"Niko Mamasxli's Cellar"

“Niko Mamasakhlisi;s Cellar“

Inga Dumbadze's "Niko's Family Winery" is a testament to how a series of events in a family can inspire and compel one to deeply explore their own family and ancestral history. Born and raised in Abkhazia, Inga's father was involved in the partisan movement during the Abkhazian war. Following a heart attack, he had to leave the battlefield and engage in humanitarian work. Inga's grandmother, Elizaveta Marshania, settled in Guria, became a widow early, and sent her only child, Inga's father, to Kutaisi for education, later moving to Sukhumi with the help of her brother-in-law, Ioseb Marshania, where she established her family. Here, she married, raised children, and built a successful career, earning great respect among the Abkhazians and Gurians alike. Guests loved visiting the Dumbadzes, coming from Batumi, Guria, and Tbilisi. Inga grew up in this guest-loving environment, not knowing a night without guests even for a single day. While studying at the University of Abkhazia, Inga married Berdzenishvili, and the Dumbadze-Marshania families' history now intertwined with the Berdzenishvili-Metaksis families' stories. During the war, Inga and her husband still lived in Abkhazia, later returning to Berdzenishvili's ancestral home in the village of Bagdati. Unfortunately, this return was profoundly difficult for Inga: unexpectedly widowed, she was left alone with two daughters. At the peak of loneliness and despair, her father reminded her that her grandmother had also been widowed early but persevered, though Inga wondered how education and intellect could substitute for her pain.

Years passed, and Inga decided to immerse herself in researching the stories of the Dumbadze-Berdzenishvili-Marshania-Metaksis families. With no elderly relatives left in the village to narrate the family tales, she queried parents, in-laws, and relatives, seeking and studying historical records, connecting with historians, scientists, and after years, compiled a comprehensive picture of these families with rich and interesting histories. Later, acquaintances asked to host foreign guests, which led to sharing these unique stories, becoming a matter of pride in hosting in such a traditional family. Hosting became a routine part of life in this large family. Six years ago, guides from Adjara's tourism visited within the scope of an infotour. A few days later, one of the guides contacted her for hosting a Jewish family because a Russian-speaking guide couldn't assist in Guria. After much insistence, Inga agreed to the offer, hosted them, introduced the family history, and returned them to the hotel in the evening. A satisfied client is better than any advertisement, and the next day, she received a booking from a group of 15 people. Inga realized transforming family culture and history into a tourist product was the right decision. Today, "Niko's Family Winery" is a serene guesthouse located in a traditional Gurian hut, offering modern perspectives. Beyond relaxation, it allows planning events under the open sky: signing ceremonies with decorative art crafted by the hostess, photo sessions, background music; conferences and seminars, meetings for non-profit organizations complemented by coffee breaks and dinner parties.