Lasting Memories of the 2026 Winemaker Trip
In the second half of September 2026, wine enthusiasts from Switzerland joined us for ten days to support our grape harvest and wine production: fantastic experiences and wonderful memories!
This year, we organized a trip during the grape harvesting and winemaking period for the very first time. The goal was to give interested people a deep, hands-on insight into daily life as a Georgian winemaker. Joining us were Irene, Renzo, Gaby, Markus, and Heinz. Some knew each other before the trip, while others did not. Yet after just one or two days, our guests had already grown into a tight-knit, harmonious group.
The Calm Before the Storm: Excursions to Telavi and Sighnaghi
The first few days were peaceful. The grapes in the vineyard were not quite ready to be picked yet. So, following the lavish welcome dinner on the first evening, we treated ourselves to excursions exploring the sights of the region. We strolled through Telavi's farmers' market, savored khinkali in all its varieties, and visited the picturesque town of Sighnaghi, where Jane from Sister's Wine generously poured more than double the five wines we had booked to taste.
Grape Harvesting for the Fermentation Starter
Since this year’s grape quality was not exceptional, we headed into the vineyard to pick just under 300 kilograms of grapes. We sorted them meticulously and pressed only the absolute finest – creating a perfect, 100% sound grape mash that we could subsequently use as a fermentation starter for the main harvest. The rapid start to fermentation that this achieved helped us minimize risks. Gaby, Markus, Heinz, Irene, and Renzo then gave it their all during the next harvest as well.
Prepping Crates, Labeling Bottles, Enjoying Good Times
There was plenty of other work to do alongside the harvest: washing crates after picking and preparing them for the next run, labeling wine bottles, or helping out in the kitchen. Our guests were a tremendous help. In the evenings, Nina spoiled us with an array of delicacies, and we enjoyed tasting the different wines.
The 2026 Winemaker Trip was an unforgettable experience that we look forward to repeating in 2027. We will keep you updated on this website and via our newsletter (signup available below).