The history of Georgian winemaking - sights of Georgia in Chateau Mukhrani

He had two children - Ivan and Irakli, one of whom, Ivan, passed the title of Prince of Mukhrani after his father's death. It was he who became the founder of Chateau Mukhrani. However, before starting a peaceful life, he served in the Russian Imperial Army, took part in several battles and retired with the rank of lieutenant general.

Most of the nobility of that time gravitated towards French culture. Ivan Mukhransky was no exception. Having built a house in the European style, he arranged it accordingly. According to sources, it was in the Mukhrani Chateau that the first billiards and parquet appeared.

Wine production was also affected by the reforms. According to one version, the prince studied winemaking in France, Bordeaux and Champagne and successfully introduced the knowledge he brought to his native Georgia. The appearance of the first wines in the Chateau Mukhrani dates back to different years. According to one version, it was 1865, according to another - 1885. It is believed that the wines produced at Chateau Mukhrani were at one time supplied to the Imperial Court, but this information may not be accurate.

Decline

Unfortunately, after the death of the prince, both the estate itself and the production of wine fell into decline. The Mukhrani chateau was inherited by his son Konstantin, who did not deal with it, selling it under the hammer. Later, the princely title passed to one of the relatives - Konstantin did not have his own children. Well, a relative disappeared in the chaos of the revolution. According to one version, he was shot by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

It is difficult to say what was on the territory of the Mukhrani Chateau during the Soviet era. Information about those times could not be found. It is only known that after the collapse of the USSR, the Mukhrani Chateau remained in desolation for a long time.

The second life of Chateau Mukhrani

The estate received a second life in the early 2000s - the business drew attention to the promising ideas of Prince Ivan Mukhransky and revived them. At this time, the Mukhrani Chateau can, perhaps, be recorded in the category of sights of Georgia that are worth visiting without fail!

The first harvest was obtained in 2007. In 2010, the estate building was restored and put in order, a new winery was erected, and the estate now has a completely modern tasting room.

What to see in Georgia - Mukhrani Chateau: wine, horses and ancient ruins of Zalisi

First of all, Chateau Mukhrani will be extremely interesting to connoisseurs of excellent wine - at the time of writing, 13 varieties were produced here, including chacha. The wine variety that was discussed at the very beginning is called "Goruli mtsvane" - this is not produced anywhere else, as well as Georgian muscat, which is extremely rare for these places and has a unique taste and aroma.

The most expensive wine of local production - "Reserve do Prince" - comes in two types: white and dry red from goruli-mtsvane and saperavi, respectively. The cost of a bottle is approximately 60 GEL or slightly more expensive.

There are excursions in Chateau Mukhrani - for children and those who do not drink alcohol, there is also something to do here. The excursion program, which includes a narrative about historical moments, is interesting in itself. But there is also a stable. You can look at the horses, you can touch them and ride them, however, within the enclosure.

There is an interesting archaeological zone in the Mukhrani Valley, the territory of which cannot be entered just like that. As part of a tour of the Mukhrani Chateau, it is quite possible to organize a visit to it.