The town’s appeal lies in its multicultural past, the traces left by the Swabian colonists, and the distinctive atmosphere. The most fascinating part of this historical heritage is hidden in the old wine cellars. After settling here, the German colonists built stone vaulted cellars beneath their homes, many of which have survived in Bolnisi to this day and are carefully preserved by local winemakers. The Georgian-German story continues at Park Prime Winery.
Two cultures and two generations in one winery
The family’s Bolnisi story began in 1988, when Nodar Kobakhidze’s family built the house at 46 Titsian Tabidze Street and arranged the wine cellar in the German style. Years later, this space was transformed into a cosy family guesthouse, Bolnisi Prime House, which today welcomes visitors from all over the world. The family produces its wines under the Park Prime Winery brand, whose symbol and logo became the oak tree planted in the house courtyard many years ago.
In the same courtyard, Saperavi and Asuretuli Shala are planted across an area of 1,000 square metres. The family produces limited quantities of wine from these two varieties. In Bolnisi, in an area known locally as ‘Purchased Lands’, the family owns a Rkatsiteli vineyard planted in 1988, which is officially registered on the international platform The Old Vine Registry under the status of Own-rooted Rkatsiteli. (The platform compiles vineyards that are over 30 years old from around the world.)
A History Translated into Wine
Time flows differently in the wine cellars of Bolnisi. Even the scent of this place is different. On opening the door to the Park Prime Winery marani (winery/wine cellar), history becomes tangible: oak vats, barrels, and a 19th-century German mechanical press used for crushing grapes.
At Park Prime Winery, Nodar Kobakhidze’s descendants, Koba, Nodari, and Giorgi, together with winemaker Davit Endeladze, produce four types of wine: Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Asuretuli Shala, and a Saperavi and Asuretuli Shala blend. The grapes are crushed in oak vats, and after a four-week fermentation period, the wine is transferred to oak barrels for ageing.
The wines produced by the winery are also available to guests staying at the family guesthouse and can be purchased in Tbilisi through the 8000 Vintages chain of shops.
Recently, the winery became a member of the ‘Bolnisi Wine Union’, an organisation that brings together local producers. If you visit this town and visit the Georgian-German Wine House, with its distinctive history and architecture, you will also find Park Prime Winery wines on the shelves.
Rkatsiteli takes on a distinctive character in Bolnisi. This is precisely why wines produced from Rkatsiteli grown in this region often receive recognition both locally and internationally. This year, Park Prime Winery’s 2022 vintage Rkatsiteli received the ‘Sommelier’s Choice’ award at the Bolnisi Protected Designation of Origin Wine Festival, which has been one of the city’s main events for the past three years.
