Giorgi Chavchavadze

Giorgi grew up pressing grapes with his father in a family marani (wine cellar) in Telavi. His great-grandfather registered the family vineyard in 1912, and today Giorgi still helps with the September harvest before returning to lead autumn tours.

He completed WSET Level 2 in London in 2018 and is a member of the Georgian Sommelier Association. On tour he arranges tastings with small family wineries that don't otherwise open to the public — the itinerary changes with the harvest calendar.

Giorgi is fluent in the specifics of the eight-thousand-year qvevri tradition inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.