Tbilisi, Georgia – Reported by Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
Silk Road Treasure Tours, specialists in travel to destinations along the Silk Routes, debuts its new Wine and Black Sea Tour of Georgia, an eight-day journey uncovering 8,000 years of wine-making tradition in an extraordinary cultural heritage destination located along the coast of the alluring Black Sea. Nestled between Russia and Turkey in the Caucasus, Georgia is home to five wine regions, including Kakheti and Kartli, which are becoming renowned in the Western world.
The journey begins in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. During a walking tour of the old city, guests will discover the religious and secular architecture that line its narrow streets: churches, synagogues, mosques abound, as well as famous nineteenth-century houses with wooden multi-colored balconies. Relaxation awaits when they visit the sulfur baths which made an unforgettable impression on the likes of Pushkin, Lermontov and Dumas.
Guests will have the chance to explore the Kakheti wine region and enjoy superb views of the snow-capped Great Caucasus Mountains and verdant valleys of Kakheti whilst sipping the wines from Pheasant’s Tears, a small winery started by the American artist, John H. Wurdeman, in the fortified eighteenth-century town of Singhnaghi. The tours also visit the traditional cellars of local farmers in the nearby village of Velistsikhe that will give guests an authentic sense of family wine production. Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience a tasting at the modern Schuchmann Wines, owned by Burkhard Schuchmann, a German industrial manager who was seduced by Georgia’s promising vineyards.
Another stop is the wine cellar of the Alaverdi Cathedral, which has been operated by wine-making monks as early as the sixth century. To get a sense of how the region traditionally stores wine, guests will get to visit a local master of Georgian clay jars known as Qvevri, which is a traditional method of storing wine underground that dates back 8,000 years.
The stops on the eight-day tour also allow guests to enjoy meals at the homes of local families, visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and take in the beautiful landscape and sights of Tbilisi, Sighnaghi, Telavi, Mtskheta, Gori, Kutaisi, and Batumi. This small group tour has seven guaranteed departure dates from August 18, 2012 to July 20, 2013 and includes three- to five-star and boutique hotel accommodations, Visa support, most meals, wine tastings, entrance fees, and more (starts at $3,400 per person).
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