1-day excursion to Kakheti: Signagi city, Bodbe monastery, Graneli winery, Khareb cellar

Signahi: Kakheti Signahi is located in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti, the birthplace of Georgian wine and winemaking, about 100 km from Tbilisi. However, the Sighnakhs themselves always proudly emphasize that they are, of course, Georgians, but not just Kakhetians, namely Kiziks. Kiziki is a border area of Kakheti. The Georgians call it Ubatono mitsa (land without master), meaning that the Kiziks never had a sovereign – they were recognized as free people, obeyed only the tsar and in this are similar to the Russian Cossacks. What is Signaghi? Signaghi is a city of love. Why the city of love? Like so much about this area, it is a mystery. There are two versions. The first is that the city has a round-the-clock wedding palace, in which you can register a marriage without prior submission of documents. Second, it was in Signaghi that the famous artist Nico Pirosmani paved the way with flowers for the actress Margarita. We know this story from the song “A Million Red Roses”. In the city there is a carpet factory - the pearl of the city of Signaghi. This is the only workshop where Georgian carpet weaving is traditionally used. Bodbe Monastery is one of the main Christian shrines of Georgia, here is the tomb of St. Nina of Cappadocia, who baptized the country in the IV century. According to legend, St. Nina died at Bodba in 335 at the age of 60. Initially, a small temple was built over her grave, consecrated in honor of St. George. In 850, a cathedral was erected in its place. It is a temple building classic for Georgian architecture. Its interior space is decorated with frescoes of the IX century. There is currently a women's monastery here. The monastery became important during the late Middle Ages. He was especially revered by the kings of Kakheti, who chose Bodbe as the place of their coronation. A theological school was opened in Bodbe. The monastery was also one of the largest repositories of religious books and was home to several religious authors and scribes. Then we visit the winery "Graneli", which stands right in the middle of the vineyards, which is very unusual in itself, so the tasting is carried out directly in nature, under a nut tree surrounded by thickets of grapes. Then visit the wine tunnel of the company "Hareba". In the rocky slope of Mount Kavkasioni, located in the Kvarelsky district of Kakheti, a tunnel was cut down. The tunnel has two main and thirteen connecting tunnels, each 500 meters long. Their total length is 7.7 km. The tunnel has two entrances, each of which has its own purpose: the first entrance is intended for tourists, and the second is of industrial importance, as it is used for storing and aging a large amount of wine. Here is the wine warehouse of the company "Hareba winery", which stores about 25 thousand bottles of the best wines of this manufacturer. For those who wish - wine tasting company "Hareba". In the wine shop located on the territory of the plant, you can purchase, at your choice, wine products of the company. Back to Tbilisi.