Wine tour in the Chateau Monolith: cheese, nature, and, of course, wine!

Preface

Wine is solar nectar, which appeared in ancient times and today is an invariable attribute of the festive table and a unique value for enophiles - lovers and connoisseurs of wine. We invite everyone to hospitable Azerbaijan - to a country where a stunning drink is made of juicy, sun-drenched berries through a magical process in your glass. But most importantly, we invite you to participate in this magical process. Oh, it will be truly unforgettable!

Who is this tour for?

This fascinating journey will open the amazing world of Azerbaijani winemaking. It is suitable for those who do not think of a good dinner without a delicious glass of wine, and who want to spend time not only with pleasure, but also with benefit. After all, this wine drink is distinguished both by interesting taste qualities for certain dishes, and by its useful properties for maintaining health.

The taste and smell of true wine

To truly imbue with a fragrant drink, acquaintance with it first of all must begin with the “roots”. And that's literally true. After all, fabulous walks through long vineyards are not only your beautiful photos in social networks. This is an opportunity to understand how sunlight, saturated soil, temperature variability and rainy weather affect the taste and color of the future drink. You will know when it is best to pick grapes – early in the morning, late in the evening or in the middle of the day. What kind of grape is used for dry wine, and which for sweet wine? How a person at an early stage of ripening grape berries can affect the final result of wine creation. A tour of the vineyard is beautiful views, fragrant berries and a cognitive journey.

Wine tour - an opportunity to reveal the mystery of the birth of the drink of the gods

A visit to a real winery is a unique opportunity to personally observe all stages of wine production. In addition, you can see how it is stored in one of the largest cellars in the whole country, be inspired by the calm atmosphere in which the popular drink acquires its main taste features.

The tour program includes tasting of Shabiant wines produced in this area. And if you are hungry, you can arrange a stunning lunch right on the winery in the middle of the breathtaking Caucasus Mountains. Especially for you will prepare dishes of national cuisine from environmentally friendly ingredients and products with a generous addition of seasonings and spices, the aroma of which excites and disperses appetite.

Fascinating fishing and Celentano’s famous “grape” dances

In addition, you can choose either to explore the amazing canyon of the expressive river Girdimanchai, or go to the picturesque lake located nearby with the opportunity to fish. And for those who plan to go on tour from late summer to mid-autumn, a real surprise awaits. It is during this period that the harvest takes place, and you will be able to crush grape juice with your feet, like the legendary Adriano Celentano. A fun and funny adventure will leave indelible impressions and incredible sensations. After all, it is intrigue to take part in the creation of wine, and then return after a while and taste the drink, in the creation of which he personally participated.

Legends of the Shemakhan shrine

On the way to the winery, we are waiting for the city from the fairy tales of Pushkin – Shemakh, which until the end of the 12th century was the capital of the state of Shirvanshahs, where we will visit the mausoleum of Diri Baba. This is a unique structure, and the most amazing thing is that it is still reliably unknown who is buried in the mausoleum.

I will tell you about the mysteries and mysteries of the sanctuary. I'll show you caves in the rock that look like hermit cells. It is believed that this place has great energy.

In ancient times, Shemakha was the center of carpet weaving, this tradition is still preserved. The city repeatedly found itself in the heat of battles, which affected the architecture. The walls of stone fortresses and mosques for centuries saved people from the raids of enemies.

Russian village of Ivanovka

On our way will meet the Russian village of Ivanovka. It was founded in 1840, and its inhabitants were peasant settlers from Russia, who supported morality in the Orthodox religion.

All signs here are written in Russian, including on the building where the board of the collective farm was located. Nikitina

Yeah, I didn't miss it. The kolkhoz has existed since Soviet times and is successfully developing. “Retrospective” in Soviet times will end with a dinner in the Azerbaijani style: with fragrant tea, hot cakes, local wines and intimate conversations.

There is a guest house in the village, where you can spend the night if you wish, and in the morning, supported by farm products, go to the amazing villages of Lagich and Baskal, where masters and artisans live.

Lagić - village of craftsmen

The streets of Lagich are homely and clean. Everyone from young to old is doing something. The main “fishing” is the manufacture of copper and leather products. You will not only see the skillful work of local craftsmen, but you can also buy your favorite thing as a souvenir.

Traditionally, all guests are seated at the table. You will taste the local cuisine, listen to stories about people who lived and worked here many centuries ago.

Baskal and Sheki - the birthplace of silk scarves

On our way we will stop at the village of Baskal and the city of Sheki. Here you can watch how Kalagai is created - a thin silk scarf decorated with beautiful patterns. By the way, you can determine where it is woven - in Shemakha, the kalagai were decorated with small ornaments, for Absheron manufactories a large pattern is characteristic. Many foreigners specially come to Baskal to order an exclusive kalagai. Along the fabulous forests we will go to the city of Sheki, the city that was the center of the Sheki Khanate in the 17-18 centuries. I will show you the most interesting monuments: the palace of Sheki khans, caravanserai, the Christian church of the beginning of our era in the village of Kysh.

What comes in

• guide services,
• Walk through the vineyards, visit the winery, inspect the wine production and storage process in one of the largest wine cellars in Azerbaijan.
• Tasting local wines "Shabiant", as well as, if desired, for an additional fee, lunch at the winery, in the bosom of nature, among the fascinating mountains of the Greater Caucasus, during which you will be offered to taste national dishes made from traditional ingredients, with the mandatory addition of fragrant spices and seasonings.
• transport
• If desired, go to the nearby lake with fishing.
• During the grape harvesting season (late summer – mid-autumn), you will have the opportunity to crush grape juice with your feet. Yeah, yeah, like Celentano in that movie. You are waiting for an indescribable sensation!