Visiting the Numisi Wine Cellar promises to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your trip to Georgia. Veliscikhe, an ancient Georgian village founded around the 6th century, is not only steeped in history but also home to the Numisi Museum. While it markets itself as a wine museum, it truly serves as a miniature ethnographic treasure trove. Here, you can explore the cultivation of grapes, every stage of winemaking, and ancient equipment, all housed within a beautifully restored stone building surrounded by various outbuildings. The museum’s signature feature is its picturesque terrace.
The story of Numisi began when a family acquired a plot of land with some dilapidated structures. Among their discoveries was an ancient wine cellar dating back to the 16th century. Whether the owners were aware of this treasure when they purchased the property remains a mystery, but a few years later, they transformed the site into a remarkable museum dedicated to winemaking and historical artifacts. Here, they produce wine using traditional methods, as well as a unique chacha made not from grape pomace, but from pure grape juice—resulting in an exceptionally delicious spirit.
Upon entering the museum gates, visitors are greeted by a charming village courtyard adorned with a mini garden, grapevines, intriguing structures, and even a small chicken coop.
The museum itself spans two floors and a basement. In the main exhibition area, you will find the so-called “qvevri”—large clay vessels buried in the ground where the grape must (crushed grapes, seeds, and skins) is fermented. The Georgian winemaking process differs from the European method in that, in Georgia, the grapes ferment with the skins and seeds, while in Europe, only the juice is used. This results in Georgian wines being more robust and full-bodied.
During your visit, you will learn how wine and its byproducts are extracted, as well as how the qvevri are cleaned. The main hall showcases a plethora of museum exhibits, including ancient pottery and various winemaking tools, such as presses and both foot-operated and hand-operated grape crushers.
Descending into the basement, you enter the “holy of holies”—the 16th-century wine cellar (marani). Excavations are still ongoing here, but the cellar is actively used for its intended purpose: wine storage.
Interestingly, to achieve a semi-sweet wine, it undergoes a cooling process, meaning it is placed in a cooler environment to forcibly interrupt fermentation. Additionally, the addition of sugar to Georgian wine is prohibited by law!
Next, we move to the museum’s tasting hall, which doubles as a café. Here, you will be shown a distillation apparatus used for producing chacha!
The tasting hall primarily displays collections of gifts received by the museum, including alcoholic beverages from various producers and countries, flags, currency, ceramic ware, paintings, photographs, and much more. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to sample locally produced drinks.
The museum is located in the Alazani Valley, in the village of Veliscikhe, with coordinates: 41.8079129, 45.7505790.