Asureti: German Settlement History and Wine Tradition

Visitors to Asureti can explore the area through two themes: German settlement history and the wine tradition surrounding Asuretuli Shala. Asureti is located on the banks of the Asuretiskhevi. Vineyards were established near the settlement along the banks of the Algeti. The settlement’s history is reflected in its surviving buildings, while the wine’s origins are made tangible through specific requirements and a long historical context.

German Settlement History in Asureti

Asureti was founded in 1818 as the German settlement of Elisabethal. The German settlers engaged in farming and livestock raising. Surviving material evidence includes residential and farm buildings, a wine cellar, a Gothic Lutheran church, and houses in an older German architectural style. The architectural heritage thus encompasses different forms of residential, economic, and religious life.

The Lutheran church was built in the Gothic style in 1871. Houses made of white stone and clay, built without nails, also still stand in Asureti. A sulfur bath is another surviving material monument from the period of German settlement. Asureti’s unique wine cellar was granted the status of a cultural monument in 2017. The church, houses, cellar, and sulfur bath represent different aspects of the architectural heritage passed down through the generations.

A German cemetery adds a remembrance of the people of the settlement to this picture: the gravestones bear the family names of settlers and their descendants from various parts of Germany. The inscriptions make the connection between the settlement’s founding and later generations visible. Those interested in historic architecture will therefore find not just a single building in Asureti, but a range of surviving evidence of life in the settlement.

Asuretuli Shala and the Wine Tradition

Asuretuli Shala is a dry red wine with a color ranging from light to dark ruby red. Its microzone is located in Asureti; the processing of the grapes and the winemaking take place exclusively within this microzone. Asuretuli Shala is made from Asuretuli-Shavi grapes grown there. In addition, Tavkveri and Shavkapito may together account for up to 15 percent. The wine may be bottled in Georgia.

A ceremony to grant the wine its designation of origin took place on November 24, 2022. Historically, Shala wine was sold in Georgia as well as in Yerevan and Baku. These details give the wine tradition several points of reference in time and place: from its defined origin and processing to its former sales beyond Georgia. For travelers interested in wine, this offers a different perspective on Asureti, complementing the history of its German settlement and architecture.

Kvemo Kartli: Another Regional Highlight

In the wider travel destination of Kvemo Kartli, Algeti National Park is a hub for nature and outdoor activities. It has five ecotourism routes, including horseback riding and hiking trails. The marked Royal Ridge Trail is a 16-kilometer circular route: it starts in Manglisi, passes through Martalkhevi, where there is a picnic area, to the village of Didi Namtvriani, and returns to Manglisi via the Royal Ridge. Alongside the topics covered on the Asureti page, this provides regional route information to help visitors find their way around the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Dmanisi, Kiketi, Kumisi, Kojori, Tetri Tskaro.

Back to the main travel overview: Kvemo Kartli.