There is an old saying in Georgian, that “every guest is a gift from god.” Georgian hospitality is legendary. It is not an act, or a facade, or a calculated publicity stunt. It is all too real. It is Saturday night, and I am at one of my favorite places. At first glance, a local wine shop where people spill out into the street smoking and drinking and talking on any given afternoon. But that is just the top of the iceberg. It is a passion project, and the center of a massive wheel where wine makers and wine lovers and everyone in-between cross paths, strangers for a minute and never more. If you ask me what makes life good here, I will say that this place is a five minute walk from our apartment. And tonight, winemakers I have not met are presenting their bottles. I am on time, but the winemakers are not even here yet and none of the guests. Of course, the owner Kicha is striding from the back room and we crack the usual jokes about “Georgian time”. Glasses are set out, music plays, and we wait. Kicha brings a special bottle to the table, that is not even on the menu for tonight. The label is a painting of him, staring down into a wineglass. I know who made the wine, and who made the painting but neither of them are here. It is a Pet Nat, from white chinuri grapes and some skins from shavkapito, a red one. This is some madcap rosé, if you must give it a name. It is bright and fresh, chinuri on the nose, and that magic balance as you sip. There are only two hundred something bottles of this in existence, and they are numbered. But Kicha puts it out for us for free, because that is his way.
Sounds like you landed in the right place, it almost seems fated. Just wondering, are you hearing about women's basketball over there? Caitlin Clark fever has gripped the nation and it's a really big deal. It could make women's basketball, and women's sports in general, much more popular than it is now. I'd love to see women's sports taken seriously.
Although I am not a big wine drinker anymore, I always love these wonderful experiences with open and friendly Georgians. The community here is unlike any I have experienced before. Especially the community that is brought together by wine. :D
Loneliness is palpable in this one.💙
Sounds like you landed in the right place, it almost seems fated. Just wondering, are you hearing about women's basketball over there? Caitlin Clark fever has gripped the nation and it's a really big deal. It could make women's basketball, and women's sports in general, much more popular than it is now. I'd love to see women's sports taken seriously.
Although I am not a big wine drinker anymore, I always love these wonderful experiences with open and friendly Georgians. The community here is unlike any I have experienced before. Especially the community that is brought together by wine. :D