top of page

BEHIND THE SCENES
Check back to find Emily's photographs from behind the scenes.
![]() Ancient QvevriArcheologist Mindia Jalabadze shows Jeremy Neolithic era qvevri. | ![]() Zaliko Molding Clay | ![]() Harvest PunchdownThe late night harvest punchdown of the fermenting wine juice in Ramaz's cellar. |
---|---|---|
![]() Ancient VinesGiorgi Natenadze's 400 year old grape vine. (More like a tree). | ![]() Wine Cellar during Harvest | ![]() Niki Antadze, Kakhetian Winemaker |
![]() Building a Winery | ![]() JQ Helps Build | ![]() Niki's New Winery |
![]() The Biggest Hammer | ![]() Looking Over Manavi (Kakheti) | ![]() Giorgi Barisashvili's Wine Writing |
![]() Writing with SaperaviGiorgi Barisashvili is a professor of wine, and helps consult with over 100 Georgian winemakers. When he writes a book on wine, he uses the "ink" of his saperavi wine. | ![]() Writing with Wine | ![]() Racha Begins to Ripen |
![]() Winemaker Mariam IosebidzeJeremy and Mariam look out over Racha. This past year was her first vintage, and she hopes to return to her ancestor's land in Racha to help revitalize the region using non-interventionalist practices. | ![]() Vardzia Cavesin the region of Meskheti | ![]() Exploring the Vardzia Caves |
![]() Entering an ancient qvevri roomJeremy explores one of the dark caves at Vardzia where they kept qvevri, and aged wine. | ![]() Ancient Clay VesselA piece of a qvevri found at Vardzia Caves. | ![]() Stained RedA vessel stained red from wine in the Vardzia caves. |
![]() Clay Still In TactThe bottom of the qvevri from thousands of years ago is still in tact, and one is stained red from a red wine. | ![]() Giorgi's Glass DreamGiorgi Natenadze is helping to return Meskheti to its strong history of being known for wine. He dreams of creating a glass bridge to connect a castle to the mountain across. | ![]() Ancient Terraces & ArtifactsGiorgi and Jeremy explore the ancient unprotected artifacts. |
![]() Bees Bees BeesWhen bees like a location, it means the native yeasts are good for winemaking! | ![]() Lovers & 3 MenStudies have shown this used to be a fresh water lake, and the bottom of the sea was heavily populated before the great flood. | ![]() Zurab's MaraniZurab shakes out a few glasses to let us taste a special bottle. |
![]() Zurab's Vines in JulyWe came back to meet with Zurab for a second time to see the changes in his vineyard after a month. | ![]() The Wall to the Caves | ![]() @ The Black SeaThree men relax of the large stoned beach. |
![]() Jeremy + Tbilisi | ![]() The World's Oldest Wine VesselsThese qvevri found in Georgia date back to 6,000BC. (Taken by our newest team member, Johnny Kvezereli). | ![]() An Archeological ExcavationMindia Jalabadze, head archeologist at the site where ancient qvevris were found. |
![]() Layers of Human ExistenceThey excavated down until they reached "virgin earth" where no humans were found living on that soil. | ![]() Early Mud-Brick Tower | ![]() Shulaveri Archeological Dig |
![]() Herds at the ExcavationThe excavation is in plain site in the middle of an open field. When the archeologists begin a dig, villagers come and dig for gold at night, which becomes a real problem for the archeologists. | ![]() Jeremy & MindiaShulaveri archeological site. | ![]() Bronze Age Tools & Weapons |
![]() Tbilisi at Dusk | ![]() Mother GeorgiaA sword in one hand, and a goblet of wine in the other. She protects the city of Tbilisi. | ![]() Jeremy & TbilisiA walk to visit Mother Georgia. |
![]() Iago's winery at DuskThe Village of Chardakhi. | ![]() Ramaz's Wild VinesRamaz's Vineyard in Imereti. | ![]() Our hostel's street in KutaisiKutaisi, the former capital, now seems a bit sad. Beautiful architecture surrounded by what feels to be a ghost town. |
![]() 6 Days & Nights of FlameBehind the rows of qvevri is the kiln room where all the qvevris are fired. The wood behind is used for the non-stop fire that lasts 6 days & nights. | ![]() Zaliko, The Qvevri-makerThe world famous qvevri maker. His qvevris are on a 3 year waiting list. | ![]() The Bottom of the QvevriIn Zaliko's workshop filled with qvevri. |
![]() Resting on BricksAs the qvevris are resting, they are only held up by a few small bricks. | ![]() Zaliko's WorkshopQvevri after qvevri. An amazing place to be. | ![]() Ramaz Inspecting Zaliko's WorkIf you finish the entire bowl of wine, you can keep the bowl. |
![]() Zaliko's PlaceRight off the highway in Imereti. | ![]() A Supra at Gaioz'sWe tagged along with a group of Japanese importers as they visited different wineries in Imereti. | ![]() Yasuko and GaiozIn the cellar at Gaioz's. |
![]() Roadside Mushroom StopIt's always important to pull over for the best mushrooms in the region. | ![]() Terry's Dedication to MaraniThe outdoor marani (winery) where Gaioz ferments his wines. There is no roof. If there is rain during harvest, it's quite a mess. | ![]() Supra at Makaridze Brothers |
![]() Lunch Supra @ Makaridze Bros | ![]() Andro and JeremyAndro walking Jeremy through his vines in Guria. | ![]() Gurian BazaarA busy Sunday market. |
![]() Zurab's at duskIt started to rain, but the light was perfect. I slid down a muddy hill, losing my shoes on the way in order to get this shot. | ![]() Like Father Like SonThe next winemaker of Guria... | ![]() Family SongsThe song which made Zurab fall in love with Tamuna many years ago. |
![]() Supra in DvabzuNaziko's Guest house was a blast. We walked into a supra of 20 men, feasted with them, and got some beautiful moments of the tamada! | ![]() Andro's NurseryAndro teaching Jeremy about the 16 native varietals to Guria that he helps preserve. | ![]() Jeremy's Afternoon studiesTaking note of our journey, and planning for what's to come... |
![]() In Zurab's TerracesJeremy and Zurab Topuridze sit amongst his terraces and discuss his winemaking practice and what inspired him to grow wine. | ![]() Zurab's PlacePlaying soccer with Ioane. | ![]() Tbilisi at NightYes, indeed, this was the by-product of a spa night at the Radisson Blu. The perks of shooting on the iPhone6. |
![]() Ioane giving Jeremy lessonsIoane helped us with our Georgian. | ![]() At the BazaarThe Sunday bazaar in Guria. | ![]() Zurab's TerracesIn the region of Guria. |
![]() Guria's Sunday MarketAll the small surrounding villages come to the Bazarze (market) in Chokhatauri every Sunday. | ![]() TastingJeremy's first taste of the wine he and Nika made last year. | ![]() Reviving an Old StyleA lovely rosé that hasn't been made in decades. |
![]() Bottling at Nika'sBottling in Atenuri with Nika's new vintage. | ![]() Horseback in SighnaghiAn evening ride in Sighnaghi. | ![]() Horses at Dusk |
![]() WineryA Georgian winery, with clay amphora pots buried underground for fermentation. | ![]() VinesJeremy's picture from Spring 2014. | ![]() Vertical TastingA Vertical Tasting of Ramaz's wines at Vino Underground in Tbilisi. |
![]() Visiting Monasteries | ![]() Signaghi | ![]() Visiting Monasteries |
bottom of page