New facility presents Georgia’s traditional food-making methods

A special facility that celebrates Georgia’s traditional food-making methods opened today at the Alaverdi Monastery complex in Georgia’s Kakheti region.

At the new facility, named House of Matsoni, guests will be able to see workers use traditional methods to produce various items, including matsoni – a fermented milk product similar to yoghurt that is common in Georgia.

The opening ceremony of House of Matsoni was led by Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure David Shavliashvili, Executive Director of the Municipal Development Fund, World Bank representatives and the priest of Alaverdi Monastery David Makharadze.

House of Matsoni guests will be able to sample products made at the facility. Photo by Regional Development Ministry

The facility was recognised as a tourist attraction and was opened under the Kakheti Development Project, which has been carried out by the Georgian Government with financial assistance from World Bank since 2012.

Construction of the facility cost about 935,000 GEL and about 50 people were employed during the construction phase. The total cost of the project was 60 million GEL. Once the facility was up and running, 30 people from the local population will be employed there, officials said.

The purpose of the facility was to preserve ancient Georgian traditions of making food and drinks. Ancient winemaking methods will also be preserved at the facility. Officials said wine would be made in the pitcher according to the ancient Georgian tradition wine-making method, which was named on the UNESCO list as an intangible cultural heritage.

Wine will be made at the House of Matsoni according to ancient Georgian wine-making traditions. Photo by Regional Development Ministry

The House of Matsoni was the first completed unit under the Kakheti Development Project. Nine more units are planned to be completed by the end of 2015 as part of the project.

Today’s opening event was also attended by Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia, Deputy Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure Giorgi Koberidze, Deputy Minister of Finance Dimitri Kumsishvili and Deputy Minister of Economy David Lejava.