photo rights reserved by Ben

In front of a restaurant in the picturesque town of Sighnaghi stands a colorful, weathered car. On its roof rests a qvevri, the large clay vessel that symbolizes Georgia’s ancient winemaking tradition. Painted in bright colors with the town’s name, the car instantly catches the eye of passersby and invites them to step inside. The surroundings of Sighnaghi belong to Kakheti, Georgia’s most famous wine region. Wine has been made here for over 8,000 years, earning the country the title “the cradle of winemaking.” Even today, wine is still produced in the traditional way using qvevris, buried underground. Grapes — including skins and seeds — ferment and mature for months, creating unique, full-bodied flavors and an amber hue for white wines. The restaurant marked by this car honors that centuries-old tradition with the qvevri on its roof. Visitors strolling through Sighnaghi’s cobblestone streets are reminded of Kakheti’srich wine culture. Inside, you can taste local wines like Saperavi and Rkatsiteli, paired with traditional dishes and the warm hospitality Georgia is known for. Thus, the car is not just an eye-catcher but a visual invitation to discover the flavors and stories of Sighnaghi — a town where history, gastronomy, and wine come together.

In front of a cozy restaurant in Sighnaghi, this colorful vintage car proudly displays the town’s name. On its roof sits a qvevri, the traditional clay vessel used for Georgian winemaking for over 8,000 years. It’s a playful nod to the rich wine heritage of Kakheti, where ancient traditions still live on. Visitors are invited to step inside, taste Saperavi or Rkatsiteli, and experience the unique blend of history, wine, and warm Georgian hospitality.

Voor een restaurant in het pittoreske Sighnaghi staat deze kleurrijke, verweerde auto. Op het dak ligt een qvevri, de grote kleipot die symbool staat voor de eeuwenoude Georgische wijntraditie. Het voertuig, beschilderd in vrolijke tinten met de naam van de stad, trekt direct de aandacht van bezoekers en nodigt uit om binnen te stappen. De omgeving van Sighnaghi ligt in Kakheti, de bekendste wijnregio van Georgië. Hier wordt al meer dan 8.000 jaar wijn gemaakt, waarmee het land wordt gezien als de wieg van de wijnbouw. De wijn wordt nog altijd op traditionele wijze geproduceerd in qvevri’s, ingegraven in de grond. Druiven – inclusief schillen en pitten – vergisten en rijpen hier maandenlang, wat zorgt voor unieke, volle smaken en een bijzondere amberkleur bij witte wijnen. Het restaurant waar deze auto voor staat, verwijst met de qvevri op het dak naar deze eeuwenoude traditie. Bezoekers die door de geplaveide straten van Sighnaghi wandelen, worden zo herinnerd aan de rijke wijncultuur van Kakheti. Binnen kun je vaak proeven van lokale wijnen als Saperavi en Rkatsiteli, begeleid door traditionele gerechten en het warme Georgische gastvrijheid. De auto is daarmee niet alleen een blikvanger, maar ook een visuele uitnodiging om de smaken en verhalen van Sighnaghi te ontdekken – een stad waar geschiedenis, gastronomie en wijn samenkomen.

Trittenheim / Moselle

The clouds over the Vino Noceto vineyards in Amador County yesterday were amazing!

I became interested in wine for the first time in 1964 because of my former colleague Mr. Katsumi Asada, who was the very first wine sommelier in Japan. Mr. Asada has published many wine books and is now serving as the chairman of the Japan Sommelier Association. Fortunately, he taught me many things about wine for 6 years in those days. He was extremely passionate about wine and good at teaching. My first wine tasting was a Trockenbeerenauslese - Schloss Schoenborn Riesling offered by Mr. Asada. I still remember the world's finest aromatic grape of German origin. It was jaw droppingly rich and its deep sweetness was too complex to identify like Chateau d'Yquem from Bordeaux, France. He knew how to impress any first time wine tasters. I've become a captive of wine since then.

Spontaneous Spinning Batts by Loop (4.2 oz.)

Wine Tasting

Playing with filters, effect, a smudging.

At the best winetasting place of Eguisheim, Michele Schoepfer, whose family made wine since the 16th cent. At the castle there is still the centuries old cave with famous Elzasser wines

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Winetasting in Areni, Armenia.

Wine tasting in Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh. This young man gave this lady as much attention as he would have given his own grandmother.

And again wine-tasting (theme of the trip) This time wines of the Moselle

WIne Tasting at the Planeta Winery in Sicily

Fall color in the Napa Valley- vineyard between St. Supery and Peju

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Wine Tasting and culinary class in Alentejo

We visited the "Ruca Malen" winery outside Mendoza to taste some fantastic wines, just after getting up late, since we'd had too much wine the night before... :-)

Wine and meat was the basic reason for our short Argentina trip, so we had to make most of it...

ARSE - Andrew's Really Secret Wine Tasting www.spittoon.biz/wines_and_people_5th_arse_wine_tasting/