Gremi is certainly one of Kakheti and eastern Georgia's major sites. I set foot there for the first time on a winter morning, while a dense fog covered the mountains and bore down on the Alazani Valley.
Like a mirage, at the crossroads of a lateral valley, Gremi emerged from the gloom. I was struck by the elegance of this slender, fortified church made entirely of decorative bricks, with the silhouette of its two parts (the church itself and and its separate bell tower) standing proudly on the fortress ruins.
Impressed by the 16th-century frescoes, dating back to the era when Gremi was the capital of Kakheti, I decided to climb to the top of the bell tower. What a view out on the platform! The fog lifted, replaced by magnificent snow-capped mountains and the gorgeous landscape formed by Alazani River's course. After enjoying this moment, I went to discover the church's beautiful "marani", the buried amphora wine cellar, so typical of Kakheti.