A wonderful palace hung from above the Gombori ridge was surrounded by the amazingly well-cared vineyards on the edge of the village Vazisubani. It is the most beautiful and the richest region of Kakheti (East Georgia), where the grape harvest was kept in huge Qvevri (vessels made of clay buried in the ground to make and keep wine). Still, at the end of 19th century the Vazisubani estate was developed by a young aristocrat (Tavadi – a feudal title in Georgia) Sulkhan Chavchavadze.
Everything was as colorful and glorious, as the tremendous Caucasus Mountain Range and awesome Alaznisveli (Alazani valley) laid at the foot of it with fantastic view from the palace balcony of Chavchavadze.
The Vazisubani people do live in the country as the witnesses and successors of glorious creative ancestors’ genes. This has been proved by approximately one hundred species of grapevine, amazing economic archeology and ethnography that leads us to the times immemorial.
All through the centuries the Vazisubani people and the Grapevine have protected each other. Traditionally, the aristocratic families of Chavchavadze took the responsibility of this basic patriotic task. Sulkhan Chavchavadze was born exactly in such aristocratic family on April 22 of 1869, whose parents were Giorgi S. Chavchavadze and Nino Q. Sologhashvili.
His contribution is huge to setting up Literacy Dissemination Society and several schools in Kakheti, as well as laying out railway lines and a number of national charities. Noteworthy, too, is his contribution to the development of the Georgian Folklore. Being a close friend and a supporter of the talent of “Georgian Nightingale” – Vano Sarajishvili, active support was also rendered to the cultural and educational affairs by his spouse Nino Tusishvili.
In 2011 began the implementation of the economic, cultural and traditional agricultural renovation project of Sulkhan Chavcavadze. The LTD “Vazisubnis Mamuli” (Vazisubani Estate) has been set up, which provides for the establishment of powerful viticulture tourist center on the very restored foundation.
“Vazisubnis Estate” is the place of meeting of ancestors and new generations with richly decorated salons, exhibition halls, apartments, Georgian and European restaurants.
„Vazisubnis Mamuli“ — a cultivated vineyard on 35 ha land, where one can familiarize with farm life of the region and worldwide unique technology of wine making in Qvevri.
One more interesting page of the ancient history has been turned over. 130 years later, incomparable wines: “Rkatsiteli”, “Saperavi”, “Kakhuri Mtsvane”, “khikhvi”, “Kisi” in the Qvevri of Sulkhan Chavchavadze’s wine cellar made under the Sun and the rich land of “Vazisubnis Mamuli” has erupted again.
Main job and passion of the aristocrat was viticulture and wine-making. His vineyards covering 20 ha and after a good harvest in his own wine cellar he could make about 18 000 liters of wine aging in 30 Qvevri (clay vessel for wine storing).
Sulkhan’s palace, wine cellar and the premises built in his inheritance estate on the foundation of his grandfather’s house are vivid witnesses of his high taste, hard-working character and dedication.
The palace represents a wonderful Georgian architectural model of 19th century which passed through several changes. But at the end of 19th century when the palace acquired its last image it was sold together with its estate to the Prince Department as a result of the owner’s oppression by debts. Evidently, the aristocrat abandoned his homeland in 1921, hoping to meet dawn and watch his favorite vineyards and harvest from the balcony of his palace. His well-cared-for estate became the palace for the Romanovs, then an experimental farm. Everything disappeared, even the name, and was as covered by the wind dust as once his prosperous palace and vineyards.
The Winemaker
The winemaker of the Vazisubani Estate company is Lado Uzunashvili, a professional acknowledged worldwide who has been working in the industry since 1987. Wines created by him have won more than 150 golden medals at various global contests.
