Vazisubani Estate

Georgia is home to, among other things, the earliest evidence of wine production anywhere in the world. And against the backdrop of an 8,000-year-old wine culture, the Vazisubani Estate, established in 1891, is a relative newcomer. Still, the 19th-century grandeur of this splendidly restored house lends an enormous amount of character to its 19 rooms and suites, which have been redesigned by a team of Georgian and British architects and designers, and outfitted with a unique collection of authentic English-made, Victorian-era antique furniture, resulting in an atmosphere quite unlike any other.

The house is surrounded by a substantial expanse of parkland, perfectly suited for a midday picnic or an afternoon ramble. And beyond that are the vineyards, responsible for producing the grapes which are turned into wine using the ancient Qvevri method. These wines, naturally, feature in the selection available in the hotel’s restaurant, where chef Keti Bakradze crafts creative interpretations of traditional Georgian dishes in a classic farm-to-table style, using many ingredients grown right here on the grounds of the estate. The result of it all: an experience that showcases a side of Georgia that’s rarely seen by visitors.