It’s that time of year when the chill creeps into the air and the leaves turn brown, yellow, red and purple. It’s time for enjoying the harvest: picking grapes, making chacha and churchkhelas (nuts coated in grape jelly), and relaxing in the crisp country surroundings. The hotels below are brilliant for a comfy break, a chance to sample local wines and to try your hand at some local culinary traditions.
WINIVERIA CHATEAU MERE
Chateau Mere has 15 spacious rooms (two suites on the rooftop, 12 standard rooms and a family suite), all of which have stunning panoramic views of the Caucasus Mountains and Alazani Valley. The rooms feature antique furniture and modern comforts, including a flat screen TV and free Wi-Fi.
Chateau Mere can offer guests a wide range of activities: picking and crushing grapes, learning about wines and cheese making, baking bread, making churchkhelas, riding horses, hiking, and more. You can also try their house wine, Winiveria fine dry red and white.
Price per night from 220 GEL
ADDRESS 15 Vardisubani, Telavi Region, Kakheti, Georgia
Between Shuamta and Telavi.
TEL +995 595 990399
TWINS WINE CELLAR
Twins (which is owned by twin brothers) offers 12 rooms: 6 double, 2 triple and 4 deluxe. Each room comes equipped with modern central heating and free Wi-Fi. Don’t miss out on their unique Qvevri collection and Qvevri Wine Museum.
The hotel is cozy and decorated with old household items, juxta-positioning the modern standards. Sit and imagine yourself lord or lady for the day- looking out over the vineyards towards the Caucasus Mountains.
The hotel offers various activity packages. The best, at 77 GEL p/p, includes a visit to the Qvevris, the museum, wine cellars and vodka distillery, tastings of wine and chacha, baking Georgian bread in a Tone oven, lunch, and making churchkhela. NOTE: minimum 10 people required for this tour.
Price per night from 130 GEL
ADDRESS Napareuli Village, Kakheti
TEL +995 599333884
http://cellar.ge/en
By Katie Ruth Davies