ALAVERDI CELLAR
Silhouetted against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, Alaverdi Monastery is truly the heart and the soul of Kakheti and the whole Georgia. This imposing Orthodox Christian marvel situated at the river Alazani valley, dated back from the 9th century, was the center of enlightenment during the centuries.
Wine-making was an essential element of the Georgian monk’s daily life. During frequent invasions the wine-making tradition was carried on in the Georgian monasteries. Few decades ago, at the site of the Alaverdi Monastery Georgian archaeologists discovered a massive 11-th century wine cellar, containing more than 40 Qvevries – the remnants of the monastery’s glorious past.
In 2006 the monastery wine cellar was restored with the help of Badagoni and local monks at Alaverdi started making a very special monastic wine again. In their hands the ancient Georgian traditional wine-making method – Kvevri method is well anchored, for they treat it like a treasured gift from their ancestors.
In this wine cellar there are created all the Badagoni qvevri wines, such as “Alaverdi Tradition”, “Saperavi” “Kisi”, Khikhvi” and so on. We are happy for the fact, that Badagoni took part in the reconstruction and preservation of this unique ancestral tradition.
Tasting the Badagoni qvevri wine made in the monastery’s historical wine cellar is like taking a bite out of the past.