“Chacha” festival – October 19, 2024, Telavi – Results

On October 19, 2024, the Georgian Chamber of Culture and the Tourism Development Association hosted the annual “Chacha” festival in Telavi’s King Erekle Square. The National Wine Agency, the National Center of Intellectual Property of Georgia – “Sakpatent,” the Governor’s Administration, the Administration of the State Trustee in the Kakheti Region, and the City Hall of Telavi Municipality all provided support for the event.

The festival’s objective was to advocate for the Georgian natural product “Chacha” as a protected geographical indication.

The celebration brought Kakheti’s Middle Ages ethnography, way of life, and customs to life. Small-scale theater productions that recreated the ethnography, customs, and rituals of the Kakheti region were part of the “Chacha” festival. In particular, the interdependence of Kakheti farmers and the method by which they distill chacha in several Kakheti villages;

At the festival, 45 (Forty-five) Georgian chacha-producing firms and small wineries, along with farmers from 8 municipalities in Kakheti, submitted chacha samples for competition.

Every visitor was free to take part in the large Kakhetian “Zaodoba” that was held.

In addition to the distillation of chacha, Kakhetian food was prepared;

A parade featuring music and theater kicked off the festival.

Vano Yantbelidze, a well-known figure in Georgia and a leading actor in the Telavi Theater, People’s Artist of Georgia, hosted the festival from 12:00 to 18:00. He gave a distinct presentation of the chacha samples that each firm and municipality had brought. The “Children’s Event Group” planned the festival’s creative component, which included an orchestra, four-legged artists, children’s paintings, and humorous fairy tale characters.

Traditional Kakhetian polyphonic songs and kafis were performed by Kakhetian folklore ensembles throughout the day to adorn the celebration.

Following the festival’s commencement, the attendees and the event host participated in each of the following activities:

They took part in the process of distilling chacha;
They tasted chacha presented by farmers and companies;
together with the tasting of chacha, with Kakhetian hospitality, they tasted the Kakhetian dishes that go well with chacha;
Get acquainted with the peculiarities of the Kakhetian colorful market, the food presented there;

The jury that served during the event included the following members:

Chairman of the jury: Zaza Grigalashvili – Georgian wine expert, doctor of food technologies;

Jury members:

Giorgi Solomnishvili – winemaker, founder of the company “Solomnishvili Winery”,

Giga Kuchava – wine technologist, doctor of technical sciences, wine technologist of “Sarajishvili” joint-stock company,

Giorgi Datukishvili – agrarian, doctor of sciences, chief winemaker, technologist of the “Georgian Wine” corporation, member of the permanent tasting commission of the National Wine Agency since 2017

The jury members gave master lectures during the festival, introducing the invited visitors to the Georgian natural product—the grape brand “Chacha”—as well as its history and practical qualities.

Giorgi Solomnishvili: The key factors to take into account when distilling premium chacha

Giorgi Datukishvili – demands for grapes needed to pay for chacha

Giga Kuchava – what to consider when creating a mixture of chacha

Zaza Grigalashvili – Chacha marketing, tasting and blending

Members of the jury tasted and assessed chacha distilled by chacha-producing companies and chacha distilled by farmers from several Kakhetian villages separately;

The quality of the chacha samples that were offered this year was noticeably better than in prior years; There were 97 different species of chacha displayed. There were 59 different kinds of corporations among them, and 38 different kinds of small wineries and farmers.

At the end of the festival, at 16:00, the award ceremony was held by the decision of the jury;

Among the chacha samples produced by farmers and small wineries, the prize places were distributed as follows:

“Gold Chacha Glekhuri – 2024” – “Lagvani Marani”, Akhmeta; Rkatsiteli and green – traditional, three-course exit (gold medal and diploma)
“Silver Chacha Glekhuri – 2024” – Tamta Mchedlishvili, Sighnaghi district, Old Anaga village; Rkatsiteli – (silver medal and diploma);
“Bronze Chacha Glekhuri – 2024” – Giorgi Amisulashvili, Gurjaani district, Kolagi village – Rkatsiteli and Kakhuri green – oak barrel 1 year. (bronze medal and diploma)

Among the chacha samples produced by the companies, the prize places were distributed as follows:

“Gold Chacha – 2024” – “Spirtaura” company, Sighnaghi district, Tibaani village, Rkatsiteli chacha; (gold medal and diploma)
“Silver chacha – 2024” – “Koloti” winery, Akhmet district, Alaverdi village – Rkatsiteli chacha, planted on oak twigs for 20 months (silver medal and diploma);
“Bronze Chacha – 2024” – “Dato Chikhladze” winery, Tbilisi – Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi, Kakhuri Green (Khirsa, Vejini, Marani, Maghran villages) – oak barrel 2 years. (bronze medal and diploma)

In accordance with the jury’s verdict, a certificate of honor was established for the first time this year for the creation of exceptional chacha; The following people received an honorable certificate for producing chacha out of the samples made by small wineries and farmers:

“The best varietal chacha” – company “Chacha House” – Muscat – with 2 years of planting in American white oak barrels;
“The best blend of chacha” – Martiashvili cellar, Akhmeta – Khikhvi and Rkatsiteli oak barrels planted for 1 year;
“The best Rkatsiteli chacha” – “Ana Berika” – Ana Berikashvili – Rkatsiteli chacha classic.

Among the samples of chacha produced by the companies, the following were awarded with an honorary certificate for the production of chacha:

“The best classic Rkatsiteli chacha” – I quality – “Shumi” wine company – Rkatsiteli, Tsinandli microzone;
“The best classic Rkatsiteli chacha” – II grade – “Koloti” winery – Rkatsiteli, Akhmet district, Alaverdi village;
“The best blend of red and white grapes” – Georgian wine company “Akhmeteli” – Rkatsiteli / Saperavi – Akhmeta/Sighnaghi.

This year, according to the jury’s decision, the fruit vodka presented by several companies was evaluated and the 2 best companies were identified:

The best fruit vodka (apple vodka) – “Sevsamora” company.
The best fruit vodka (apricot vodka) – “Vinilia” company.

As is customary, this year’s award went to the municipality that stood out for its inventiveness. The municipalities of Tealvi, Kvareli and Akhmeta shared this honor equally because of the fierce rivalry this year. This year, the organizing team raised the prize fund to 1500 GEL, and in addition to the diplomas, they received a 500–500 GEL voucher. The festival and the Tourism development association will use this money to support socially vulnerable families, who will be chosen by the municipalities of Telavi, Kvareli, and Akhmeta.

“Theatre No. 1” performed a play titled “First they killed, then they got married” at the festival’s conclusion. The piece was based on Rafiel Eristavi’s work of the same name.

Festival organizers:

– Georgian Chamber of Culture;

– Tourism Development Association;

– Administration of the State Trustee in Kakheti region.

– Telavi Municipality City Hall.

Supporters of the festival:

– National Wine Agency of Georgia;

– National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia “Sakpatenti”;

– National Tourism Administration of Georgia.

– Hotel Holiday Inn Telavi

Information supporters of the festival:

– public broadcaster;