All Things Chap, Some Things Daddy
Let’s be honest – your trellis construction, pruning skills, and blending techniques are meaningless without a quality backyard vineyard site selection. Site selection is the most important decision for your backyard vineyard operation. It is the foundation for everything that Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Site Selection
Your author experienced his first grape harvest in a small Georgian village called Nukriani on the outskirts of famed Signaghi. The process was incredibly simple. We arrived mid-afternoon on a sunny September day with a light breeze. The vineyard owner, Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – The Tipping Point
“We make our wine from the womb of the earth.” That is how a Georgian friend once described the Georgian winemaking process. Many visitors to Georgia will leave it at that – a catchy, unique phrase that might fit perfectly Continue reading The Georgian Qvevri
Mention the word “Borjomi” anywhere in the Caucasus region and you’re likely to get an aggressive response – either an emotional display of support, or a disgusted gesture of rejection. This has nothing to do with the region, though – Continue reading Borjomi National Park: Panorama Trail
Georgians and Americans have a lot of things in common. First, we both seem to have an intense, almost excessively intense, sense of patriotism and love of country. This becomes very evident when talking to most Georgians. Second, we both Continue reading Mtsvadi (Georgian BBQ/Pork Shashlik)
Of all the wild mountain regions of Georgia, Tusheti is the wildest. Tucked into the far northeast reaches of Georgia along the Chechnya border, Tusheti delivers again and again on its reputation for dangerous roads, stunning terrain and passionate people. Continue reading Tusheti – Shatili to Omalo
The Lower Loop Kakheti, the region encompassing the Alazani Valley, is the “wine basket” of Georgia. It is like the Napa Valley, but without the snooty people, outrageous prices, and weak pours. My kind of place and my kind of Continue reading Kakheti
Visiting Georgia without experiencing the food, music, people, and culture tucked away deep in the vast Caucasus terrain is like visiting Louisiana without experiencing the Cajun influence originating from the bayou – you’re missing out on something unique and special. Continue reading Kazbegi
“Georgian wine is primitive.” The comment emerges from the bearded mouth of a winemaker in New Zealand while visiting one of the many great vineyards on the South Island. We hear it while sipping tiny pours of clear, clarified white Continue reading Georgian Wine
One of the best things about Georgia is that you can experience just about every climate and/or terrain within a few hours of Tbilisi. Craving massive, snow-peaked Caucasus mountains? Great – head north to Kazbegi, or even east to Telavi Continue reading Davit Gareja