Rtveli with a Biologist! We’re heading to Barbale Winery to join the grape harvest — together with biologist Alexey Sivukhin

Rtveli is the traditional Georgian grape harvest festival — one of the most important cultural events in the country. It’s called a festival because it’s more than just work: it’s a celebration with old wine, music, dancing, and of course, generous feasting — the vineyard owner traditionally treats all guests to shashlik in gratitude for their help. This beautiful mix of labor, community, and joy goes back to ancient times — and now you can be part of it!

This Sunday, we’ll travel to Barbale Winery in Bolnisi, a region known for its centuries-old winemaking traditions.
At Barbale, ancient methods are combined with modern technology to produce high-quality wine.

You’ll get a chance to:

• Participate in the grape harvest

• Observe the winemaking process

• Gain a deeper appreciation for the art of viticulture

• And of course — taste local wines!

Biologist Alexey Sivukhin will guide us through the fascinating world of the grapevine:
How the vine works, where grapes originally came from, why harvest dates vary every year, how weather affects ripening, and many more surprising facts about Georgia’s most iconic plant.