TASTE GEORGIAN HISTORY
ABOUT US
The main value of the "39 Qvevri" cellar is traditional Georgian wine, created from local grape varieties and aged in an old traditional way - in qvevri.
Our goal was to produce traditional wine, so we decided to build a winery in the village of Bitsmendi, one of the most significant historical places in Kartli, the center of viticulture and winemaking. We also set up our vineyard here, where we grow four Georgian grape varieties (Shavkapito, Goruli Mtsvane, Kisi, and Khikhvi).
Bitsmendi has a special historical significance and is associated with famous traditional Georgian winemakers such as Guramishvili, with his famous vineyards and cellars, or Ilya Tsinamdzgvrishvili, one of the most prominent figures of the 19th century, founder and teacher of the Tsinamdzgvriantkari Agricultural School.
Our values and visions are based on this tradition.
HISTORY
Our region, including among others, the villages of Bitsmendi, Saguramo (Guramiantkari) and Jigaura, was historically famous for the vineyards and cellars of the Guramishvili princes. David Guramishvili often mentions the local grapes and wine in his works. Historical sources also mention information about the famous wines of our region. In the 19th century, thanks to the efforts of Ilia Tsinamdzgvrishvili, this region, along with the status of agricultural centre, acquired the status of an educational one. First, Ilia Tsinamdzgvrishvili opened a school, and then published a book on cultivation of grapes. This book tells us that the Guramishvili family owned 100 hectares of vineyards here, with a large cut stone cellar in the middle (still active) "with large full qvevris".
KARTLI
Kartli is one of the most distinctive regions of Georgian winemaking, famous for its special wines. Its uniqueness is due to the local climate, soils and, of course, grape varieties, such as white Chinuri, Goruli mtsvane, Budeshuri white, and red Tavkveri and Shavkapito. Rkatsiteli and Saperavi are also widespread in Kartli, as well as several foreign varieties, like Aligote, black and white Pino, etc. There are such rare varieties as Danakharuli, Buza, Aragvispiruli, Andreuli, Dakidula, Grdzelmtevana, Grubela and others. There are many sites, valleys and villages for winemaking in Kartli - Ateni, Khidistavi, Okami, Samtavisi, Lamiskana, Mukhrani valley; however, the bitsmendi-Saguramo-Jigaura-Tsinamdzgvariant-kari zone has special distinctive features. This side is even called "Little Kakheti".
LOCATION
The village of Bitsmendi is located in the eastern part of Georgia, in the north-eastern part of the Mukhran-Saguramo plain, belonging to the Mtskheta municipality of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region. It is surrounded by the gorges of Akhtan and Rusiskhevi, while from the north it borders vast forests. The village is located at an altitude of 620-650 m above sea level, at a distance of 20 kilometres from the city of Mtskheta.
SOIL AND CLIMATE
On the Saguramo plain, there are mainly meadow brown and alluvial calcareous soils, with granular structure. There are various stone and pebble sandy areas. The soil has good physical properties, retains a sufficient amount of moisture and is rich in minerals and trace elements. The depth of the fertile horizon in some places reaches 60-80 cm. As the depth increases, the soil acquires a higher total carbonate content and an alkaline reaction.
Our vineyards are also a representative example of this region, especially given that they are cultivated in the foothills, near the gorges, where the influence of the forest is felt particularly strong. This place is called Little Kakheti, where hot sunny days and cool, windy nights create excellent conditions for the ripening of grapes. Foothills, a slight slope, forest, good aeration and cool evenings are the key to the best harvest, since coolness is very important for achieving physiological maturity.
As for the climate, the village of Bitsmendi is known for a temperate warm climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The average long-term air temperature is 10.8 ° C, the hottest months are July and August. The average temperature during this period is 22-23°C, the sum of annual active temperatures is 3240-36700 C, and the average annual precipitation is 570-620 mm (sometimes reaching 700 mm, for example - 691 mm in 2018).
Snow rarely falls. The richest precipitation months are April (120-140 mm) and May (140-180 mm). The minimum temperature in winter sometimes drops to - 13 - 15 0C (data for the last 20 years). The coldest months are December and February. Average annual air humidity is within 60-62%. The direction of the winds is mainly from the southwest to the northeast.
ILIA TSINAMDZGVRISHVILI
“Georgian society and the younger generation still has no agricultural books and scientific works in their native language. This book was born today in response to the social needs and requirement of the agricultural school of the village of Tsinadzgvriantkari” - this is how Ilia Tsinamdzgvrishvili starts the preface to his most important educational book. "Cultivation of Grapes" was published in 1889 and at that time it was the most comprehensive guide for people interested in viticulture, especially for young people in the different regions of Georgia. In 1883, Ilia Tsinamgvrishvili, at his own expense, opened an agricultural school, which became his main achievement. He patronized it for the rest of his life. The school raised more than one generation, and later even the Soviet government was forced to recognize its importance and the merits of its founder. In 1933, on the basis of this school, the Tsinamdzgvriantkari Agricultural Technical College was established, bearing the name of Ilia Tsinamdzgvrishvili.
