If your three loves in life are fine wine, great food, and imaginative design, you need to make a pilgrimage to Tsinandali, an historic estate in the Kakheti Region of Georgia.
Nestled in the shadow of the Caucasus Mountains, this is the birthplace of wine. After making 8,000 vintages, Georgian winemakers have certainly mastered their art. Tsinandali has played a critical role in Georgia’s wine journey: owner Prince Alexander Chavchavadze introduced European winemaking techniques to Georgia some 200 years ago, and was the first to bottle wines. His wine collection is still on show in the estate’s chateau-museum, you can tour the vineyard and modern winery, and at the end of the day, you can treat yourself to a tasting at Gaumarjos Wine Bar.
It is no wonder that this location was chosen for an exclusive Radisson Collection Hotel. The scenery is lush, history seeps from every nearby monument, and the estate has a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. The architects and interior and lighting designers, including the world-famous Ingo Maurer, were also given enough space and free rein to create an iconic building with an unexpectedly modern design, with a jaw-droppingly beautiful spa. They have also created accompanying events venues which attract some of the top live performers from Georgia and abroad. The annual Tsinandali Festival which takes place here every summer is a highlight of the cultural calendar.
Eating and drinking is a major part of Tsinandali’s draw, especially at the Radisson. One night you might enjoy a supra — the legendary Georgian feast — prepared by Silk Hospitality’s brand chef Irakli Asatiani; and the following day you might opt for a casual degustation in the vineyard, or an intimate private dinner in the Mystery Room. The ingredients are locally sourced and seasonal, and Georgian cuisine deserves to be recognised alongside the great cuisines of the world for the freshness and variety of its flavors. Once you have tasted a khachapuri, Georgia’s unbeatable, cheese, cream, and egg-filled bread, a pizza will never again hit the spot. It is the kind of dish which dreams are made of.
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