Georgian Cheese Tour
Every Second is Unforgettable!
Georgian Cheese
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If you asked a Georgian person some three years ago, how many sorts of the most
famouse Cheese we had, they would not hesitate to answer that there were its four
kinds: Sulguni, typical Imeretian, factory cheese (so-called Karkhnuli) and traditional
Guda Cheese. But what about Laguji, Chogi Cheese, Curds-Cheese, Chechily, Tenily,
Skibu and many others?
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The Soviet Union was mostly to blame because as many as 80 varieties of cheese
making traditions were lost over several generations. It was easy to lose those
traditions, because real cheese making requires care and dedication, while during
Soviet times the strategy was to make and sell cheap cheese.
"Each Georgian cheese has its own distinctive name and history!"
Cheese Tour
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Introduction of Georgian Cheese Culture
Visit in Modern and Old Cheese Factories
Participation in processing of Georgian traditional cheese
Participation in annual
Degustation
Georgian Cheese Festival
Day 1
“Georgian Cheese House” and company FIDA Georgia
are members of “Cheese Makers Guild” which
organizes annual Cheese Festivals in Georgia from
2013.
“Georgian Cheese House” is on of the biggest cheese
shop where every customer and tourist introduces
culture of Georgian cheese and ethnography, tastes
different spices of traditional Georgian and European
cheeses.
Mtskheta is a city in Kartli province of Georgia. One of the oldest cities of Georgia, it is
located approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Tbilisi at the confluence of
the Aragvi and Kura rivers. Remains of towns at this location have been dated to earlier
than the year 1000 BC and Mtskheta was capital of the early Georgian Kingdom of Iberia
during the 3rd century BC – 5th century AD.
Due to its historical significance and several
cultural
monuments,
the
"Historical
Monuments of Mtskheta" became a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1994.
As the birthplace and one of the most vibrant
centers of Christianity in Georgia Mtskheta
was declared as the “Holy City” by the
Georgian Orthodox Church in 2014 where is
kept a Robe of Jesus Christ.
Day 2
Tibaani Cheese Factory
It is no secret that red wine goes well with cheese and no one
will argue this issue. Accordingly, this is the exact reason why
“Tibaanuri” cheese, made using French-Georgian methods, is
dipped in Saperavi (Georgian red wine) and then matured.
In factory produced only Georgian
cheese and Sulguni (Georgian soft
cheese similar to mozzarella), later
management decided to create
their own unique mark and started
age cheese in red wine.
This unique cheese has gained popularity very quickly. Tibaanuri cheese was presented at
Georgian Culture Week in London by a suggestion from Georgia’s Ministry of Agriculture. The
Georgian cheese received significant appreciation in London and was declared the Most
Unique Cheese.
Georgian “Tibaanuri” declared the Most Unique Cheese in London
See Link
Day 3
Hotel Chateau Kvareli is located in Kakheti, near the foothills of the Greater Caucasus
Mountains, in the center of town Kvareli. The hotel is surrounded by many interesting sights,
such as museums, churches and historical monuments.
Hotel Chateau Kvareli is the property of Corporation Kindzmarauli, a wine house were guests
can taste different kind of wine, learn about modern and traditional methods of wine-making,
also take part in vintage.
The hotel has 26 standard rooms which are equipped with all modern necessities.
In addition to an outdoor cafe, there is also an indoor restaurant at the hotel, where you can
enjoy Georgian as well as European meals.
Day 4
According to The Georgian Chronicles the city was
established in the 9th century by Guaram
Mampal, son of the King of Tao. From the 13th to
the end of 14th centuries it was the capital city
of Samtskhe-Saatabago, ruled by the Georgian
princely family and a ruling dynasty of the
Principality of Samtskhe, the House of Jaqeli.
“Beautiful restoration which brings a unique perspective of the many
cultures,
religions
and
rulers
of
this
nation.
The architecture is magnificent, museum is most interesting and quite
small, but offers a great in depth for the lifestyles and changes
throughout
the
centuries.
The renovation was so impressive, it was a tour between East and
West, Christianity and Muslim, each one with their own architecture
and
styles,
gardens,
bath,
fortress
and
public
places.
Highly recommended as you can get a unique feeling of centuries away
in a vivid way”
- Marco T, Florence, Italy
The establishment of Phoka Monastery is credited
to St Nino of Cappadocia who is said to have
brought Christianity into Georgia. Saint Nino came
to Georgia through Javakheti and stopped near
Pharavani Lake where she had a vision of an angel
who gave her a letter addressed to the pagan King.
In the 11th century a cathedral was built at this very
spot.
Since the foundation of the nunnery great attention is paid to agricultural activities and
animal farming. Throughout the first years the large share of work was directed towards
learning the traditional agricultural activities such as grain-growing, crop growing,
management of gourd field and greenhouses, cow farming and cheese making.
Phoka Cheese Production
Apulum Rouge
Castanéa
Piramide Grise
Pagas Bleu
Monastique Bleu
Day 5
Vardzia
is
a
cave
monastery
site
in
southern Georgia, excavated from the slopes of the
Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Mtkvari River,
thirty kilometres from Aspindza. The main period of
construction was the second half of the twelfth century.
The caves stretch along the cliff for some five hundred
meters and in up to nineteen tiers. The Church of the
Dormition, dating to the 1180s during the golden age
of Tamar and Rustaveli, has an important series of wall
paintings.
The site was largely abandoned after the Ottoman takeover in the sixteenth century. Now part of a
state heritage reserve, the extended area of Vardzia-Khertvisi has been submitted for future
inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Five monks still live in this mountain.
Every morning at seven they ring the bell
in the high arch.
Cheese “Batista” and “Tenili Cheese” from
Khizabavra is high quality pure natural
product made by Italian technology in
Meskheti-Javakheti.
Khizabavra cheese always distinguishes its
unique spices from others.
It is good syntheses of traditional Georgian
and European technology.
Cheese factory in Andrea Monastery is one of the
good choice to taste dripped cheese in honey and
wattled cheese.
In Andrea Monastery monks are producing cheese
themselves with high standards of cleanness and
food safety.
Day 6
• Visit “Sameba”
• Visit “Metekhi”
• Visit “Narikala”
“How can you govern a
country which has 246
varieties
of
cheese?”
― Charles de Gaulle
Every Second is Unforgettable!
See more and Contact Us
FIDA Georgia
www.fidageorgia.com
[email protected]
+995322 432664
“Poets have been mysteriously silent
on
the
subject
of
cheese.”
― G.K. Chesterton,