The homestead of famous Georgian writer Otia Ioseliani now has a new function. Local or foreign guests, which arrive there now have opportunity to try Imeretian phenomenon of hospitality on themselves, in the natural environment and to taste local - white, rose and red wines.

The host of yours here will be Otia Ioseliani's grandson Otia Ioseliani Jr. He's the architect, but always was interested in winemaking. Grandfather's House-museum still has visitors, the area is big and here comes the new idea - to offer tourists the additional services and natural products.

Otia Ioseliani says, that House-museum needs restoration, but the government couldn't find appropriate funds, which would allow to save the appearance of the Museum.

Otia Ioseliani Jr. is grateful to the businessman, who financed the covering up the roof. This was done so that the appearance of the museum wasn't lost.

"The House-museum was covered up with metal tiles, but the most important for me is that the appearance wasn't lost. For the future, when we have opportunity to restore the museum again, we'll fully save its appearance and in this case I'll use my main profession", - says Otia ioseliani.

Otia Ioseliani's House-museum has a great wine cellar. First of all his family members and descendants were focused on the making of wine tours. "Especially since Georgia was recognized as a 8000-year old wine culture country", - says Otia Ioseliani Jr.

Guests can taste here wine produced in western Georgia (without tannin). At this period there are 3 species to taste - Tsitska-Tsolikouri, Otskhanuri Sapere and Chkhaveri Rose. For making Chkhaveri the grapes specially are brought from Keda (village Vaio). Otia says, that he has tasted Chkhaveri in different places, but Keda grapes have special taste and aroma.

Apart from tasting, the guests can buy these species of wine. Next year wine will be in Kvevri (vessels used for the fermentation, storage and ageing of traditional Georgian wine).

To produce good family wine, the grapes are bought from chosen peasants, who don't use pesticide.

Apart from wine, tourists also can buy other natural products, such as flour, beans, Ajika, Svanetian salt and etc. Among these kind of products one of the most outstanding is honey and other bee products. Ioseliani's family has a large tradition of honey.

Otia Ioseliani says, that plans for the future are big. In spring tourists will be offered lunch-menu. "This won't be a restaurant, tourists will be able to take a bite in here, mostly it will be the dishes from Imeretian cuisine".

Not far from Otia Ioseliani's House-museum his grandson plans to set up cottage-type houses. As he says, these houses mostly will be for the guests with low budget. Each cottage will be able to receive 2-3 tourists.

For tourists Otia Ioseliani's House-museum, its Marani and wine tours are already very popular, because Otia's House-museum is actively included in the offers of travel companies’ and tourist routes.

Otia's grandson also says, that famous winemakers Iago Bitarishvili and Giorgi Barisashvili were the main motivators of this idea. "Iago and Giorgi adviced to arrange wine tours, they said this decision would work in the House-museum and that increased our motivation".

In the view of the fact that the focus is till on wine and wine tours, Otia Ioseliani planes to cultivate vineyards. "For the start it will be only a few dozens of grapes and in the future, if these grapes will brought good results, we'll think about developing this direction".

Maia Demetrashvili

www.travelingeorgia.ge