regions. He returned to produce some exceptional Georgian wines, his first harvest being in 1882.

The castle on the estate was designed by French architects. Construction started in 1878 and took 12 years to complete. The castle and the royal family frequently hosted very elaborate parties and entertained many prestigious guests. During the soviet period, the estate was abandoned and fell into disrepair it is only now, that the castle is nearly ready to reopen after many years of restoration.

At the moment the only wines sold are made in a European style. But at the festival a Qvevri was opened and we were lucky to sample the wine.

This is what the Qvevri looks like above the ground

During the day these beautiful horses and there riders dressed in traditional dress, and rode around the venue. We toured the winery, picked grapes, ate some lovely Georgian food and wine tasted.

Beautiful day lots of fun had by all.

Georgia: The Land Where Wine Was Born

Georgian Wine

This Month, so far has been filled with all things wine. We have been on winery tours and to wine and harvest festivals. There has been a little bit of wine drunk by some and a lot by others. Wine is a very important part of the Georgian culture and during the months of September and October most families will make their own wine, using grapes they have grown themselves or bought from local farmers.
Georgia is one of the oldest wine producing regions of the world. Not only has it the earliest record of wine making, dating as far back as 5000 BC but it also has some very unique wine making traditions and techniques, as well as grape varieties unknown to the rest of the world.
The traditional technique of making the wine in a huge clay vessel called a Qvevri and then burying it to store, fascinates me. This ancient technique is something that I hope will never be changed or forgotten as Georgia tries to convince the rest of the wine drinking world to try the unique flavour of their wines.
Next time you are in the supermarket see if there are any bottles of Georgian wine on the shelves, I doubt you will find one. Maybe I will try to travel light this trip home and put a few in my suitcase for a tasting. Let's be the first in NZ to broaden our wine liking horizons and maybe let go of our French ideals of how wine should be made and stored. (barrel or Qvevri). Believe me I am no expert on the subject of wine. Many who know me will be thinking, she doesn't even drink the stuff, but I do like to taste the different types of wines, so I figure I can make little comments.
In this utube clip of the Crazy French Women, she travels Georgia to find out about their wines, how and where they are made. If you have time watch it. There is a really interesting part about the making of the Qvevri and the wine. You will see her in some really remote parts of Georgia helping make wine and unearthing ancient Qvevri.