Wine Museum "Numisi" in Velistsikhe - tastings, ancient marani and Kakhetian traditions

Imagine: you enter a modest stone house in the village of Velistsikhe, and from the threshold you find yourself not just in a museum, but in the heart of Georgian winemaking. Here, wine is not just poured – it is listened to. And the walls, it seems, still hold the aromas of centuries.

The Numisi Wine Museum is not a standard museum exhibition. This is a place where you can see how wine was stored in the 3rd century BC, taste it in a real qvevri, smell the clay and hear legends passed down from generation to generation.

🧭 What will you learn from this article?

Don't miss this article if you:

• 🏛 want to see a 16th-century wine cellar and ancient winemaking tools;
• 🍷 looking for a unique museum where you can not only see but also taste real wine;
• 🇬🇪 interested in the traditions of Kakheti and Georgian heritage;
• ❓ don't know which wine to choose for khinkali, kharcho or suluguni - we will tell you in simple words;
• 🗺️ want to know how to get there, where to eat nearby and stay overnight - we will tell you everything.
  

If you pass by, you will lose:

• 🍇 the opportunity to visit a place where you can taste wine right next to the qvevri;
• 🥂 advice from the Madloba editors - which Kakhetian wine to choose according to taste and dishes;
• 🧱 a chance to touch the living history of winemaking in a real marani under the arches of the 16th century.

🏛️ Atmosphere and architecture: a museum where everything is real

When you approach the Numisi Museum, at first it seems like an ordinary country house. 🏡 White walls made of river stone, some brick, a wooden door, grapes on the walls - everything is very Georgian. But once you go inside, you immediately feel that this is not just a building, but a place with history.

In front of you is a real wine cellar, marani, which is more than 400 years old. 🍷 Wine has been made and stored here for centuries. The floor is earthen, the ceilings are arched, the thick walls keep it cool even in the summer heat. Everything looks as if winemakers are still working here, they just went out for a minute.

On the floor are huge qvevris, these are clay vessels that are buried in the ground. There are 33 of them here - of different sizes and shapes. 🏺 In one they could make wine for the whole family, in another - only for special guests.

Nearby is an old limestone press for grapes, wooden beams, barrels. Everything is real. These are not copies - everything here is real, it has been used for centuries. 🙌

🧱 What can you see inside

The Numisi Museum is not only about wine. It is also about the history of the village of Velistsikhe, the people who lived here, and what their daily life was like.

🔍 What is especially interesting here:

• 🏺 Glass, copper, clay and wood vessels — from antiquity to the 19th century;
• 💍 Women's jewelry, rings, necklaces — everything under glass, you can examine it;
• 🍴 Copper kitchenware from the 18th century — teapots, jugs, spoons;
• 🪑 Antique furniture, carpets, dishes — like in grandma's house, only from the last century;
• ⚙️ French grape press "Marmonies" and German wine pump — they have not been used for a long time, but they are perfectly preserved.

You can not only look at all this, but also ask questions - the museum staff will show and tell you everything, without boring lectures.

🌿 Museum courtyard: bread, churchkhela and granary

When you go out into the yard, you feel like you are visiting a kind grandmother in the village. There is everything here that reminds you of Kakhetian life:

• 🍞 The "tone" oven, where they bake real shoti bread - you can see how it's done;
• 🍇 They cook churchkhela - if you're lucky, you'll get to a master class;
• 🧺 There's an old grain storage "begeli" - wooden, on legs, so that mice can't get there.
  

Here you can take your time - just sit, breathe, observe. This is not only a museum, but a place where you can feel Georgia.

🍷 Which wine to choose? Simple tips from the Madloba team

In the Numisi Museum, you can not only see how wine is made, but also taste it. And not just one, but several varieties at once. And so that you don’t get confused, here are our tips on which wine goes best with different dishes.

🥟 For khinkali - dry white or chacha

Yes, yes, many people choose red wine for meat khinkali, but in Kakheti they like to drink young white wine with them - it refreshes and emphasizes the taste of the meat.
💡 Or... if you are brave - ask to try chacha. Just be careful: it is strong. 🥃

🍲 Saperavi goes well with kharcho and spicy dishes

If you like something spicier, like kharcho or spicy lobio, go for Saperavi. It's a rich red wine that pairs perfectly with the rich flavor.

🧀 For suluguni cheese - pink or amber

Suluguni, Imeruli and other soft cheeses go well with light, aromatic wines. Try:

• 🍷 Pink - soft, fruity, without excess acidity;
• 🧡 Qvevri wine (orange, amber) - it is special: it is fermented in the ground, the taste is bright and a little tart.

🍖 For shashlik - aged red wine

If you're ordering mtsvadi (shashlik) or grilled meat, something heartier and more tart will do. Best:

• 🍷 aged Saperavi;
• 🍷 or Cabernet, if they have it - Numisi sometimes offers its own variations.
  

🍇 Wine as a gift: what to take with you?

If you want to buy a bottle of wine as a gift, choose:

• wine in a ceramic bottle - beautiful and lasts a long time;
• chacha in a clay decanter - impressive, Georgian style, and very aromatic.

✅ Ask the staff - they will tell you what is currently available and which wine is best to take for export. ✈️

💬 Visitor reviews

🧑‍🦰 Oleg, Moscow
I was in Numisi with friends - very atmospheric! I especially liked the old presses and the tasting. I will remember Saperavi for a long time. 🍷

👩‍🦱 Lali, Tbilisi
We came with the whole family. The children liked the yard and the bread from the oven. And I did not expect that the museum would be so cozy and warm. Thanks to the owners! 🥰

🧔 Peter, Berlin
No audio guides, but a live tour from the owners. It was like visiting old friends. A wonderful place. 👍

👩 Maria, Kyiv
We bought several bottles as a gift, but I regret not taking more. The wine is natural, not like what you get in stores. 🍇

🧑‍🎓 Georgiy, Batumi
I'm glad that such places are preserved. It's part of our culture. I advise everyone to visit. 🙌

🍴 Where to eat nearby

🥘 In the museum itself, you can order a home-cooked lunch, which is served in a traditional style - right in the courtyard or in the wine room. You will be treated to:

• smoked khachapuri (with smoke from the tandoor),
• mtsvadi on coals - from pork or beef,
• phali from seasonal greens and beets,
• fresh bread from the "tone" oven,
• and, of course, wines of our own production. 🍷

This is not a restaurant, but a real family table, where you want to sit for a long time - leisurely, as they do in Georgia.

☕ In the village of Velistsikhe itself there are several family cafes and places where you can try:

• churchkhela, made right there, by hand 🍇,
• homemade cheese - suluguni, imeruli, goat 🧀,
• fresh flatbreads straight from the clay oven.

The prices are reasonable, and the owners often treat you heartily.

🛌 Where to stay

If you are planning to stay in Kakheti overnight, this is a great idea! It is especially cozy here in the evenings: silence, fresh air, the aroma of grapes and tranquility that you will not find in the city 🌌.

🏡 Guest houses in Velistsikhe are the closest and easiest option. These are ordinary private houses with several rooms that are rented to tourists. You can be met right at the museum, offered breakfast, homemade wine and a cozy overnight stay. In most cases, the owners themselves live on site, so the atmosphere is homely and warm.

🛏️ The conditions are modest, but clean and soulful. Rooms with simple beds, a shower, a balcony or a small courtyard. There is often Wi-Fi, but the stability of the signal depends on the weather and season.

🍷 Many of these houses store their own wine - and you can be offered to try it in the evening in the courtyard, with conversations and stars.

🏨 Gurjaani - 5-10 minutes by car - is suitable for those who want more comfort. There are small hotels and family hotels where the rooms are a little more spacious, there is breakfast and a reception. Some offer tastings or excursions around the region.

💡 Tip: Book in advance, especially if you're traveling in September-October — it's the grape harvest season and the influx of tourists. There aren't many guest houses, and they quickly fill up good dates.

💬 Share your impressions!

Have you already been to the Numisi Museum in Velistsikhe? Tell us which wine you especially remember, whether you enjoyed the tour and what else is worth trying. Your review will help other travelers choose the best time to visit and not miss the most interesting things.

👇 Write in the comments - we read everything and update information based on guest reviews.