Georgien: Rugby ohne Regeln – Blut Und Wein zu Ostern in Gurien

Von Ralph Hälbig; Fotografien & Video von Emily Lush

In dem kleinen Kaukasus-Staat Georgien gibt es eine faszinierende Vielfalt von Mentalitäten. Jede Region ist originell. Im Dorf Shukhuti im Westen des Landes sind die Gurier weithin für ihren Humor, ihre Herzlichkeit und ihren einzigartigen polyphonen Gesang bekannt. Doch zu Ostern offenbart das Dorf noch eine völlig andere Facette.

Am Samstag vor dem orthodoxen Osterfest rüsten sich die Dorfbewohner für ein außergewöhnliches Ritual. Sie bereiten ihre auffallende Grabstätten vor, säubern das dicke Leder der Bälle auf den Gräbern und versammeln sich zu einer opulenten Tafel auf dem Friedhof, um der Toten zu gedenken. Rot gefärbte Eier und frischer Paska-Osterkuchen zieren die Tische. Doch bald ziehen sich die Bewohner des Ober- und Unterdorfs in ihre eigenen Reihen zurück. Zwischen Blumen, Kerzen und Bilderrahmen liegen auf dem Friedhof verschiedene Bälle, einst schwarz, nun aschfahl, bieten sie einen seltsamen Anblick, der an hitzegebleichte Kürbisse auf einem Feld erinnert.

Die Männer des Dorfes vertiefen sich in taktische Überlegungen und hitzige Diskussionen. Das kommende Spiel vereint Hunderte von Menschen und erfordert strategisches Vorgehen. Am Vorabend des großen Lelo-Burti-Spiels versammelt sich dann das gesamte Dorf zu einem Gottesdienst in der örtlichen Kirche.

Die Tage vor Ostern werden von den Dorfbewohnern mit Anspannung und Vorbereitungen für das gewaltige Spektakel verbracht, das den heiligsten und bedeutendsten Feiertag Georgiens begleitet. Lelo Burti, ein brutales körperliches Vollkontaktspiel, vereint Elemente von Rugby und Straßenkampf auf einzigartige Weise. Die siegreiche Mannschaft trägt nach dem Spiel den schweren Ball zum Friedhof.

In der Nacht vor dem Spiel versammeln sich ausgewählte Männer beider Dorfteile zu einer georgischen Supra. Fleisch wird in grenzenlosen Mengen verzehrt, während Wein und Chacha, ein georgischer Tresterbrand, in Strömen fließen. Immer wieder stoßen die Männer an – auf Georgien, die Verstorbenen, die Kranken, die Frauen des Landes, die nächste Generation, die früheren Spieler von Lelo Burti und diejenigen, die das Spiel am Leben erhalten. Stunden später wird der noch schlaffe Burti-Ball, dem Tamada oder Toastmeister des Festes, zugeworfen. Die Männer formen das steife Leder zu einem Kelch und füllen ihn mit Wein und trinken auf die Ehre. Der Ball symbolisiert die Einheit des Dorfes. Am nächsten Morgen wird er bis zu einem Gewicht von mindestens 16 Kilogramm gefüllt und vom örtlichen Priester Pater Saba mit Wein gesegnet.

Wenn der Moment des Anstoßes am Ostersonntag unaufhaltsam näher rückt, und die Spannung ihren Höhepunkt erreicht, ein Krankenwagen und eine Gruppe von Polizisten erscheinen, dann klettern junge Menschen auf Dächer, Zäune, Laternenpfähle und andere "sichere" Orte, denn niemand will in den Strudel von Lelo Burti geraten.

Vor dem eigentlichen Spiel organisiert der örtliche Geistliche ein kleines Aufwärmtraining auf den Stufen der Kirche. Dort wirft er den Ball denjenigen zu, die ihn fangen wollen. Doch das Halten des ziemlich schweren Balls ist keine leichte Aufgabe. Schon beim Aufwärmen ereignen sich die ersten Verletzungen. Männer, die den Ball fangen, stolpern und fallen aufgrund seines Gewichts zu Boden.

Saba, der Geistliche, hält eine lange Rede und lädt alle zum Trinken ein. Seit beinahe zwanzig Jahren pflegt Saba die Tradition von Lelo: "Bei Lelo geht es um Tapferkeit und Mut. Es geht um die Liebe zur Freiheit", erklärt Priester Pater Saba Zhghenti, ein ehemaliger Ringer und einst selbst begeisterter Lelo-Spieler.

Nachdem der Ball mit Erde, Sand und Sägespäne gestopft und zugenäht ist, wird er von den Menschen gründlich gewaschen. Sie posieren mit ihm und übergeben ihn schließlich Erzpriester Saba, der den Ball zur örtlichen Kirche bringt. Die Kirche befindet sich ebenfalls in der Nähe des Dorfzentrums. Selbst der Spaziergang zur Kirche wird zum Spaß, da Saba den Leuten den Ball zuwirft, damit sie das Gewicht spüren und sich bewusst werden, wie schwer es sein wird, das Spiel zu gewinnen. Ein spielerisches Hin- und Herwerfen des Balls auf dem Kirchhof setzt sich fort. Dann bringen die Priester den Ball in die Kirche, wo sie eine polyphone Liturgie vortragen. Der Ball ruht dort bis zum späten Nachmittag. Gegen 17:00 Uhr erreicht die Aufregung ihren Höhepunkt.

Saba Zhghenti, der Erzpriester der örtlichen Kirche, ist eine der Hauptfiguren dieses Tages. Begleitet von einem Mann mit einer Waffe, erscheint Pater Saba mitten im Dorf. Der Schuss eröffnet das Spiel. Die Menge brüllt! Auch auf der anderen Seite des Geschehens ist der Lärm ohrenbetäubend.

Schon jetzt sind alle schweißgebadet, die Menschen drängen sich dicht aneinander. Eine wogende Masse, die die Richtung verschiebt. Derjenige, der den Ball auf seine Seite des Dorfes bringt, gewinnt. Der Priester wirft den Ball hoch in die Luft, und dies wird das letzte Mal sein, dass die Zuschauer den Ball für den Rest des Spiels sehen. Es ist schwer zu sagen, wo er ist, wer ihn in den Händen hält. Inmitten des Spiels herrscht ein wildes Gedränge, Gliedmaßen und Köpfe verschwinden, überwiegend Männer kämpfen darum, den Ball zu ergreifen und in "ihr Dorf" zu bringen. Doch das heißt nicht, dass Frauen nicht beteiligt sind. Körper prallen von allen Seiten aufeinander. Der Ball verschwindet unter einem Haufen von Fleisch und aufgewirbeltem Staub und Dreck.

Die folgenden Aktionen sind eine einzige wogende Masse, an der hin und wieder mehr als 100 Personen teilnehmen. Von Zeit zu Zeit signalisieren die Männer ihrer Mannschaft hektisch mit ihren freien Händen nach "Verstärkung" - vielleicht haben sie bereits den Ballbesitz oder sehen eine Lücke - und diejenigen am Rand stürzen sich mit Wucht auf ihre Teamkameraden, um ihnen beizustehen.

Das Gedränge prallt gegen Mauern und lässt Glasscheiben zersplittern. Es erstreckt sich quer durch das Dorf und verteilt die Zuschauermenge. Ein Zaun am Straßenrand droht zu bersten. Männer kriechen hinein und wieder heraus, schnappen nach Luft, greifen nach Wasser, ihre Hemden sind zerrissen, manchmal sind Schuhe abhanden gekommen. Die Spieler, von Frauen und Kindern begleitet, formieren sich zu zwei rivalisierenden Teams. Keine komplizierten Regeln, kein Zeitlimit und keine Schiedsrichter - Lelo Burti kennt keine Grenzen. Das Spiel entwickelt sich wild und ungestüm, während die Spieler verzweifelt nach dem Ball suchen, der unaufhaltsam durch die Menschenmenge wandert.

Die Intensität des Spiels ist überwältigend. Verletzungen sind an der Tagesordnung, Knochenbrüche keine Seltenheit. Doch selbst die Verletzten suchen rasch nach Hilfe, um wieder ins Geschehen eingreifen zu können. Der Kampf um Ballbesitz und Vorstoß ist erbarmungslos, und die Spieler sind bereit, bis an ihre körperlichen Grenzen zu gehen und Blessuren davonzutragen.

Das finale Ziel ist klar definiert: Jedes Team muss den Ball zu seinem Bach bringen. Wenn das gelingt, bricht die Siegesfeier los. Die Spieler jubeln auf dem Weg zum Friedhof des Dorfes, posieren mit dem Ball und loben sich gegenseitig für ein hartes Spiel. Ihre Körper sind von Schlamm, Schweiß und Blut gezeichnet, doch der Stolz auf ihre Leistung ist unübersehbar.

Lelo Burti ist mehr als nur ein Spiel. Es soll die Tapferkeit, den Mut und den unbezähmbaren Geist der Georgier symbolisieren. Eine jahrhundertealte Tradition, die Jahr für Jahr das Dorf Shukhuti und die Menschen dort in ihren Bann schlägt.

Die Szenen sind feierlich: Nach dem Spiel wird ein Ball auf einem ausgewählten Grab niedergelegt, umgeben von Menschen, die niederknien und den Ball fest in den Händen halten und den Tag gedenken, an dem Jesus von den Toten auferstanden ist. Die Männer, die zuvor voller Adrenalin um den Ball gekämpft haben, zeigen nun Trauer und Tränen in ihren Augen, ohne Scham. Lelo Burti ist nicht nur ein anstrengendes Bad in der Menge, sondern auch ein Wechselbad der Gefühle.

Weitere Links zu den Doukhobors in english: 

* LELO BURTI | Georgia's 300-year-old ball game. Video by Emily Lush

wander-lush.org

* Video zu Lelo Burti [polnisch]

* LELO BURTI: Blood And Wine. ByIan McNaught Davis

* A Wine-Soaked Ball Unites a Georgian Village, but Only After Dividing It New York Times]

* Lelo Burti: 11 Things Do Know About Georgia's Oldest Ball-Game. By Baia Dzagnidze

* Kennen Sie "Lelo burti"? Das ist ein Spiel, das in einigen Dörfern Georgiens in der Osterzeit gespielt wird. [WDR]

* No rules, no limits: Georgia's muddy, bloody game of Lelo – in pictures. Photography by Giorgi Gogua for RFE/RL [Guardian]

* In pictures | Rugby with no rules — Easter in Guria by Mariam Nikuradze [OC Media]

* Rugby with no rules - Easter in Guria. Author: Mariam Nikuradze [chaikhana]

* Podcast: Podcast | Tumso fakes his death and Shukhuti plays leloburti [OC Media]

* Lelo Burti, an ancient worrier game in Georgia. By Jonas Wresch 

* «Lelo Burti»-Deadly Sport

* Lelo Burti means "field ball". It’s only played once a year on second Easter day in the town of Lanchkhuti, Georgia. By Maurice Wolf

* Lelo Burtli, Shukhuti, Georgia. Photographs by Onnik James Krikorian, 2018

* Rugby Is Our Game. By Nathaniel Handy. Photographs by Jordi Perdigó [pdf]

* Imagine if Rugby had no rules – welcome to the brutal Georgian game of Lelo Burti. By Angus Wright

* In a Georgian Village, Easter Is Celebrated with a Game of Lelo. When most Orthodox Christians join their families at the Easter table, one Georgian village celebrates the holiday in a cloud of dust raised by a crowd of fighting men. Writer and photographer: Artūras Morozovas

FILM: ADILA - documentary film about Georgian traditional music, dance and style of life culture

Film by Zaza Korinteli & Gia Diasamidze

PODCAST: World Routes in Georgia. Svaneti polyphony and Guria yodeling.(bbc.co.uk)

Follow the link and you can listen an on hour podcast from the BBC about the folk muisc from Georgia which is famous and belongs to World Herritage of UNESCO. The Feature is especially about the music and the history from the svanetian and gurian region of Georgia.

the podcast is here >>>

CULTURE: Gurian Horse-Riders in America (geotimes.ge)

Each part of Georgia has its distinguishing characteristic. Guria is a region in the western part of Georgia with a rich cultural heritage and traditions, but especially distinguished by its horse-riding and polyphonic songs.

“Gurians are very fast in speech, movement, and work... the adroitness and courage of these people is praised... Gurians are talented, quick and adroit, dexterous, they like to study and are brave in struggle,” wrote Georgian geographer and historian Vakhushti Bagrationi (XVIII century). Their quickness and adroitness are particularly evident in their horse-riding skills, which have amazed even Americans.

Georgians from Guria migrated to America at the end of XIX century, when American soldier, hunter, showman and entrepreneur William Frederick Cody was putting on his famous “Buffalo Bill” cowboy shows in which groups of horseman from all over the world participated. Each demonstrated their own distinctive riding style and colourful costumes. Among them were Georgians (Georgians wore “Chokhas” of different colours made especially for the shows). Visitors to this spectacle would see feats of skill and staged races.

Thomas Oliver, an American commissioner, came to Georgia (at that time Georgia was a part of the Russian Empire) to find riders for the Wild West show in the United States. In Batumi Oliver accidentally met someone, Kirile Jorbenadze, who knew some of the riders in Guria. When Kirile heard about the aim of visit he offered to help and the first group of Gurians, consisting of approximately 150 men, joined the show in London in 1892. They joined the “Buffalo Bill” show there and performed for Queen Victoria. The Queen was elated by the bravery of the Georgians and presented them with an album of photos of their performance with gold engraving.

The next year (1893) the Georgians went to America and continued to participate in “Buffalo Bill” shows to great acclaim. Many of the participants were called "Prince", while most of them were peasants, as a stunt to attract more people to the shows. It should be noted that four female Gurian female riders performed alongside the men.

The Georgian part of the shows began with singing, continued with dancing and then the horse riding tricks were performed. American newspapers commented: “They stand in the saddle, on their feet and on their hands and kick their legs as the horses fly madly around. They ride standing in their saddles with their faces facing their horses' tails and chase each other to capture a handkerchief carried in their mouth…” (from the website of Irakli Makharadze www.georgians.ge).

Gurians sent letters and photos to their families from the USA. Some of these are preserved in the Lanckhuti Local Museum (most of the riders were from Lanchkhuti) and some are in the Georgian State Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography in Tbilisi. These letters were exhibited in the museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography on 20 July. They are badly damaged and need restoration, and the two museums have therefore signed a memorandum of cooperation. “Now restoration work is being undertaken in our museum and Lanchkhuti Museum’s materials will also be restored within the framework of the memorandum,” said Giorgi Kalandia, Director of the Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography Museum.

Director of Lanchkhuti Museum Nona Imnadze said that most of the letters are from Giorgi Gvardjaladze, sent to his family. “His grandchild brought them to the museum. There are salutations, instructions and sermons in his letters. The riders promise that they will soon be home. After restoration the letters will return to the Lanchkhuti museum,” she said. Restorer Irina Dudauri said that the material has been badly corrupted and only after examining it in detail will it be possible to say how long it will take to restore it.

The letters are sent mostly from California and demonstrate the success of the Georgians riders. The letters describe the life of the Gurians in America. They talk about the towns they live and performed in. It seems that they had a good salary and went to America for this purpose, although preparation for the show was very labour-consuming.

Filmmaker and researcher Irakli Makharadze started to explore this issue a long time ago. For years he has collected information about Georgians in America and began by investigating the history of the Gurian riders. He made the film “Wild West Riders” in 1997 which told their story and then published a book called “Wild West Georgians” in 2002 with Akaki Chkhaidze. Further books, “Once Upon a Time in America,” “Diaries of an Unknown Gurian Rider” and “Georgian riders in America”, were published later. He also set up a website about them.

The Georgians were known in the US as Russian Cossacks. Makharadze says that the organisers declared that the riders came from the southern part of the Russian Caucasus, because Georgia was part of Russian Empire at that time. The Georgians objected to this very much: “Everyone calls us Cossacks. We can't make them understand that we are from Georgia,” they wrote. Irakli Makharadze has been able to correct descriptions in two American museums and now they say that the riders previously were known as Cossacks were actually Georgians from the western part of Georgia.

Many of the Gurian riders stayed in America, Makharadze says, and changed their names, got married and began a new life. Some who returned to Georgia became victims of Bolshevik repression. They were called American spies. Most of them were imprisoned and exiled and their exploits were taboo during Soviet times. Most of the documents concerning their travels in America and Europe were destroyed. For this reason the surviving letters and photos have particular historical importance.

Even today horse races are held in Guria. In Bakhmaro the race day is the most popular social occasion. A lot of guests go there especially to see this competition, with its Gurian Krimanchuli songs and Adjaran Gandagana dances, which is traditionally held on 19 August, the Feast of Transfiguration.

Source: Georgian Times
By Nino Markozia
2010.07.26 09:48

FOOD & WINE: Viticulture and Winemaking of Georgia

Internet: All About Georgian Wine

Viticulture and winemaking are the most important traditional fields of Georgia`s agriculture. The history of vine culture is inseparable from the history of the Georgian people. the greative nature and deep iove for the grapvine and wines of georgian people are expressed in culture, traditions and in the fields of art, such as: architecture, ornament, chasing, painting, poetry, singing and others.

Georgia is considered as one of the oldest place of producing the top-quality wines in the world. That is proved by the variety of the wild and cultural species of vine, also by ampelogeographical, paleobotanical, historical, archeological, ethnical, phylological, linguistical and other scientific reserches of georgian and foreign researchers.

There are over 4000 vine varieties in the world. over 450 species of local vine are bred in Georgia, from which 62 sorts are put in the standart assortment including 29 wine species and 9 table ones.

The most famous high standart sorts of Georgian vines are: Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Mtsvane, Khikhvi, Kisi, Chinuri, Tsolikouri, Tstska, Krakhuna, Alexandrouli, Ojaleshi, Chkhaveri, Aladasturi and others.
While archaeological excavutions in Georgia on the territory of Mtskheta, Trialeti, Kakheti, inside Kartli, Vani etc. different agricultural things were discovered. Among them were wine cellars with huge "KVEVRI". (widemouthed earthenware jars in which wine is matured and stored), wine bowls made from gold, silver, bronze and clay manufactured in the third or second millenium B.C.

the culture and traditions of vine-growing and grape-vine consumption, techniques of making dry, natural semi-sweet, dessert and sparkling table wines, sorts of "Kakhuri" and "Imeruli" ones created by the Georgian people are product of centuries.

After spreading Chistianity by the disciples of Iesus Christ –Andrew Pirveltsodebuli and Simon Kananeli, wine has taken part in the church-rituals. That was prove after finding wine-vessels while archaeogical excations in the areas of chrches.

Not only the local species of vine are cultivated in Georgia, but also the foreign sorts as – Aligote, Pino, Shardone, Kaberne Sovinioni, Shasla and Khalili, found the second mother land here.


Geographical location of Georgia`s Viticulture


Georgia is situated on the boundary of Asia and Evrope. Georgia`s viticulture is between 41007'-43035' north latitudo and 40005'-46044' longitude in the middle and west parts of Caucasus Mountains between the Black and the Caspian seas, which offers diversity in climate and creates ideal conditions for the development of original, high-quality viticulture and winemaking.

Georgia is divided into two makro-zones according to the differences of conditions for viticulture on the territory of the country: Western Georgia and Estern Georgia.

The climate in Estern Georgia varies from subtropical to mild continental and in Western Georgia it is most subtropical because of its nearness to the Black sea.


Estern Georgia:
- Kakheti (inside and outward kakheti)
- Kartli (below, middle and upper kartli)
Western Georgia:- Imereti (below, middle and upper kartli)
- Racha-Lechkumi
- Most-subtropical zone of the Black Sea: Guria, Adjara, Samegrelo and Abkhazia

Uploaded on June 11, 2007 by Dato Gelashvili

Kakheti

Kakheti is the oldest and unique viticulture-winemaking region in Georgia. It is divided into two zones: inside and outward Kakheti. There are about twenty-five mikro-zones, where wines are produced under the names of their original places, such as: Tsinandali, Napareuli, Teliani, Akhasheni, Mukuzani, Kindzmarauli, Gurdjaani, Kardanakhi, Tibaani, Manavi, Khashmi and others. 60-65 % (percent) of vineyard of Georgia come from Kakheti. Industrial vineyeard is cultivated in the ponds of the rivers Alazani and Iori at 400-700 meters above sea level on brown forest, brown meadow, grey-brown, humus-carbonate, black earth and alluvial soils.

The klimate is mild in Kakheti. The annual average heat summation is between 35000C and 42000C. The average precipitation is within 400-800 mm and the duration of sunshaine is about 2000-2200 hours.
Producing high quality red, white, dry, naturally semi-sweet and sweet table wines is the principal direction of viticulture in Kakheti.

European type white, high-quality table wines are produced from local, unique grape varieties such as: Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane, Khikvi, Kisi and oters in micro-zones of Tsinandlai, Napareuli, Gurdjaani, Manavi etc.
red dry, high quality table wines with pleasant aroma are made from Georgian original red vine – Saperavi – in micro-zones of Kindzmarauli, Teliani, Akasheni, Mukuzani, Khashmi, etc.
In Kakheti only in the micro-zones of Akasheni, Kindzmarauli and Mukuzani they produce naturally semi-sweet red wines named affer their oroginal places. The local mikroclimate, soils and the ability of Georgian red vine – Saperavi to accumulate much sugar and acid, stipulates the harmonious, mild, velvety, cheerful tones and specific qualities of wines.

the native type of table wine in Kakheti, the one, which is quite different from other wines is the product of centuries. This is the only dry original wine in the world. It is distinguished for its high extraction, fenol admixtres and tannin, for its pleasant bucket, speual aroma and taste and what`s the most importans, this sort of wine is rich in biologically active substances – that`s so useful for health.

Kartli

Kartli is the crodle of Georgian culture. It is famous for its classical, european type, high standard table wines and high quality sparkling ones. Kartli is divided into three zones: bellow, middle and upper Kartli – called Meskheti. The vineyeards are cultivated along the rivers – the Mtkvari, the Liakhvi and the Ksani- on 450-700 meters abovesea level – on brown, alluvial, greybrown and humus-carbonate soils.

The klimate is mild continental. The average heat summation measured in "degree-days" is between 30300C and 41000C, annual precipitation equals 370-700 mm, the duration of sunshaine is about 2100-2500 hours.
Below Kartli is the best zone for producing table grapes and raisins.

Middle Kartli is the most interesting zone among the other zones in Kartli. It is famous for producing classical european type and top-quality sparkling wines. The speaking wine "Atenuri" is named offer its original place as it is produced in the goge of Ateni from the grapes: Goruli, Mtsvane and Chinuri. according to the traditional technology. High quality white and pink table wines have been produced for ages from the sorts of grapes such as – Budeshuri, Tavkveri and other local species as well as from Goruli Mtsvane and Chinuri.

It is important to notice that the gorge of the Ksani (Mukhrani lowland) is famous for its French type of grape Aligote – which provides the best high-standard wine-materials for producing european types of table and sparkling wines.

In upper Kartli – on the territory of Meskheti the viticulture and winemeaking has not an industrial character. Archaeological excavations (cellars, barrels, cups) show that viticulture and winemaking has quite developed here but for a long time (2,5 centuries). It had been under the political influnce of Turkish policy and the islamite religion forbade usung wine. That caused destroging of vineyeards and durung the period of Russian tsarism in Georgia nobody cared about growing the wine.

Since thirties of the twentieth cenury Georgian Scientific Research Institute has regularly been making special researches in this region and has come to the conclusion that producing of the europena types and sparkling wines from Goruli Mtsvane, Chinuri, Khikvi and other georgian sorts grape is very long-range. French grape varieties such as Pino and Aligote has shown the best results.

Western Georgia

Imereti

According to the quantity of production in viticulture and winemaking Imereti is the oldest and the most important region of Georgia. Imereti is divided into three zones: bellow, middle and upper Imereti. The vineyeards are cultivated in the gorges of the rivers: the Rioni, the Chkerimela, the Dzirula and their tributaries - on 50-500 meters higness above sea level – on humus-carbonate, grey, yellow and podzolic soils.

The klimate is rather damp, temperately cold with dry hot summer and snowy winter. The annual heat summation is on the average between 32000C and 41000C. Annual precipitation equals 1200-1500 mm, the duration of sunshaine is about 1200-2100 hours.

The main characteristis of viticulture and winemaking of Imereti is the great variety of local species of grape and high quality table wines.

In upper Imereti they mainly produce soft sparkling winematerials, soft european type white and red table wines from the local species: Tsitska, Tsolikouri, Krakhuna, Dzvelshavi and other sorts of grape.

Middle Imereti is considered to be the principal zone of viticulture and winemaking in western Georgia. Here the vineyards located on 140-470 meters above sea level. High quality original white, red and pink table wines are produced from the local species: Tsitska, Tsolikouri, Aladasturi, Krakhuna, Dzvelshava and others named after their original places.

On the basis of century – old traditional technology of producing wines they created original technology of winemaking quite different of others. The difference includes the following: Alcoholical fermetation of the grape-juce is carried out inside the buried vessels on "durdo"("chacha" without stems), that contains 4-6% of the whole fermenting mass. After having fermented they keep the winematerial in the vessel for 1,5-2 mounths, then withdraw from "durdo", place into the barrels and keep futher treating according to the instruction. The wine created such way is more extractive and full-bodied than european wines, at the same time it is soft, harmonious and aromated with pleasant taste.

Below Imereti is located in the west part – in the basin of the river Rioni. Here the vineyards are cultivated on 40-420 meters above sea level. They considere this place the original zone, where in different regions high quality wines are produced from the local grape varieties.


Racha-Lechkumi

Racha-Lechkumi is distinguished from the vineyards of other zones and mikro-zones of Western Georgia for its unique and original wines.

It is the cradle of naturally sweet and semi-sweet wines. Racha-Lechkumi is located to the north of Imereti – in the gorges of the rivers: the Rioni, the Tskhenistsakali and the Lajanura. It is surrounded by rocking hills that makes particular micro-climate and difanes the characteristic qualities of wines. The vineyards are growvn on 600-800 meters above sea level.

The climate is rather moist. The soils are humus-carbonate because of the limestones and carbonate sandstones.

On the south slopes of Racha which are sunny and surrounded by rocky hills, local sorts of wines, such as: Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli are grown. There species are distigiushed for high sugar content (28-30%). They are used for making the original naturally sweet red wines known under the name "Khvanchkara".
The climate of Tvishi provokes the high sugar cintent and acidity in the grape varieties such as – Tsolikouri – that is isud for making naturally sweet white wine "Tvishi" named after the original place.

In Zubi-Okureshi microzone of Lechkumi the unique naturally sweet red wine is produced from the local wine type "Usakhelouri", that is famous for its aroma and plesant taste and is known by the name of "Usakhelouri". Naturally sweet red wine "Orbeluri Ojaleshi" is produced from Orbeluri – Ojaleshi and is named after its local place.
Adjara, Abkhazia, Guria, Samegrelo

Viticulture and vine-growing of these regions is situated along the black Sea coast from 2-4 meters (in Abkhazia) up to 800 meters (in upper Adjara) above sea level.

The climate is subtropical and moist – that is why the vine has a long period of vegetation (till the of November).

The soils are humus-carbonate, grey, yellow eard, red earth and podzolic.

From local vine type such as Chkhaveri the sparkling wine Chkhaveri is produced in the microzones of Guria (Bakvi-Askani, Partsma-Sachamiaseri), Adjara (Keda), Abkhazia (Gudauta).

In the micro-zones of Salkhino-Targamouli and Bandza in Samegrelo region from local grape variety such as Ojaleshi, naturally semi-sweet and dry wines are produced under the name of “Ojalshi”.

It’s well-known that a French man Miurat who was the son-in-law of a megrelian landlord sent the wine “Ojaleshi” to Paris on the international-tasting competition, where it was rewarded with the highest prize.
In Abkhazia one of the oldest parts of Georgia from grape varieties such as Tsitska, Tsolikauri, Chkhaveri, Tsabela, Ojaleshi, Kachichi and others are produced the original wines under the name of Apsni, Likhni, Achadara, Anakopia and others, which are very popular among the customers.


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Since thirties of the twentieth century Georgia has begun a new period of developing viticulture and winemaking. The new vineyards have been cultivated, wine producing got the industrial character, developed the scientific-practical work – that created the best conditions for developing this field.
In eighties the area of vineyards was over 150 thousand hectare, about 500-700 thousand ton grapes were produced in the factories. The great part of this production was sent to the countries of former Soviet Union and a particular one was exported to the foreign countries.

The hard political and social-economical conditions in nineties and the wars in Abkhazia and Samachablo – seriously damaged Georgian viticulture.

In the last few years the legislative base was created for development of this field and it attracted foreign investors. Cultivating of vineyards was began, wine industry was equipped with material-technical base of modern standards. The process of making the unique Georgian wine was renewed conditions for business development.

Leading wineries in Georgia producing wines are: ”Georgia’s wine and sprints – GWS”; ”Telavi – wine cellar – TWC”. ”Sameba”, ”Tbilgvino”, ”Vaziani” and other companies (it’s imposiible to mention all of them). They’ve got material technical base of modern standards which stipulates the high quality of production. Besides the oldest Georgian traditions, they use modern technological achievements. These companies sell their production on the markets of Russia, the Ukraine, Baltic countries, Japan, USA, Holland, etc.

Forum; About Georgian wine

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A healing song from Georgia

Batonebo

By Christoph Maubach
Australian Catholic University

The healing song printed below serves as an example. The song ‘Batonebo’ comes from the county Guria in the Republic of Georgia. This is a mountainous region in which villages are situated in valleys and on slopes. The healing song ‘Batonebo’ was sung when a child was ill with an infection. Villagers would gather around, decorate the child’s bedroom with red fabrics and flowers, and sing in the hope that the evil spirits, which they believed, were residing in the child’s body would disappear.

‘Batonebo’ (which literally means lords) was originally a woman’s song that gradually became part of the men’s repertoire. The close harmonies create a very interesting texture. Challenges with intervals and intonation make this an item that more experienced Secondary School vocalistss might like to tackle. Music examples of the many migrants that come to Australia lend themselves well for the study of history and styles in music. The developing interest in Georgian Folk singing here in Melbourne has been advanced by the arrival of two ethnomusicology experts from Georgia, Mrs. Nino Tsitsishvili and Dr. Joseph Jordania.
For more information about this music feel free to contact Dr. Joseph Jordania on (03) 9489 1403 or Christoph Maubach on (03) 9241 4575.

full text: World music: A healing song from Georgia (pdf)

Batonebo Songs From Georgi