For Georgians, the Black Sea region of Adjara has come to mean summer fun, with sweltering days and sultry nights lasting for half the year. But with breathtaking mountains, historical treasures and boisterous festivals, there is much more to her than that.
It’s the mountains that bring many people to Georgia. The Caucasus Mountains, spanning the northern border with Russia, and the Lesser Caucasus range in the south, close to Turkey and Armenia, have some of the highest peaks and most breathtaking trails in Europe. Visitors braving it to the remote and windswept mountain villages have always been treated to Georgians’ outsized hospitality, but now there are homestays and local tour companies in every region, so guests can fit the maximum number of experiences into their stay, while investing in these communities.
When I think of Georgians, I think of the most ridiculous levels of hospitality, warmth and laughter. They have the best wines, the best toasts (they love a never-ending toast — there’s a whole art to it) and the best — well, really, the only — khachapuri, the ultimate cheese pizza. It’s just a fabulous, unspoilt, complicated and joyous country to explore. Don’t be frightened by churchkhela, the strange walnut and grape juice lollipops you see people chomping on everywhere. Like a lot of Georgian things, once you get into it, you will be hooked. — Viv Groskop
Benjy’s drinks interested Georgians because, while it might seem like there are more alcoholic products on the market today than there is a need for, there is still a shortage of quality products. As opposed to the other brandies made in Georgia, most of which, although purified, are still an artificial synthetic product, Benjy’s fruit brandy is natural, guaranteeing the best quality and taste. This gave us the ambition to establish ourselves on the European market.
Master of Wine Lisa Granik began visiting Georgia over 30 years ago, when she taught law at the Institute of State and Law in the capital, Tbilisi. She holds various titles including a doctorate in law and the prestigious Master of Wine. Her latest work is by far the most important and in-depth book written on Georgian wine and its 8000-year history.
As relevant as Chirifruit is for Georgians, given that most of them would snack on chiri (the Georgian word for dried fruit) or churchkhela anytime, the company’s production, for many tourists, represents Georgia itself.
It goes without saying that Georgian cuisine is a big part of the country’s culture, as many things associated with Georgian food are representative of its character. Observe a Georgian at a supra (a traditional Georgian feast) and you’ll see why – how social and friendly they are, how much they love to eat, drink, and sing, and, true to their natural hospitality, push fellow supra attendees (especially tourists) to overeat, over-drink, and, though rarely, over-sing.
The history of Georgian accessories is really the history of Georgia itself, together with its rich and diverse culture, from the work of the goldsmith’s, engraving ornaments on the walls, Christian jewellery, felt-made scarves and to brave-hearted attire.
Starting from the late 1950s and continuing to this very day, Georgia has demonstrated a surprisingly diverse and upbeat fashion sense. Tbilisi boasts being a fashion(able) city all throughout modern, post-WWII history. The veteran generation was good at dress-making, with almost every household owning a sewing machine and making their own clothes.
40th Anniversary of Dinamo Tbilisi’s Iconic Defeat Against West Ham
1981 proved to be a memorable year for Georgian (Important to note: Georgian and not Soviet, for reasons that will be clarified below) football – on 13th of May in Dusseldorf, Germany, Dinamo Tbilisi, the most successful Georgian club, won its most important major trophy – The now abolished UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. But it was another victory, claimed on 4th March in London, that we’ll be talking about here – against West Ham, one of the oldest, most well-known English clubs.