kakheti tour

THE 10 BEST Kakheti Region Tours & Excursions

Kakheti region tours.

• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Sightseeing Tours
• Up to 1 hour
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• 4 hours to 1 day
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1. Day Trip to Kakheti Wine Region Including Seven Wine Tastings

2. Highlights of Kakheti wine region-Signagi,Bodbe,Wine tasting(Group Tour)

3. Private Tour around Kakheti, Bodbe, Sighnaghi and Telavi

4. Kakheti: Bodbe (Monastery), Sighnaghi (Love city), Telavi Wine Tour from Tbilisi

5. Kakheti.Small Group Wine Tour including hotel pick up/drop-off

6. Kakheti All inclusive PRIVATE Tour. Bio Wine & Lunch from locals

7. Kakheti: Sighnaghi city of love, Bodbe, Telavi, Free wine tasting

8. 4 Group Tours Including Airport Transfers

9. Full Day Bodbe Sighnaghi and Telavi Wine Tasting Tour

10. Day Trip to Rainbow Mountains and David Gareja

11. Full Day Private Wine Tour in Kakheti Region with Lunch and 3 Wine Tastings

12. Culinary & Wine tour in Kakheti region

13. David Gareji Monastery and Rainbow Mountains Off-road adventure

14. Kakheti.All inclusive Wine tour with family lunch

15. Amazing 5 Days Tour To Georgia, All inclusive

16. Culinary & Wine tour in Kakheti region

17. 3 Organic Wineries Private Day Trip to Wine Province With Lunch and Tastings

18. Full-Day Private Wilderness Tour in Vashlovani National Park

19. Full Day Private Wine Tasting Tour In Kakheti Region

21. Kakheti, Bodbe, Sighnaghi and Telavi (Group Tour)

22. Guided Day Tour From Tbilisi Kakheti and Sighnaghi with Wine

23. Kakheti - Small wineries and family-cooked lunch

24. Quad and ATV Tours - Georgia

25. Best of Kakheti - Gareji and Signagi private full day tour

26. Discover Georgia: A 4-Day Private tour from Tbilisi

27. Full-Day Guided Tour to Kakheti - Group

28. 5 days tour package.Georgia for first time visitors

29. Private 4 Day Tour From Tbilisi The Most Popular Tourist Destinations In Georgia

30. Adventure in Kakheti - Bodbe, Sighnaghi, wine tasting (Private Experience)

What travelers are saying.

• Day Trip to Kakheti Wine Region Including Seven Wine Tastings
• Highlights of Kakheti wine region-Signagi,Bodbe,Wine tasting(Group Tour)
• Kakheti: Sighnaghi city of love, Bodbe, Telavi, Free wine tasting
• Kakheti: Bodbe (Monastery), Sighnaghi (Love city), Telavi Wine Tour from Tbilisi
• Kakheti All inclusive PRIVATE Tour. Bio Wine & Lunch from locals
• Kakheti David Tours
• Vaziani Company
• Wine Yard N 1
• Temi Community
• Family wine cellar Rostomaant Marani

The 6 BEST Kakheti Wine Tours by an Expat

By: Author Stefania Guglielmi

Posted on Last updated: September 23, 2023

Categories Europe , Georgia

Eager to discover Georgia’s wine country? In this article, you’ll find the best Kakheti wine tours available, selected by a wine-lover expat. Check them out!

Georgia is considered to be the oldest wine-producing region in the world, with traces of the craft dating back as far as 6,000 BC. Georgians would bury their grape juice in the ground during the winter…and discovered that it wasn’t juice but wine when they took it out. 

So as the birthplace of wine, no visit to Georgia is complete without heading into its main wine region : Kakheti . Located in the east of the country, Kakheti is responsible for growing three-quarters of the country’s grapes and offers a breathtaking landscape of mountains, vineyards, and hilltop towns. 

Kakheti is the best place to enjoy a quality wine-tasting session and learn about the ancient process of making wine, which is why I have compiled a list of the very best Kakheti wine tours available , some of which I’ve personally been on and can absolutely recommend. 

Fran, my partner, and I, have been living in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia for a few years on and off. Of course, we’ve had the opportunity to visit the country’s wine region multiple times.

Every visitor to Tbilisi should make time in their Georgia itinerary for some wine tasting in Kakheti! In this article you’ll find all the information needed – plus personal suggestions – so you can make the most of your trip there. Read on! 

Kakheti Region: A Short Intro

Kakheti is a region in eastern Georgia comprised by 8 districts. Telavi is its capital city, and one of the starting points to exploring Kakheti. The second city, and probably the most famous from a touristic point of view, is Sighnaghi, known as the city of love and home to an impressive monastic complex. 

The area of Kakheti is beautiful. It features enchanting hilltop towns, monasteries, a mountainous landscape, and picturesque lakes, although its major attributes are its vineyards and wineries . There are also two river basins here, Alazani and Iori, which greatly influence the region’s wines. 

👉 Did you know that wine was invented in Kvemo Kartli, close to Kakheti ?! Traces of winemaking dating from 6 millennia BC were found in Kakheti, and the region is believed to be the starting point of this precious – and ancient – art, which has then spread throughout the world. 

The production of wine was established as a monastic practice as early as 1011 AD, and it wasn’t until the 19th century, after Georgia’s annexation to Russia, that the wine started to be stored in glass bottles rather than the traditional clay vessels. 

Considered a cradle of wine, wineries in Kakheti, Georgia still use many traditional wine-making methods , the most popular being the Qvevri method. It consists of making, storing, and aging the wine in an earthenware amphora that is then buried in the ground. This technique has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. 

Kakheti is known for its indigenous grape varieties, including Saperavi , Ikalto Red , Budeshuri Red , and Simonaseuli in the red category, while the whites produced there include the famous Manavi , Khikhvi , and Green Kakhetian . 

And finally, there’s the famous amber wine, also known as “orange wine”, typical of this region. White wine takes this color when the grapes are left fermenting in the qvevri with the skin. You can’t leave Georgia without trying some Kisi or Rkatsiteli wine.

How To Choose the Perfect Kakheti Tour

The best way to embark on a wine adventure in Kakheti is by joining a tour from Tbilisi . But how to choose the perfect one? There are a few things to consider when shopping for this memorable experience . 

▶️ For starters, wine tours in Georgia don’t only offer a wine-tasting session. You’ll get to visit local wineries for a comprehensive tour of the vineyards in Kakheti and the cellars, discovering in-depth the steps in the production process, besides learning the amazing history of the region. 

M ake sure that the tour you’re choosing is not very rushed . Try to select one that offers a visit to 2 or, at the most, 3 wineries, and allows for enough time to enjoy the experience in each. 

▶️ I think it’s also important to check what kind of wineries you’ll be visiting . As you probably expect, there are countless wine businesses in Kakheti, including very big, commercial wineries and family-run ones. In my opinion, it’s totally worth visiting both , not only to support local smaller producers but also to witness the differences in the wine-making process, the product, and the history of each. 

Smaller wineries are also your best bet at observing the traditional methods , such as Qvevri, that are still used to this day. Meeting the winemakers and experiencing true Georgian hospitality first-hand is another benefit of including local wineries in your itinerary. 

▶️ Ensure that the guide is a wine connoisseur , so you get the most out of the tour (especially if you’re genuinely interested in learning about it!).

▶️ During the most premium tours, you’ll also get to indulge in local delicacies , along with a fantastic selection of wines to taste. Georgia is getting more and more famous around the world for its food, and trust me, you don’t want to miss it. Budget tours usually do not include any food, and some don’t even include any wine tastings (you’ll have to pay for your own tasting). Before booking a tour, make sure that the wine tastings and food are included in the price .

▶️ For me, it’s imperative that the tour companies I choose support local communities. Do your research on any tour company before booking an experience!

Most of the tours you’ll find in this post are by Eat This! Tours , a premium food and wine tours company in Georgia. I’ve personally known the owners of the tour company for 8 years, and they’re committed to providing the most authentic and local experience to their guests. Plus, one of the owners is getting his Georgian sommelier certification, so he understands a thing or two about wine! I’ve gone on 3 tours with them and I can wholeheartedly recommend this company . Use this coupon code for 5% off their tours: STEPH5

The budget tours that you’ll find in this post were carefully selected on Viator and GYG . These are the platforms I personally use to book activities around the world. They feature a great cancellation policy which allows you to cancel most activities up to 24 hours in advance and get a full refund. 

The BEST Kakheti Wine Tour: A Mix of Wine, Food and Culture

The Vines & Villages Signagi Tour – 1 Day Kakheti Food & Wine Tour is THE best option in the market and the tour I personally joined . It offers a comprehensive, full-day trip into the Kakheti region for a delicious and informative experience. 

👉 Why is this the best Kakheti tour? This tour offers the perfect mix of culture, food, and wine. You don’t need to be a wine connoisseur to enjoy it, but you do need to like good food and good wine… there’ll be a lot of it! I’ve personally gone on many wine tours around the world, but none were as fun and comprehensive as this one.

Use this coupon code for 5% off: STEPH5

We started the tour at 10 AM with pick-up at our accommodation in Tbilisi, and headed with 5 other wine enthusiasts (the tour group is capped at 7 people) to Kakheti, with a quick stop at the impressive 6th-century Ninotsminda Monastery complex . 

At noon we reached the first Kakheti winery of the day, Giuaani Winery in Manavi. This is a beautiful, independent winery located right in the heart of the region.

Combining a focus on tradition with the most modern equipment and technology, the guided tour enlightened us with the main differences between the traditional winemaking of Georgia , using the Qvevri method, and the classic European techniques . 

Here at Giuaani, they make wine with both techniques.

We got to compare the two by tasting different wines and were treated to a delicious 6-course lunch with locally made wine pairings (in very generous servings!). My favorites were the Saperavi, the Ojaleshi Barrel, and the Kisi Mtsvane Qvevri (a famous amber wine).

After the winery visit, we were taken to Sighnaghi, one of the most enchanting towns in Georgia , to explore. Known as the city of love because many Georgians choose it as their wedding location, it offers breathtaking views of the mountains, incredible city walls where you can walk on, a monastery complex, and very pretty shops. 

Even if we have been based in Georgia on and off for a few years, for some reason we had never made it here, and loved it! In fact, we loved it so much we are going back next week.

We then headed to Kerovani Winery, a family-run, artisan wine cellar . They’re small-batch producers of organic Qvevri wines (less than 15 thousand bottles a year). After the visit to the winery, they offered us a tasting of 3 of their artisan wines in their terrace.

But our day was far from over! Next up was a visit to a micro-producing, family-owned winery where we got to sample 3 more wines with an assortment of homemade cheese, the freshest tomatoes I’ve ever tasted, and a few other appetizers.

But the best part of the whole tour (every single participant said so!) was indulging in a scrumptious dinner during Supra , a traditional Georgian feast. If you’ve never had a supra, you can’t understand the amount of food and wine that gets consumed during one!

We learned local toasts from the toastmaker (or tamada , as they’re known in Georgia), and joined the winemaker and his family for a sumptuous meal paired with unlimited wine. 

The local hosts are a family of musicians, and they performed polyphonic singing accompanied by multiple instruments. They were absolutely incredible, we all wished that the supra was even longer than it was.

The tour exceeded by far our expectations, both in the quality and quantity of food and wine (trust me – the portions of everything were beyond abundant!), in the expertise of everyone involved, and in the intimate, top-notch experience we were treated to. 

This Kakheti wine excursion is a premium tour, meaning it guarantees exclusivity, authenticity, and quality. While it’s higher priced than the mid-range tours of other companies, I wholeheartedly believe it’s worth the price tag for the experience it offers. 

👉 The tour company works with small family vendors and because of this sometimes they have to substitute locations on the tour, meaning your experience might slightly differ. The vibe remains the same though!

⚠️ Note that polyphonic singing can not be 100% guaranteed. Please mark in your booking request if polyphonic singing is important for you and they’ll do their best to accommodate your request.

🌱 Vegetarian and vegan options are available if communicated in advance.

📝 This tour includes : A visit to 3 wineries (an independent wine cellar, a small-batch winery and a micro-winery), a 6-course lunch, a dinner feast with a local winemaker, +10 wine tastings, hotel roundtrip transfers from Tbilisi with a driver/guide, bottled water, all entry fees, and a small-group tour guarantee. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Other GREAT Wine Tours To Kakheti 

Vines & mountains: telavi tour in kakheti.

The Vines & Mountains – 1 Day Kakheti Food & Wine Tour in Telavi (Meet The Wine Artisans!) is one of the most thorough wine tours available, perfect for those looking to really delve into the ancient making traditions and taste all-artisan wines. 

You’ll start with a visit to an independent winery, where you’ll taste the authentic Qvevri wine and indulge in local cuisine for lunch.

After experiencing what traditional wine tastes like, you’ll learn all about this unique making technique in a family workshop. Not only will you get to sample more artisan wine , but also an aged local spirit, chacha. 

The tour includes a visit to a third, micro-producing winery for tastings paired with snacks and a cooking class at the winemaker’s home. Learn to prepare khinkali , and then have them for dinner with some other snacks.

Honey tasting and a trip to Telavi’s traditional market and to a monastery are also included. The tour lasts 12 hours, and groups are capped at 7 participants to guarantee a personalized experience. 

📝 This tour includes : Hotel pick-up and drop-off, a visit to three Kakheti wineries, lunch, dinner, all wine and spirit tastings, all entry fees, bottled water, and vegetarian/dietary requests available.  ➥ BOOK IT HERE

A Wine Harvest Tour in Kakheti (TOP CHOICE)

During the harvest season (September and October) you can take part in a Rtveli Wine Harvest Tour: 1 Day Kakheti (Telavi) Wine Tasting & Food to learn all about the wine harvesting traditions and techniques. 

If you’re lucky and you happen to visit at the perfect time, you’ll be able to participate to a real harvest with a local family. Otherwise, you’ll still be able to participate in a simulation harvest, which is as fun as a real one.

Fran and I took part in this tour a couple of years ago and it was the perfect introduction to harvest in Georgia. We harvested the grapes, we crushed them, and then of course we ate and drank to our hearts’ content.

First, you’ll visit one of Georgia’s oldest Orthodox monastery complexes. Next up is a visit to a Qvevri builder, responsible for making the clay vessels in which the wine is aged in the traditional Georgian way.

After a quick stop in Telavi, you’ll stop at an independent winery in Kakheti for a cellar tour and a wine-tasting session where you’ll compare wines that come from the Georgian traditional method and the classic European one. Here you’ll also indulge in lunch before making your way to a family-run vineyard. 

Here comes the highlight of the tours and my absolute favorite part: taking part in Rtveli, the wine harvest. Pick grapes and crush them by foot as you learn all about the harvest and the wine-making process of the winery. 

Cap off the tour with a khinkali (local dumplings) making class, which you’ll enjoy for dinner with a local winemaker and their family, paired with delicious artisan wines. The “supra” in Georgia is a feast – come hungry because there will be a ton of food!

📝 This tour includes : Hotel pick-up and drop-off, all food and wine tastings, bottled water, and all entry fees. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

The BEST Budget Tours to Kakheti

👉 The tours above are by far the best options when it comes to Kakheti tours. Hands down. However, they are on the pricier side because they offer so much. I understand that not everyone wants to spend that much, and thankfully there are some very affordable, high-rated tours.

Obviously, you get what you pay for. Most of these tours don’t include any food and only offer limited wine tastings. Some tours only visit mass-production wineries, and some don’t include tastings of qvevri wines. If you can, I strongly recommend splurging a bit and choosing one of the tours above. If not, here are the very best options when it comes to budget tours.

▶️ From Tbilisi: Kakheti Wine Region, Including 7 Wine Tastings is a full-day excursion that starts with a tour around Badiauri and the Bobde Monastery of St. Nino before heading to the enchanting town of Sighnaghi. You’ll explore the village with a local guide, and then make your way to a local wine cellar. 

You’ll visit Khareba Winery for a comprehensive tour around it and a wine-tasting session, and then continue to the 16th-century Corporation Kindzmarauli, which used to produce wine exclusively for the royal family. You’ll indulge in a second tasting before returning to Tbilisi.

📝 This Kakheti wine tasting tour includes : Roundtrip transfers from Tbilisi, wine tastings, entrance fees, and water. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Highlights of Kakheti wine region – Signagi, Bodbe, Wine tasting (Group Tour) is a 7-hour trip that enables you to discover the best of the Kakheti wine region. 

You’ll delve into the ancient wine-making process at Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking Factory, one of the largest companies in the country, as you tour its facilities and indulge in a tasting. Besides trying 5 different types of local wine, you’ll also be treated to a Brandy tasting.   

📝 This Sighnaghi day trip includes : Transportation (free hotel pick-up for groups of over 4 people), a guide, and wine tasting. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ The most authentic local experience – Kakheti Wine Tour From Tbilisi is a full-day excursion that combines wine, local food, and culture. You’ll leave the city behind and head into Georgia’s wine country to discover the ancient art of winemaking. 

At Giuaani Winery you’ll learn the distinctions between the traditional and modern productions, and taste 4 types of premium wines and the local spirit chacha . You’ll visit the town of Badiauri for a bread-making class, the village of Sighnaghi, and the Bodbe Monastery of St. Nino, before making your way to Corporation Kindzmarauli Wine House. 

After a winery tour and tasting, it’s time for the last stop on the tour: a local wine cellar where you’ll taste homemade wine and enjoy a traditional Georgian feast – a Supra . 

📝 This Sighnaghi + wine tour includes : Hotel pick-up and drop-off, bottled water, wine tastings, and a guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Want More Wine? Check Out this 2-Day Kakheti Wine and Food Tour

The Wake Up In Wine Country – 2 Day Kakheti Food & Wine Tour (Telavi / Signagi) is the ideal experience to dive in-depth into Kakheti’s wonderful wine world. If you want to see it all, drink it all, and eat it all, this tour is for you!

The tour combines visits to independent, artisan, and family-run wineries with cultural visits to Kakheti’s monasteries and towns, and an indulgent amount of local cuisine with plenty of wine. 

You’ll learn everything about the Qvevri wine-making method, discover both old and modern techniques, try your hand at making authentic dishes, and take part in an authentic Supra – a Georgian feast with traditional toasts. 

Spend the night in a wine hotel surrounded by mountains to rest between two days filled with wine information and tastings, awe-striking landscapes, and delicious snacks, lunches, and dinners. 

📝 This tour includes : Hotel pick-up and drop-off, all meals and wine tastings (vegetarian alternatives and dietary requirements available), all entry fees, and bottled water. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Kakheti Wine: All You Need To Know

By now you know that the area of Kvemo Kartli near Kakheti is considered the birthplace of winemaking, and that you ought to make a trip there to sample the unique, delicious Georgian wine. But what sets Kakheti wine apart, and what varieties will you be sampling? 

One of the main differences between Kakheti and European wine, besides the use of the ancient Qvevri method instead of steel tanks, is the grapes’ skin. Unlike most wine productions in the world, which remove the skin before or after very few hours into the fermentation process, Georgian white wines are fermented with the skin. 

This is responsible for the distinctive orange color amber wine is known for, along with an increase in the levels of tannins which creates a robust, richer taste in the final product.  

While modern methods have been introduced in the production of wine – especially in bigger-scale wineries – most local businesses ferment their wines in the egg-shaped, clay vessels that are buried underground to allow for fermentation (10-21 days). Then the qvevris are sealed and the wine is left aging for around 6 months, although this time can vary.

The Qvevri (The Georgian name for the amphora) also plays a role in the wine’s final flavor, and it’s one of the reasons Kakheti wine is so unique . 

Among the most popular varietals produced there are the Rkatsiteli , a white wine known for its earthy notes, and Saperavi , a red considered to be the oldest wine grape in the world. 

The white Kakhuri Mtsvane , and the blend between Saperavi and Cabernet Sauvignon are other two very well-liked wines from the Kakheti region.  

Amber wines are also a very important part of the area’s wine heritage, so you’ll surely be tasting this full-bodied orange wine if you choose a premium tour. 

Best Time To Visit Kakheti

Kakheti has a moderately subtropical climate, which plays a big role in the growth of wine grapes in the region, and it’s best visited during late spring, summer, and fall .

In the spring you’ll be treated to mild weather and the budding of the grapes, whereas visiting in the fall means you’ll be there just in time for the harvest , getting to witness this mesmerizing part of the wine production. Plus, the landscape will be turning to a golden hue, making it even more breathtaking.

Summer in Kakheti might be hot, but not unbearably so. We personally went on the Sighnaghi tour in August, and it was perfectly fine. The van is air-conditioned, and the temperature in the wineries was perfectly fine. Don’t let this stop you from having the time of your life.

Kakheti Tours FAQs

Kakheti is Georgia’s wine country, known for its enchanting hills, fantastic weather, and vineyards. Kakheti is home to various indigenous grape varieties, and it’s where the famous Qvevri wine originated.

Reaching Kakheti from Tbilisi takes under two hours by car. You can drive along the Khakheti Highway, or take the picturesque Gombori Pass. The main cities in Kakheti are Telavi and Sighnaghi, so you can make your way to one of them and start your exploration from there.  If you don’t want to drive, you can also take a marshrutka , a shared van, from Tbilisi. However, if you want to visit a few wineries in one day, I recommend joining a tour such as these ones (this is my favorite wine tour company in Georgia). It will save you a lot of hassle.

In my opinion, the best Kakheti tour is Vines & Villages Wine Tasting Sighnaghi Tour – 1 Day Kakheti Food & Wine Tour . This is the tour I personally went on and loved. The tour offers a very comprehensive experience getting to know the history and production methods of Georgia’s wine region and includes really good-quality wine tastings and meals. 

Stefania Guglielmi is the founder of Every Steph. Originally from Bologna, Italy, she's been traveling full-time since 2016 and has visited over 50 countries across 6 continents. She believes sustainable travel and luxury travel can go hand in hand and has been advocating for responsible tourism since 2014. Stefania's advice and travel experiences have been featured in important publications such as Business Insider, Refinery29, and Yahoo Money.

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Cradle of wine tour

Tour overview.

Join us for the Kakheti Wine Tour – Cradle of Wine to explore the first wine-making region of the world.

Visit Award winning wineries and try the best of their wines. Explore the city of Love & Gremi Fortress.

Optional: Enjoy an authentic Lunch in a local family.

Our driver will meet you at your hotel and lead you to your car to begin the Kakheti wine tour.

Our first stop will be in the roadside village Badiauri, where we’ll see how they bake the Georgian bread and try it with homemade cheese. Next up is  Sighnaghi  – the tuscany of Georgia where we’ll enjoy the amazing views of the Alazani valley.

Afterwards we head to the  Numisi family winery  to try their wines and Chacha! For more wine magic, we head to the  Kindzmarauli award winning winery,  where we’ll look at the factory and taste some of the Delicious Georgian wines.

Later, we’ll stop at a local family where we’ll also have a glass of local vintage and a traditional lunch cooked especially for us! Our last stop of the day is  Gremi,  the 16th century citadel of a medieval city which till this day overlooks the area with true Georgian temper. Afterwards, we’ll return to Tbilisi driving through the breathtaking Gombori Pass.

Finally, Our driver will drop you off at your hotel after the tour.

This will conclude the Kakheti Wine Tour.

09:00 - Depart From Tbilisi

10:30 - badiauri, 11:00 - sighnaghi, 12:00 - numisy, 13:30 - corporation kindzmarauli, 15:00 - lunch in velistsikhe, 16:30 - gremi, 18:20 - gombori mountains, what's included, inclusions for the all inclusive tour.

• English Speaking Guide Service
• Authentic Lunch
• Comfortable Transport
• All Entrance Fees
• Pickup & Drop off at your hotel
• Wine & Chacha Tastings [7 wines + 2 chacha]

Prices given above are for private tours. All of the private tours include a free hotel pickup and drop off in the city of departure/arrival. You can specify the pickup and drop off points during the booking.

Uncorking Georgia’s Wine Culture on a Kakheti Wine Tour

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Georgia was getting to experience a Georgian wine tour in Georgia’s eastern region of Kakheti, where 70% of the country’s wine is produced. I spent close to a month in Georgia, and during that time, I was told by every Georgian person I met that there is no better place to discover Georgian wine than Kakheti , which is home to 4,250 square miles of lush vineyards, and a winemaking history dating back 8,000 years! I knew that in order to fully appreciate Georgian wine, a trip to Kakheti was essential , and so I signed up for a full-day excursion to the region to learn about Kakhetian traditional winemaking, amber wine, and the Georgian supra .

In this post, I’m going to provide an honest review of the tour that I experienced. I’m also going to share some advice on choosing the right Kakheti tour for you, including how to avoid hidden costs, lacklustre tour guides, and potential disappointments! Sound good? Then let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

Kakheti Wine Tours – How to Find the Perfect Georgian Wine Tour

About kakheti wine.

As I mentioned earlier, Kakheti produces 70% of Georgian wine, and it is has been making wine longer than anywhere else in the world , with archaeological findings showing that Georgian winemaking dates back to the Neolithic period ! Kakhetian traditional winemaking involves the use of large clay vessels called qvevri , in which the wines are aged with the skins, stems, and seeds all left intact. Qvevri wine is unfiltered and unrefined, and with organic wines soaring in popularity as of late, Georgian winemaking techniques are becoming rather in vogue in the western world. In fact, in 2013, UNESCO named the qvevri an Intangible Cultural Heritage! You can learn more about Georgian winemaking in my article about Georgian amber wine , if you’re interested .

Of course, not all Kakheti wine is produced in qvevri. Most Georgian wine these days is produced in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks (the ‘classical’ European style), although any good Kakheti wine tour will focus on qvevri wine – it would be rude not to! If you visit Kakheti, you’ll notice that most Kakheti wineries are small, family-owned joints that often started out by making wine for themselves and their neighbours! The winemakers are all super down to earth, and wine tasting in Georgia is an informal affair that often takes place around the kitchen table (a far cry from prestigious wine cellars like Cricova in Moldova ).

Organised Tours vs Independent Travel

Exploring independently vs on a tour is always a hot debate, and while I personally love organised tours, I understand that they’re not for everyone. For example, if you’re staying in Georgia for a while, you may want to take your time discovering Kakheti on your own. The best way to do this is to base yourself in Sighnaghi and hire a car. You could also visit Kakheti from Tbilisi using public transport, but getting to the more rural areas won’t be possible, and you’ll also be very restricted on time.

If you want to explore Kakheti by yourself, there are some things to take into consideration: Driving in Georgia Georgians are known for being aggressive drivers, and the roads are not always the safest. Google Maps is also not always reliable in Georgia (my Georgian friends laughed at me when I mentioned it), and so driving in Georgia is certainly not without its pitfalls. Drinking and driving in Georgia Drinking and driving in Georgia is NOT permitted (the legal blood alcohol level is 0.03%, compared to 0.08 in the US and UK), and you might not have as much fun exploring Kakheti’s wineries if you’re the designated driver! Communication Not everybody in Georgia speaks English, especially in the smaller family wineries that you’ll find in Kakheti. Although you might get lucky with some of them, you’ll really benefit from having a local guide there to act as an interpreter. Access to wineries Small wineries usually require appointments in advance, and not all of them open for groups of 2 or 3. On an organised tour, the legwork is all done for you, and you don’t have to worry about not being able to visit you chosen wineries.

How to Choose a Kakheti Wine Tour (Premium vs Budget Tours)

There are countless tour providers online, all of which seem to offer the same experiences. The tour that I did was around 150 EUR, but you will find tour operators on GetYourGuide offering Kakheti tours for less than 40 EUR – that’s a big difference! However, the tour I went on was a premium tour, which offered a vastly different experience to the cheaper Kakheti tours out there. To determine which is right for you, you may want to consider the following: How big is the group going to be? Eat This! Tours (the company I used) have a maximum group size of 7 participants, while cheaper tours sometimes have up to 30. Larger groups don’t offer as much of an intimate experience, and you’ll get less chance to interact with the winemakers. What type of wineries are included? Will you be visiting small, family-owned wineries where you can meet the winemakers themselves, or larger, commercial wineries? Both types are interesting, but cheaper tours tend to focus on commercial wineries.

Are there hidden costs? The tour that I did included a large lunch and dinner, and the wine was unlimited. Budget tours don’t usually include food, and a ‘wine tasting’ could just mean one small glass of wine. When all the additional costs are taken into consideration, ‘budget’ tours may not be as affordable as they seem. Is the tour guide an expert on wine? I’ve been on a lot of tours in my time, and trust me when I say that not all tour guides are created equal . Our tour guide was a professional guide and sommelier, and was fiercely passionate about Georgian food and wine. Read the reviews of all tours carefully to make sure that your ‘tour guide’ is not just a glorified translator.

Recommended Kakheti Wine Tour

After a bunch of my friends had been on a tour with Eat This! and raved about how it was the best tour they’d ever been on, I knew that I had to experience it for myself. After meeting the owners at a travel conference (and discovering some of Tbilisi’s best wine bars with them!), I was delighted when they invited me along on one of their tours. I joined their Kakheti Winter Wine Tour , which runs from November to March and includes a visit to three wineries, a supra in a local’s home, and a tour of Sighnaghi (the summer version of this tour is the Vines and Villages tour).

On the morning of the tour, our guide and driver, Levan, picked us all up from our hotels in Tbilisi. Levan has been working as a professional tour guide for 11 years and is also a trained sommelier, which really showed as he told us all about Georgian wine and food on the drive! After about an hour, we reached Giuaani Winery, in the village of Manavi (named after the local white grape variety Manavi Mtsvane ). Giuaani is a family-owned winery, restaurant, and hotel, and the largest of the wineries that we would visit.

After having a nosy around the gardens, we met with sommelier Giorgi, who showed us around the factory and explained the winemaking process to us. Giuaani produces both qvevri and European-style wine, as well as chacha, Georgia’s national drink . During our tour of the factory and cellar, we were even lucky enough to meet the winemaker, who let us try some wine right from the qvevri !

Next, we headed to the restaurant for a ‘wine brunch,’ which turned out to be more of a wine feast! Giorgi led the tasting of four different Georgian wines, as well as two types of chacha. The wines that we tasted included a classical dry white wine (Manavi), an amber wine (Rkatsiteli), a dry red (Saperavi), and a semi-sweet white wine (Tsolikauri). Each wine was paired with a different dish (or two!), all of which were incredible.

Some of the foods we tried included beetroot with tkemali (plum sauce), pkhali (vegetable pâté with walnut paste), kubdari (bread stuffed with meat and local spices), and khashlama (boiled beef with garlic cream and celery puree). Everything was absolutely delicious, and after a week eating hearty mountain food in Mestia , it was interesting to see a high-end take on traditional Georgian recipes.

One thing I definitely appreciated was the amount of wine we were given. After a tasting of each wine, Giorgi left the bottles on the table and allowed us to finish them off – he even opened a couple more when he saw how much we were enjoying ourselves!

When we were absolutely fit to burst (and more than a little tipsy), we piled back into the car for our next stop – Sighnaghi. I was really excited to visit Sighnaghi. I’d been once before and fallen in love, so this second visit was much-welcomed!

Known as the ‘City of Love,’ Sighnaghi is a picturesque town that overlooks the Alazani Valley and Greater Caucasus mountains. Sighnaghi is one of the oldest towns in Georgia, as well as one of the smallest, and it’s home to stunning architecture, breathtaking views, and, naturally, a tonne of wineries. Levan took us on a stroll through the town (I loved looking at all the handcrafted souvenirs and confectionary on sale) to Sighnaghi Wall, which we were able to climb up onto and admire the panoramic mountain views.

We then headed to the striking World War II memorial, which depicts intricate battle scenes alongside ancient qvevri winemaking images – Georgians really do cherish their wine! While we admired the memorial, Levan pointed out various parts of it, explaining what each scene represented.

Next stop was Kerovani Winery, a small family business that produces organic natural wines in qvevri. We met cousins Archil and Ilya, who gave us a a small tour of their wine cellar to see the qvevris, before our second wine tasting.

Here, we enjoyed generous measures of four wines. First, a sparkling wine from the white Rkatsiteli grape. This was followed by Kesane, a dry white also made from Rkatsiteli, an unfiltered dry amber from Rkatsiteli, and a Saperavi dry red. Naturally, the wine was accompanied with some pkhali (bread topped with various spreads, including pickled jonjoli, green beans with walnut paste, cabbage, and beetroot).

Kerovani Winery is much smaller than Giuaani, and we were the only guests there, so we were able to stay for a while and chat with Archil and Ilya. The two resident cats also made themselves quite at home on our laps!

Our third and final winery was actually a family home, and when I say that Levan had saved the best until last, I’m not exaggerating! Giuaani and Kerovani both provided us with amazing experiences, but as soon as we stepped through the garden gate of Burjanadzes’ Wine Cellar, we all knew that we were in for a treat.

Waiting for us in the garden of his family home was Bacho, a young Georgian who makes biodynamic wine in qvevri. Alongside him were his mother, Maia, father, Zaza, and Darejan, his grandma! After a quick introduction, Bacho began an impassioned speech about Georgian wine, inviting us to drink shots of chacha, glasses of mulled wine, and help ourselves to his mother’s homemade gozinaki (honey and walnut brittle).

After being invited into the kitchen by Maia, who wanted to show us how she prepared the gozinaki, we all piled into the family’s living room, where a dining table was caving under the weight of all the plates and glasses on top of it!

Over the next two hours, we experienced a traditional Georgian supra, where Bacho guided us through many heartfelt and philosophical toasts as we quaffed copious amounts of amber wine and devoured some of the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten. The main dish was Mtsvadi , barbecued pork that had just been grilled by Zaza over a fire made from dried vines – I honestly don’t think I’ve ever tasted pork as good as this! We stuffed our faces with khachapuri , roast chicken, stuffed eggplant, fried potatoes, and other Georgian delights, as Maia kept appearing with more food from the kitchen!

The highlight of the night was when our hosts, who turned out to be a family of musicians, broke out into polyphonic singing, with Zaza giving an absolutely showstopping performance on the piano! Sitting in this family’s living room, drinking their homemade wine, and listening to them sing is probably one of the most special travel moments I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something!

More Information About Eat This! Tours

As I mentioned earlier, the company that I went on this tour with are called Eat This! Tours . Eat This! is run by Tommo and Megsy, a British/Australian couple who have been living in Georgia for over 5 years. During that time, they have become Georgian food and wine experts, and if there’s anything they don’t know, the local tour guides they work with will easily fill in the gaps.

Eat This! focus on small, locally-owned wineries, and describe their tours as ‘premium’ yet ‘authentic.’ Their tours involve meeting the winemakers, tasting homemade food, and directly connecting with local families. They balance wine tasting with sightseeing, and the tours are fully inclusive , meaning you can eat and drink as much as you like! I was a little sceptical about this last part, but true to their word, Eat This! provided more than I could physically consume. They offer several different tours and types of tour:

• A scheduled tour  – Join a group that is already scheduled ( see the schedule here ).
• On-demand  –   Choose your own date (minimum 2 people). Once your date is confirmed, it will become a scheduled tour and get listed so others can join.
• Private tour – You can book a private tour just for your group (min 2 people). These include a 10-20% surcharge.
• Custom tours – Request a  completely bespoke custom itinerary . 

Kakheti Tour Discount

Eat This! Tours have kindly given me a discount code that will get you 5% off all their tours. All you have to do is enter the code jezebel5 at checkout and your discount will be applied. I will also earn a small commission if you do this (at no extra cost to you). View all of their tours here . If Eat This! premium tours are not within your budget, you can find cheaper options on GetYourGuide . As I mentioned earlier, do be sure to read the descriptions carefully to see what’s included and which wineries you’ll be going to.

A Georgian Wine Tour in Kakheti | Final Thoughts

As is probably evident, I really enjoyed my Kakheti wine tour with Eat This! Tours. I’ve visited a lot of wineries in my time (I even volunteered at a winery in Albania !), and the ones I visited on this tour were among the best, not just in terms of their wine, but in terms of their hospitality and the overall experience that they provide. However, what made the experience stand out even more was our knowledgeable guide, Levan, who showed us a side to Georgia that we couldn’t possible have experienced without him. If I had to rate the experience out of 10, I’d give it a 10, and I don’t say that lightly! If you have any questions at all about the tour I took, or which alternatives I’d recommend (or even just Georgia in general!), please reach out in the comments section and ask.

Further Reading

If you’re planning a trip to Georgia, you might find my other Georgia articles useful: Visiting Mestia in Winter – A Complete Guide Georgian Amber Wine, an 8,000 Year Old Tradition Georgian Chacha – 8 Facts About Georgia’s National Drink The Best Things to Do in Sighnaghi, Georgia’s City of Love Until next time, XOXO

If you liked this article and would like to support my work, please click the button above to donate a couple of bucks and buy me a coffee. The ad revenue that I receive on this website is minimal, so support from my readers enables me to keep creating content that you (hopefully!) love to read.

Disclaimer: I went on the tour as a guest of Eat This! Tours. All opinions are completely my own and I was not obliged to write a positive review of my experience. This page contains affiliate links. If you book an experience through my site, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

2 thoughts on “Uncorking Georgia’s Wine Culture on a Kakheti Wine Tour”

Thanks so much for your wonderful review. Id love to get that picture of Tom if that’s ok? Such a great candid shot. Hope to see you in Georgia again sometime ☺️

Thanks so much! Sure, feel free to use it! <3

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Ultimate Guide to Georgian Wine Country: Discover the Best of Kakheti and Tbilisi

Travel to the Cradle of Wine – The Republic of Georgia

While wine has carved its niche in the annals of global history and is an integral component of numerous cultures worldwide, its roots are deeply embedded in one specific locale: the Republic of Georgia. This nation doesn’t just share a bond with wine; it is revered as its birthplace. Archaeological discoveries have consistently identified the South Caucasus region of Georgia as the site of the earliest known wine production, a practice dating back to 6,000 BC.

This means Georgia’s winemaking heritage spans over 8,000 years, distinguished by its traditional Qvevri winemaking method, a technique so unique that it has earned the accolade of a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage . Yet, beyond the accolades and history, it’s the tangible elements—the hospitable people, the rich culinary landscape, and the distinctively Georgian wines—that truly make a journey to the Republic of Georgia an enriching and memorable experience.

In This Guide

• Wines of Georgia
• Georgian Cuisine
• Getting To and Around Georgian Wine Country

Kakheti Wine Region

Recommended georgian wine tours & guides.

Georgian Wine Production

Georgia’s winemaking heritage is deeply rooted in its four primary wine-producing regions: Kakheti, Imereti, Kartli, and Racha. The country includes 29 Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and a rich diversity of indigenous grape varieties, numbering over 525, with 45 of these varieties actively cultivated in commercial viticulture. Among these, approximately 75% are white grape varieties, and 25% are black (red) grape varieties.

Old Georgian wine cellars where Qvevri are stored showcase the unique and historic method of winemaking deeply rooted in Georgian culture. Images courtesy Allison Levine and Andrey Khrobostov.

While modern methods like stainless steel and oak aging are employed, Georgia is renowned for its traditional use of Qvevri, large clay vessels, for wine fermentation and aging. A unique aspect of Georgian wine production involves the method of fermenting white grapes in Qvevri along with their seeds, skins, and occasionally stems. This process imparts an amber hue to the wine, often referred to as ‘amber wine’ or ‘orange wine’ due to its distinct color and rich, tannic profile. These amber wines, celebrated for their depth of flavor and historical significance, are a source of immense pride in Georgian viticulture.

Amber or orange wines are essentially white wines made using a method more akin to red wine production, where the grape skins are left in contact with the juice for an extended period, resulting in a wine with a deep amber or orange hue, a fuller body, and a unique flavor profile that distinguishes it from traditional white wines. You can learn more about orange wine production here .

The #WinesofGeorgia

Here are some of the main Georgian wines and the grape varieties involved in their production:

Saperavi: This is arguably the most famous red wine from Georgia. Made from the Saperavi grape, which is a teinturier variety (both skin and flesh are red), it produces deeply colored, full-bodied wines with bold flavors and high tannin content.

Rkatsiteli: One of the oldest grape varieties, Rkatsiteli produces a highly acidic and versatile white wine. This wine can range from crisp and light to rich and full-bodied, depending on the production method, including the traditional Qvevri method.

Mtsvane Kakhuri: Often simply known as Mtsvane, this grape produces elegant and aromatic white wines. These wines typically have floral and fruity notes, with a balanced acidity that makes them quite refreshing.

Tsinandali: This is a dry white wine blend, primarily made from Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes. Tsinandali is known for its straw color, fruity aroma, and a well-balanced, sophisticated flavor profile.

Kindzmarauli: A semi-sweet red wine primarily made from the Saperavi grape. Kindzmarauli stands out for its natural sweetness balanced with acidity, deep purple color, and fruity notes.

Khvanchkara: Another popular semi-sweet red wine, Khvanchkara is a blend of the Alexandrouli and Mujuretuli grape varieties. It is known for its ruby color, floral aroma, and raspberry notes.

Georgian Food

Georgian cuisine, a vibrant blend of flavors and techniques, has evolved over the centuries under the influence of various cultures, including Mediterranean, Greek, Persian, and Turkish culinary traditions. Each region within Georgia has its own unique culinary style and preparation methods, reflecting the diverse landscape and cultural influences of the country.

Agriculturally rich, Georgia has traditionally placed a strong emphasis on vegetarian dishes, with meat historically being a luxury reserved for special occasions. In contemporary Georgian cuisine, however, there is a more balanced incorporation of meats alongside staple ingredients like breads, cheeses, walnuts, and fresh tomatoes. Notably, walnuts, a key ingredient found in many Georgian recipes, highlight the country’s status as a significant walnut producer. The cuisine’s diversity and the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients like walnuts, are central to its appeal and uniqueness.

Some popular Georgian dishes include:

Khachapuri – This beloved Georgian staple is essentially a cheese-filled bread, but it’s much more than that. Each region has its own variation, ranging from a simple cheese-topped bread to elaborate versions with added ingredients like egg and butter.

Puri – This is a type of Georgian bread, traditionally baked in a toné, a deep, circular clay oven. The bread has a unique texture and flavor, partly due to the distinctive baking method, which imparts a smoky, earthy aroma.

Pkhali – Often served as an appetizer, Pkhali is a kind of vegetable pâté, combining finely chopped and cooked vegetables (like spinach or beets) with a rich walnut paste, seasoned with garlic, herbs, and spices. It’s a colorful and flavorful showcase of Georgia’s love for walnuts.

Badrijani Nigvzit – This dish features tender strips of roasted eggplant (badrijan) wrapped around a savory, spiced walnut paste. It’s a delightful combination of textures and flavors, balancing the softness of the eggplant with the richness of the nuts.

Ajapsandali – A hearty and spicy Georgian eggplant stew, Ajapsandali is a medley of vegetables including eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions, often seasoned with fragrant herbs. It’s a vibrant and nourishing dish, perfect for those who love robust flavors.

Khinkali – These are Georgian dumplings, notable for their twisted, knob-like shape. Typically filled with meat, cheese, or mushrooms, and a hot broth, Khinkali are a culinary delight, served boiled or steamed. They are a true test of one’s eating skills; the trick is to consume them without spilling the savory broth inside.

Churchkhela – Often referred to as Georgian candy, Churchkhela is a traditional sweet made by stringing walnuts together and dipping them in thickened grape must mixed with flour. This results in a candle-shaped treat that’s chewy, nutty, and satisfyingly sweet, often found hanging in markets and roadside stalls.

How To Get To Georgia

The Republic of Georgia is located at the juncture of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Part of the Caucasus region, it is bordered by the Black Sea to the west, Russia to the north and northeast, Turkey to the southwest, Armenia to the south, and Azerbaijan to the southeast. A stop on the Silk Road, Georgia has been a convergence of civilizations over the centuries until becoming part of the Soviet Union. It gained its independence in 1991 but spent the next decade dealing with political and social unrest. Fortunately, since 2008, Georgia has rapidly expanded for tourism and today is one of the safest countries in Europe.

To get to Georgia, the best airport to fly into is in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. If you want to travel around Georgia into the wine regions, it is very safe to travel on your own by renting a car (you can browse current flight and rental car rates here on Kayak ). However, for travelers in Georgia, private transportation often proves to be the most convenient option. This is partly because the Georgian language, which has its own unique alphabet, is predominantly spoken throughout the country. While many locals are fluent in Russian, a legacy of Georgia’s historical ties with Russia, English is less commonly spoken, especially outside of Tbilisi and key tourist areas. However, visitors will find that the warmth and hospitality of the Georgian people often bridge the language barrier effectively. Assistance from a guide can further enhance the travel experience, ensuring smooth communication and a deeper understanding of the local culture and places.

You can book one of our favorite private wine tour guides and a full day guided trip right here.

Tbilisi, as Georgia’s capital and its largest city, holds significant historical and cultural importance. The city is divided by the Kura River, known in Georgia as the Mtkvari River, which originates in Turkey and flows to the Caspian Sea. Central to Tbilisi’s charm is the historic Old Tbilisi area, dating back to the Middle Ages, which forms the core of the city. Additionally, parts of the city reflect 18th-century Georgian architecture.

Since gaining independence, Tbilisi has seen the development of modern architectural structures. This includes key government buildings like the President’s House and the Public House, as well as cultural venues like the Concert Hall, all located along the river’s edge. The Bridge of Peace, a contemporary pedestrian bridge made of steel and glass, spans the Mtkvari River and links the historic Old Town with newer parts of the city.

What to Do in Tbilisi

Exploring tbilisi.

Most of Tbilisi’s notable attractions are concentrated in Old Tbilisi, making it an ideal area for a walking tour, whether self-guided or with a guide . The tour can start at Freedom Square, a central and historically significant location in the city. This square, once known as Lenin Square during the Soviet era, now features a striking golden statue of St. George slaying a dragon, symbolizing the nation’s transformation.

As you stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old Tbilisi, you’ll notice a diverse mixture of architectural styles, with many houses charmingly covered in vines. The neighborhood highlights Tbilisi’s historical role as a significant hub on the Silk Road, evident in the close proximity of religious and cultural sites representing various faiths and communities. These include Armenian, Georgian Orthodox, Jewish, and Catholic places of worship, reflecting the city’s rich multicultural heritage influenced by the myriad of traders and travelers who passed through over centuries.

Two exceptional ways to see the city are from the water and from up high. By boat, sail down the Kura River and under the Bridge of Peace for a unique perspective of Tbilisi. Pass by cliffs, the 13th-century Metekhi church, the Royal Baths, and Rike Park. There are many boat companies by the river offering 30-minute boat tours day and night.  

For an aerial view, take the Aerial Tramway located beside Rike Park. The tram can be taken during day or night. It travels from one side of the river to the other, with the Bridge of Peace always in view. From the top, in addition to breathtaking views, you can visit the Narikala Fortress as well as the Botanical Garden. Locally guided tours including the cable car can be arranged ahead of time.

Starting from the summit reached by the tram, descend the hill to reach the Leghvtakhevi Gorge, home to a notable waterfall. This natural feature is integral to Tbilisi’s history, being the source of the city’s famed sulfur waters. Tbilisi’s very name originates from the local word for “warm place,” a nod to these therapeutic waters. In the Abanotubani neighborhood of Old Tbilisi, you’ll find a concentration of sulfur bathhouses. Drawing inspiration from Persian and Turkish bath traditions, these bathhouses offer a serene escape, inviting #Winetravelers to unwind in the warm, healing embrace of the sulfuric waters.

Wine in Tbilisi

A glimpse of what you can expect at the Tbilisi Wine Museum. Images courtesy Allison Levine .

To learn about the 8000-year history of Georgian winemaking, visit the Tbilisi Wine Museum (8 Sioni St, Tbilisi, Georgia) housed in a 17 th -century building that sits over a preserved underground city. The museum is below the MtKvari River and includes artifacts that have been discovered during archaeological excavations.  

When ready to enjoy Georgian wine, head to Vino Underground near Freedom Square (15 Galaktion Tabidze St, Tbilisi, Georgia). Opened in 2011, it was the first wine bar and retail store for natural wine in Georgia. Owned by six of Georgia’s most well-known natural wine producers, including American-born John Wurdeman, Vino Underground is in a small, brick-lined cellar. Featuring small-production, family-owned wines, there are more than 200 options to try. Enjoy a glass at the bar or take a few bottles home.

Next door to Vino Underground is the Bitadze Tea Shop & Museum , a tiny museum founded by father and son Shota and George Bitadze.

Tea was introduced to Georgia in the early 19th century. The first instance of tea cultivation in Georgia dates back to 1809 when Prince Mamia V Gurieli began growing Camellia Sinensis, the tea plant, in his botanical garden. However, it was in 1847 that Prince Miha Eristavi established the first tea plantation in Georgia after smuggling tea seeds from China. This event is often marked as the birth year of Georgian tea and the beginning of tea culture in the region​​​​​​.

The first tea bushes in Georgia were planted in 1845 in western Georgia, but significant development in the tea industry began towards the end of the 19th century under the Russian Empire, which showed interest in cultivating the tea industry in Georgia. This period saw the engagement of experts to develop tea plantations in the country​. The first tea factory in Georgia was open from 1893 to 1925 and was run by a Chinese tea master. During Soviet rule, tea was manufactured but production was abandoned after the Soviet collapse.

In 2006, the Georgian Organic Tea Producers Association was created. It began with educating producers about new technology and now they send farmers to study in tea-producing countries such as China. Stop by the Bitadze Tea Museum before or after a stop at Underground Vino to purchase some Georgian black, green, and herbal teas. In addition to selling Georgian tea, they offer a tea-tasting experience and can also arrange visits to tea plantations in Georgia.

Where to Eat in Tbilisi

Ninoshvili st. 2, Tbilisi 0102 Georgia

+995 577 32 32 32

Satasuri, which means asparagus in Georgian, is owned by Ekaterine and Iva Davitaia. The restaurant is located next to Fabrika Tbilisi, a cool, industrial-style factory-turned-hostel offering a bar and an eclectic lounge. Satasuri was originally the home of Ekaterine’s parents. She and Iva come from the hospitality industry and opened Satasuri in 2020, opting to feature Georgian flavors with modern innovation. In addition, they have a selection of wines from small producers. Interestingly, all wines are sold for the exact same price, giving Iva a chance to introduce people to interesting wines.

18 Ioane Shavteli St, Tbilisi, Georgia

+995 555 94 94 20

Café Leila is a charming vegetarian café in Old Tbilisi. The building was first built as an art gallery and then became a Middle Eastern sweet shop. The interior has still been preserved since Soviet times. In addition to authentic Georgian vegetarian dishes, they also serve fish dishes in a charming and cozy setting.

0105, 2 Pavle Ingorokva St, Tbilisi, Georgia

+995 598 46 23 89

Azarpesha is a wine-centric restaurant located near Freedom Square. It’s owned by a local collector, folklorist, and cultural preservationist. The restaurant offers a modern Eastern-Mediterranean menu inspired by food cultures Georgia traditionally traded with, including Persia and Byzantine Greece. 

Where to Stay in Tbilisi

Sheraton grand tbilisi metechi palace.

Located a 10-minute drive outside of Old Tbilisi, the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace is the first international 5-star hotel in Georgia, offering 220 rooms and views of Old Tbilisi.

Check Prices at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi on Tripadvisor

Bazaar Boutique Hotel

Located in the historic neighborhood of Tbilisi, Bazaar Boutique Hotel celebrates design with its bold presence and individualized guest rooms.

Check Prices at the Bazaar Boutique Hotel on Tripadvisor

Stamba Hotel

Located in the Mtatsminda District of Tbilisi, Stamba is a creative hub. In addition to the urban luxury rooms, Stamba has a café, workspace, amphitheater, photography museum, and library. The hotel is also developing the first urban vertical farming project in the region.

Check Prices at the Stamba Hotel on Tripadvisor

Rooms Hotel

Rooms Hotel is in a former publishing house in the Vera district of Tbilisi. The 122-room hotel is industrial-chic and includes wine bars, boutiques, and an outdoor yard.

Check Prices at ROOMS Tbilisi on Tripadvisor

One hour away from Tbilisi is the Kakheti wine region, the most famous wine region in Georgia. It consists of eight districts: Gurjaani, Qvarelli, Sagarejo, Dedoplistsqaro, Signangi, Lagodekhi, Akhmeta, and Telavi, its capital. Wine is likewise very important in Kakheti and symbols of the beverage can be found everywhere. Grapes are carved into old stone structures and Qvevri are found in the fountains throughout the squares and villages of the region.

Of the 48,000 hectares of vineyards in Georgia, 33,000 hectares are located in Kakheti. 80% of the vineyards in Georgia are in Kakheti and 20 of the 29 PDOs are also found in this region. The principal white grapes in Kakheti are Rkatsiteli , Mtsvana Kakhuri, Kisi, and Khikhvi. The primary red grape is Saperavi. Kakheti has a continental climate with rich diverse soils called “cinnamomic” as they consist of sandy, reddish, calcareous clays. The grapes are all hand-picked and there is no irrigation.

Sighnaghi, perched atop a hill, offers an eye-opening panoramic view of the Alazani Valley with the majestic Caucasus mountains in the backdrop. The town’s name, derived from the Turkish “signak” meaning shelter, reflects its historical role as a bastion against invasions, established in the 18th century. Encircling the town is an impressive four-kilometer fortress wall, complete with towers and gates, cascading down the hills, reminiscent of a miniature Great Wall of China. This wall is not just a historical relic; visitors can actually walk along it.

Often celebrated as Georgia’s city of love, Sighnaghi charms with its well-preserved cobblestone streets and architecture dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Dotting these streets are notable establishments like Pheasant’s Tears and Orko’s Wines.

Pheasant’s Tears , set in a building that’s over 300 years old, enjoys a reputation as one of Georgia’s finest dining establishments. It was opened by John Wurdeman, an American artist who discovered Georgia during his art studies in Moscow. Wurdeman has played a pivotal role in both preserving and revitalizing Georgia’s ancient winemaking traditions. His organic, unfiltered wines, fermented and aged in Qvevri, have garnered international attention. The restaurant, helmed by chef Gia Rokashvili, offers a unique dining experience with no fixed menu; instead, Rokashvili crafts daily culinary creations using fresh, local market produce.

Adjacent to this culinary gem is Okro’s Wine Restaurant & Cellar, established by native Sighnaghi resident John Okruashvili. Naming his venture after the Georgian word for gold, “Orko,” Okruashvili released his first wine in 2009. Specializing in traditional, organic Qvevri wines, he utilizes grapes from his own vineyard. The winery’s restaurant features a terrace that provides splendid views of the Alazani Valley, making it a perfect spot to savor these unique wines.

Where to Stay in Sighnaghi

Lost Ridge Inn is a boutique inn, a restaurant, a craft brewery, and a horse ranch all in one. It is located on a crest overlooking the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus Mountains. This rural getaway is the first of its kind in Georgia and is also owned by John Wurdeman. The boutique hotel has six rooms, each with a modern rustic vibe. The Lost Ridge Café serves a seasonal menu with ingredients from their permaculture garden. The craft brewery produces beer onsite and ages it in the onsite beer cave. And they offer horseback riding in the mountains.

Check Prices at Lost Ridge Inn in Sighnaghi on Tripadvisor

Horseback riding and craft beer tasting at Lost Ridge Inn. Images courtesy Allison Levine .

The Gurjaani Municipality, less than an hour north of Sighnaghi, is in the heart of the Kakheti region and is home to more than 80 wineries. Nine of the PDOS in Georgia come from the Gurjaani region. This is where the annual Gurjaani Wine Festival, a celebration of the heritage and diversity of Georgian wine, takes place each October.

More than 30,000 people attend this event which takes place in the forested Akhtala Park and features hundreds of wineries of all sizes, handicraft vendors, live music, cultural exhibitions, and local Georgian foods, including Kakheti barbecue. This festival is a great reason to travel to Georgia in October.

Where to Stay in Gurjaani

Located in the Gurjaani region’s village of Vazisubani, the Vazisubani Estate is a blend of historical elegance and contemporary luxury. Established in 1891, this graceful estate and vineyard was initially the property of a Georgian nobleman, before transitioning to state ownership. Today, it has been transformed into a 19-room hotel, offering a unique blend of historical charm and modern amenities.

The estate extends over a 35-hectare vineyard. Complementing the vineyards is a 1.5-hectare park, an oasis of diverse trees and exotic plant species, adding to the estate’s serene and picturesque setting.

A highlight of the Vazisubani Estate is its modern restaurant. Here, Winetravelers can indulge in culinary delights while enjoying the estate’s own wines. The restaurant is designed with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which not only bathe the space in natural light but also open up to reveal a swimming pool and breathtaking panoramic views, offering a dining experience that beautifully marries the estate’s historic legacy with contemporary luxury.

Check Prices at Vazisubani Estate in Gurjaani on Tripadvisor

Full Day Private Wine Tour in Kakheti Region with Lunch and 3 Wine Tastings

Experience the essence of Georgian winemaking with this private full-day tour to the Kakheti wine region, offered by Traffic Travel. Departing from Tbilisi, you’ll delve into the traditional Georgian method of wine production using clay vessels. The tour features three wine tastings at distinct wineries, where you’ll enjoy a variety of Georgia’s finest wines.

As part of your journey, enjoy traditional snacks and desserts in local villages. You’ll also explore the historic town of Sighnaghi, set against the stunning backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains. The highlight of the tour is a traditional Georgian lunch at a family-owned winery, offering an authentic taste of local cuisine.

This comprehensive tour includes private hotel pickup and drop-off, ensuring a seamless experience. For those arriving by air, airport pickup is available for an additional fee.

Book This Wine Tour (Starting from $95, lowest price guarantee)

Kakheti All inclusive PRIVATE Tour, Including Biodynamic Wine & Lunch Led by Locals

Take a thrilling private tour operated by Karlo-Georgia, starting from Tbilisi to the enchanting David Gareja region, known for its Rainbow mountains, and exploring the renowned Kakheti wine region. The tour kicks off at 9:30 am with a hotel pickup. Your first destination is the KTW wine factory, where you’ll indulge in a tasting of five exquisite Georgian wines, along with a cognac and chacha.

Continue to Badiauri to savor hot Shoti bread with cheese, then visit Bodbe’s Saint Ninos convent, overlooking the lush Alazani valley. Next, explore Sighnaghi, the ‘city of love’, famed for its 23 towers. The tour then takes you to the 6th-century David Gareja Lavra, a remarkable monastery carved into rock.

Conclude your journey at an organic wine cellar for another round of wine and chacha tasting, accompanied by snacks or a hearty Georgian dinner with barbecue and unlimited wine (choose your preferred package while booking). The tour includes return to Tbilisi, promising a memorable day filled with culture, history, and the finest Georgian flavors.

Book This Wine Tour (Starting from $65, Price varies by group size)

The Original Tbilisi Food & Drink Walking Tour

Go on a culinary adventure with Real Georgia Tours in Tbilisi. This private tour takes you through the charming Sololaki district, where you’ll discover the essence of the city’s culinary scene. Explore a variety of local spots, including traditional taverns, a quaint street bakery, a cozy diner, and an intriguing modern gallery.

As you navigate the historic streets, stop for multiple food and drink tastings that showcase the richness of Georgian cuisine. Your local guide will provide insights into the history of Georgia’s food culture, enhancing your understanding and appreciation of each dish.

This half-day tasting tour is tailored for a personalized experience, ensuring you get the most out of your culinary exploration of Tbilisi’s Sololaki neighborhood.

Book This Tour (Starting from $69.00, Price varies by group size)

Old Tbilisi Tour – Private Walking Tour With Wine Tasting

Join We Are Georgia Tours for a private walking tour of Tbilisi, where you’ll have the opportunity to sample local wine culture. Wander through the picturesque streets of Old Tbilisi with an expert guide, who will unveil the city’s rich history. Enhance your exploration with the scenic cable car ride, included in your tour, offering a panoramic view over the city.

This tour promises personalized attention, ensuring an intimate and informative experience.

Book This Tour (Starting from $39.00, Price varies by group size)

Private Tour From Batumi to Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave

If you’re staying in or plan on being near Batumi, and for a change of pace and to fully immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty of Georgia, consider exploring Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave, brought to you by National Georgiagraphic (gotta love the name). These captivating destinations showcase Georgia’s awe-inspiring landscapes and unique geological formations. Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave are ideal for both outdoor adventurers and those eager to experience something distinctively different.

Book This Tour (Starting at only $45.00, lowest price guarantee)

Kazbegi & Gudauri Full day Private Tour from Tbilisi

Discover the natural beauty and historical richness of Georgia with a different private tour offered by Karlo-Georgia. Starting from Tbilisi, this tour takes you to some of the most breathtaking destinations in the country, including the tranquil Jinvali Water Reservoir, the historic Ananuri Fortress, the iconic Gudauri Friendship Monument, and the majestic Gergeti Trinity Church, perched at an altitude of 2,200 meters. Additionally, the tour offers an optional 1.5-hour hike to the picturesque Gveleti Waterfall and a stop at the scenic Rooms Veranda.

For the utmost comfort and safety, Karlo-Georgia provides a high-class Mercedes minivan for groups of 5-8 people and a high-end SUV for smaller groups of 1-4. The tour is led by an English-speaking guide, who brings a wealth of local knowledge, history, and insights, and is also a professional photographer, ready to capture the beautiful moments of your journey. Customizable pick-up points are available to suit your convenience, ensuring a personalized and memorable experience exploring Georgia’s stunning landscapes and historical sites.

Book This Tour (From $69.00, Lowest price guarantee)

Additional Wine Tours & Guides in Georgia

la Gebrandze is a private tour guide in Georgia. Based in Tbilisi, she can be your guide around Tbilisi or arrange your visit to Kakheti.

Living Roots , owned by Ia Tabagari and John Wurdeman, is a collective of expert travel curators who craft tailored tours in the Kakheti region.

Georgia, The Cradle of Wine

Wine was born in Georgia. Wine is a way of life in Georgia. And when you add the food and hospitality of the people, as well as the beauty and history of the country, Georgia is a destination to put on your travel list.

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Kakheti wine region guide, Tbilisi, things to do near me, Georgia wine travel guide: top wine regions to visit around the world this year

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The tour is private with your personal guide. There will be no other people joining the tour. Our guides will follow your own pace. The starting time of the tour is up to you and may vary from 09.00 am to 16.00 pm. We are happy to offer this tour for air/train passengers too. Our guide will meet you at the arrival station.

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Wander-Lush

12 of the Best Wineries in Kakheti: My Favourite Vineyard Tours & Wine Tastings

Planning a short excursion to the wine region from Tbilisi or want to spend a few days travelling the Wine Route ?

There are hundreds (if not thousands) of wineries in Georgia’s Kakheti region that welcome visitors for vineyard tours and degustations. Each one is a little bit different, and it can be very difficult to decide where to go if you’re unfamiliar with the area.

This list brings together 12 of my personal favourite small family cellars and commercial wineries in Kakheti , all of which showcase traditional Georgian qvevri wine-making methods and European techniques.

As well as wine tastings, these venues offer vineyard tours, wine-making demonstrations, food masterclasses, sit-down supra meals, and more.

This list of the best wineries in Kakheti is very subjective! If you have a favourite winery in Georgia you think I should add to the list, please leave me a comment at the end – I’d love to check out your recommendations, too.

Love wine? Also see:

• How to find a quality Kakheti wine tour from Tbilisi
• How to participate in the Rtveli wine harvest (September/October)
• Where to do a Georgian wine degustation in Tbilisi
• Where to stay in Kakheti : Best wine chateaux and hotels

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Map of the best wineries in Kakheti

Small family wineries in Kakheti

These wineries all offer an intimate, typically Georgian wine experience. One of the best things about visiting smaller wineries is getting to hear directly from the vitiner about the family’s connection to wine – which in many cases spans multiple generations.

For this list, I’ve chosen wineries that are more immersive – meaning that in most cases, they do winemaking onsite and have vineyards on the property or nearby.

There are many, many more places in Kakheti where you can taste wine made off site, including Pheasant’s Tears and Cradle of Wine Marani in Sighnaghi, and Family wine Cellar Rostomaant Marani and many others in Telavi.

Reservations are essential for all these venues, so be sure to call or message at least a few days in advance.

Akido (‘bunch of grapes’ in Georgian) blends wine, food, history and culture, and is one of my favourite Kakheti wineries for an all-round immersive experience.

Akido is a family run business managed by a young couple and their parents. The property is set on the edge of a sprawling vineyard (one of two that Akido owns, the other being in Akhmeta) close to Ikalto Monastery.

The highlight is a beautiful early 20th-century Kakhetian house, a family heirloom that the owners have renovated and decked out in the old style, complete with archival family photos, panduri instruments and Kakhetian carpets.

Another unique feature of this venue is the marani cellar, which has a dirt floor so they can ‘water’ the clay qvevri when it gets too hot.

Tastings are held on the house’s wooden balcony. Expect a beautifully set table overflowing with wine and snacks (their pkhali is amazing). My favourite of Akido’s wines is their peppery Saperavi. They are also known for their Rkatsiteli.

The winery has a big yard and is kid-friendly. Tastings, sit-down meals (lunch or dinner) and khachapuri masterclasses are available with prior reservation. In autumn , Akido also offers a Rtveli vintage experience .

• Location: Ikalto | X92R+38
• Reservations: Facebook or phone

2. Giuaani Winery

Located in Manavi village in Sagarejo, just an hour’s drive from Tbilisi , Giuaani is a very popular spot for a short escape from the city. As well as a wine cellar, the property has a beautiful garden and a big outdoor pool .

The Giuashvili family has been making wine since 1894. They founded their new winery in 2010, making wine from ancient grape varietals endemic to the area. Their 22 types of wine have earned them various awards, including three medals in the 2019 International Qvevri Wine Competition. They mostly do qvevri and barrel-aged wines – I like the Giuaani semi-sweet red and the Manavi dry white.

Giuaani is an extremely well-run operation with passionate, professional English-speaking staff. The degustation is a top-notch, as are the charcuterie boards.

They offer two tour packages, both with a comprehensive tour of the winery, vineyard and qvevri techniques followed by a degustation of either four wines (35 GEL) or six wines (55 GEL).

• Location: Sagarejo | PFC7+3H

3. Wine Yard N1

On the opposite side of the Alazani Valley in Akhasopheli village, Wine Yard N1 is another excellent family winery where you can quite easily spend a whole day. The winery was founded by Tika Dugashvili, a TV journalist who returned home to Kvareli, and is run with the help of her parents, Eteri and Tamazi, and siblings Maka and Giorgi.

Tastings of family wine are done in the garden under the pear trees or on the terrace. Wine Yard N1 also serves generous meals, and offers tonis puri bread and churchkhela masterclasses. In autumn, they offer a Rtveli experience with live music, grape picking and pressing, and a big supra feast.

Tastings cost 80 GEL per person for all you can eat and drink.

• Location: Kvareli | WX5M+C9R
• Reservations: Facebook or Instagram

4. Vakho Oqruashvili Wine Cellar

This tiny family cellar is a great place to observe the entire qvevri wine-making process from grape to bottle. One of the things that stands out in my memory is seeing the architecture of the family marani and the special funnels built into the wall to channel the pressed grape juice directly into the qvevri.

This was also the first place where I tasted wine straight from the qvevri in a traditional clay bowl. It’s a very memorable experience!

After your wine tasting and tour, I encourage you to stop for lunch here – the food, especially the Kakhetian-style mtsvadi BBQ, is amazing.

Vitiner Vakho Oqruashvili and his wife Eka run the operation, helped by Vakho’s parents, Vano and Elsa. The whole family is incredibly welcoming and passionate. Georgian hospitality at its best.

• Location: Velistsikhe | RP4V+GP9

5. Shalauri Wine Cellar

Located on the outskirts of Telavi city , this mid-sized artisanal winery was founded by a group of four friends. They produce low-interference qvevri wines exclusively, including a wonderful Saperavi made from 30-year-old vines from the Tsinandali microzone. The red wines are aged for four years for a deep, full-bodied taste.

Shalauri produces around 25,000 bottles annually for export around the world. The vibe here is still very intimate, especially if you’re lucky enough to be shown around by one of the co-founders. During my visit, David Buadze showed us around the tasting hall, open-air kitchen and cellar, which holds no fewer than 43 qvevri.

The food here is exquisite, and the view of the Greater Caucasus from the dining verandah is absolutely breathtaking. Shalauri enjoys one of the best locations in all of Kakheti.

• Location: Telavi | WG25+VQ

6. Friends’ Cellar (Nelkarisi Estate)

Founded in 2009 by a group of wine-obsessed friends from 11 different countries, Friends’ Cellar is a secluded winery with majestic views and a beautiful, modern tasting room-restaurant. Located near Nekresi Monastery in Shilda, it falls within the Kindzmarauli microzone.

At the time of my most recent visit, the Friends’ operation was overseen by a young Georgian winemaker. The cellar is now in the process of rebranding as Nelkarisi – the name is a tribute to the ancient Mithraic city of the same name that was located here and had its own winemaking tradition.

Friends’ Cellar approaches winemaking by combining Georgian traditions with European-style techniques. They use both qvevri and vats for fermentation. Their signature wine is a Saperavi, and I quite enjoyed their Georgian-European ‘fusion’ blends too.

Friends’ offers four tour packages that include touring the estate, visiting the ancient Nelkarisi ruins, and tasting wines accompanied by cheese, Kakhetian sunflower oil and churchkhela. A-la-carte meals are also available, and they host various masterclasses throughout the year, including courses on chacha distillation.

• Location: Nekresi | XPFV+MX
• Reservations: Website

7. Ghvardzelashvili’s Marani

Ghvardzelashvili’s Marani is unique because it’s a one-man operation. Giorgi is an old-school winemaker, incredibly passionate and driven to produce the best natural wines possible. Believing that wine absorbs the energy of the maker, he only tends the qvevri when he’s in a good mood. I think that says it all!

Giorgi’s cellar and family home sit right amongst his two-hectares of vineyards. Some of his vines are more than 40 years old. A proud member of the Natural Wine Association, his entire process is organic. This is a great place to learn about bio and low-intervention wines.

Ghvardzelashvili’s wines include unfiltered reds and whites, all made in six qvevri using grapes from the Tsinandali microzone. Giorgi cultivates a couple of rare varietals, including Zhghia.

• Location: Kondoli | WH9G+H9C

8. Nasrashvili Family Winery

Located in far south-eastern Kakheti in a lesser-visited corner of wine country, Nasrashvili Family Winery is on the way to Vashlovani and Lagodekhi and a great place to stop if you’re headed to either of these popular national parks .

The family has 7 hectares of vineyards and a beautiful tasting room and cellar. Beka Nasrashvili – a psychologist turned vitiner – is one of an increasing number of young Georgians who are returning to winemaking. The label’s branding is fun and youthful, and the wines themselves are mature and well-considered.

Tastings include some very unique wines, including Tavkveri dry red and Shavkapito.

• Location: Dedoplistskaro | F484+Q3

9. TEMI Community Winery

Run by social enterprise TEMI Community, this is one of the most unique wineries in Georgia. The organisation traces its history back to 1989 and supports around 70 people from different backgrounds and with different abilities. Their work is truly inspiring and TEMI is more than deserving of support.

TEMI is located in the Kindzmarauli Grand Cru microzone and produces high-quality, organic qvevri wines from Rkatsiteli and Saperavi grapes. Their wines are exported to Europe and have won TEMI multiple awards.

The tourist-facing part of the operation is incredibly well run, offering a program of different food and wine experiences, cultural activities, bicycle rentals, and more.

Wine tastings start from 15 GEL per person, and they also organise grape harvesting and crushing in autumn and qvevri opening in spring . View the entire program here .

• Location: Gremi | 2M8G+G3
• Reservations: Facebook or website

Larger commercial wineries & wine estates in Kakheti

I always recommend including a mix of smaller maranis and larger wineries in your itinerary so you can compare the different techniques and traditions. Not all Georgian wine-makers are small-scale, and many of the larger wineries are equally as interesting to visit.

These larger wineries are open year-round and usually do not require an advance booking. If you’re travelling in winter , you still might want to phone ahead to notify them of your visit just in case.

Tours and tastings are more formal, and instead of it just being you and the wine-maker, you will likely be part of a small group.

10. Winery Khareba / Kvareli Wine Cave

One of the largest wine exporters in Georgia, Khareba produces 50 types of wine, sparkling wine, chacha and grape seed oil from 30 different varieties of grape. Their winery on the north-eastern side of the Alazani Valley is a massive complex that includes the famous Kvareli Wine Cave, a network of cellar ‘tunnels’ carved from the mountainside.

The Wine Cave was built in 1962 and was meant to be a fallout shelter. The stable temperature (12-16° C year-round) is perfect for storing wine. You can see more than 26,000 bottles stacked in the 7.7 km network of tunnels, constructed by the same company as the Tbilisi Metro !

Khareba is very commercial, but it’s still one-of-a-kind and a must-visit in Georgia in my opinion. Tours of the cave cost 5 GEL per person, or you can opt for a tour plus tasting of two wines for 12-15 GEL. A package of four-wine tastings, a chacha degustation, bread-baking class and churchkhela-making workshop costs 40 GEL per person.

• Location: Kvareli | WRPM+F9

11. Kindzmarauli Corporation

Another of the biggest names in Georgian wine, Kindzmarauli was founded in 1533 and originally produced wine for the royal family (hence why it’s partially encased in the walls of Kvareli Fortress). Relaunching in 1924, it was one of the only wineries to keep on bottling after the fall of the USSR . That makes it one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in Georgia.

Kindzmarauli turns out an impressive 1.5 million bottles every year. This is one of the best wineries in Kakheti to visit if you want an insight into Georgian wine production on a mass scale.

A tour of the grounds and a sit-down wine tasting costs around 20 GEL per person. There is also a bottle shop and a new restaurant on the grounds.

• Location: Kvareli | WRX7+284

12. Tsinandali Estate

Tsinandali is steeped in history and is a touchstone of Georgian wine heritage. The estate was established in the 19th century by Georgian diplomat and statesman, Garsevan Chavchavadze. When Prince Alexander Chavchavadzde inherited the estate from his father, he went about transforming it into a hub for culture and the arts, building a gorgeous palace on the grounds (now the Chavchavadze House Museum) and establishing a winery.

One of Chavchavadze’s major contributions was popularising European winemaking techniques in Kakheti. In 1841, the first bottle of Georgian Saperavi was corked behind these doors.

Today, the property hosts a museum, an oenotheque where thousands of old bottles are stored, and wine tasting room, two hotels (including the Radisson Collection Tsinandali , one of my top choice of accommodation in Kakheti ), and several bars and restaurants.

A visit to the House Museum of Alexander Chavchavadze and oenotheque costs 10 GEL, and you can add on a wine tasting for an extra 2 GEL. There’s also an option to try five wines for 35 GEL.

• Location: Tsinandali | VHW8+88

How to visit these wineries in Kakheti

Kakheti wine tours from tbilisi.

My preferred wine tour provider is Eat This! Tours, a boutique company that focuses on family maranis and employs professional sommelier-guides. All their pre-designed itineraries incorporate some sightseeing as well, or you can tailor your own custom trip. This is the perfect way to get a taste of the wine region if you’re on a tight timeline.

Read more about Eat This! Tours here in my review , or book their popular Telavi day trip (the same one I did) directly on the website. Use the promo code wanderlush at checkout to save 5%.

If you prefer to explore Georgia’s wine region DIY, you can usually organise a car and driver when you arrive in Kakheti. Your guesthouse should be able to help with this. This is what I did the first time I visited Georgia. It’s a budget-friendly option, but be aware that most drivers only take you to the big-name wineries rather than small maranis.

It’s also possible to rent a car and drive yourself around Kakheti. I did this last winter – it gives you greater flexibility, but remember that drink driving is prohibited in Georgia so you might not be able to partake in tastings!

I recommend using Local Rent to find an affordable rental car in Georgia.

Hire a driver through GoTrip

If you want the flexibility of a car but the convenience of a driver, GoTrip is a great compromise. You can design a full day round-trip or one-way driving route from Tbilisi or your accommodation in Kakheti, stopping off at as many wineries as you wish.

Build your own Kakheti road trip itinerary here on GoTrip . Write the names of any wineries you want to visit in the comments field when you book.

More Georgian wineries beyond Kakheti

Kakheti might be Georgia’s biggest and most productive wine region, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other places to visit in Georgia if you’re interested in wine.

Other major wine regions where you can find vineyards and cellar doors include:

Imereti: There are dozens of wineries in Georgia’s second-biggest wine route outside Kutaisi, including Baia’s Wine and cellars around Terjola and Baghdati . The harvesting and wine-making techniques are the same, but the grapes and wines are often very different.

Racha-Lechkhumi: Mountainous Racha in Georgia’s north-west is known for sweet red Khvanchkara wine, which you can sample at guesthouses and small cellars around Ambrolauri and Oni.

Upper Adjara & Guria: Many of the small wineries around Keda can be visited on a day trip from Batumi . Subtropical Gurian vineyards are very unique – one of my favourites is Menabde Winery outside Ozurgeti .

Bolnisi: This wine region south of Tbilisi also offers a window onto the history and legacy of Swabian Germans in Georgia . Many old cellars from the late 1800s have survived. Brother’s Cellar is a popular winery in Bolnisi.

You might also be interested in…

• The ultimate Georgia itinerary : Four detailed & custom-designed itineraries
• Georgia Travel Guide : All of my 200+ posts plus my top travel tips
• Georgia travel tips : 25 essential things to know before you go
• Places to visit in Georgia : 50+ unique & underrated destinations around the country
• The best things to do in Tbilisi : Favourites, hidden gems & local picks
• 35+ best restaurants in Tbilisi : Where to eat Georgian food
• 15 best day trips from Tbilisi : With detailed transport instructions
• The best time to visit Georgia : Month-by-month guide to weather, festivals & events

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How to visit Kakheti, Georgia’s wine region

By Joan Torres 1 Comments Last updated on March 27, 2024

I grew up in a wine region, so the idea of visiting another wine region sounded appealing, but it was not the thing I was most excited about visiting in Georgia .

However, when I saw those hundreds of Soviet trucks extra loaded with tons of grapes and the many wineries still making wine in the traditional way, using their hands inside huge ceramic jars ( qveries ) ; plus the many monasteries inhabited by monks who have been producing wine for centuries.

I realized that the wine culture in Georgia is unique, and then I remembered that, according to archeological evidence , Georgia was the first country ever to produce wine. 

Welcome to Kakheti, Georgian’s wine region.

In this guide, you will learn how to visit Kakheti , including places to visit.

This Kakheti travel guide contains:

Table of Contents

• Best time to visit
• Moving around
• Places to visit in 3 days
• Ninotsminda
• Gurjaani Kvelatsminda
• More Information

Get travel insurance for trekking in Georgia I strongly recommend IATI Insurance as it provides coverage for a very big bunch of adventure activities. Get an exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link

If you want to know more about this complex country, don’t forget to check this list of the best books on Georgia , classified into politics, history, novels and travelogues!

Why harvest season is the best time to visit Kakheti

Kakheti can be visited all year long, meaning that you will still be able to visit cellars and drink wine but, during harvest season, from September to October, you will actually see how the wine is produced and, if you go to a micro-cellar, you will see how they produce it in the traditional Georgian way, so the experience will be quite different.

By the way, Moldova is another very traditional country with a very similar wine culture, and you may want to check my travel guide to Moldova

How to travel around Kakheti region

Kakheti is a region which is best explored by car.

I mean, you can move around by marshrutka, but many wineries and monasteries are not in the villages themselves, so reaching them can be a bit tricky, and you would need several days to make the best out of your visit. 

If you don’t have a car, perhaps you may want to join a tour .

Moreover, I strongly recommend you take the town of Sighnaghi as your base from where to visit the wine region. To be very honest, Sighnaghi is not my favorite place to visit in Kakheti but since it is the most touristic town, it is well-sorted of accommodation, bars and restaurants.

Where to stay in Sighnaghi

Budget guest house – Guest House Vista – We stayed in this lovely guest house which was run by a very accommodating local who showed us how to make homemade wine. Highly recommended.

Mid-range hotel – Boutique Hotel BelleVue – Really nice hotel with stunning views of the valley.

If you want to know more, click here to check the best accommodation in Sighnaghi

Places to visit in Kakheti in a 3-day itinerary

Technically, Tusheti and Davit Gareja belong to the region of Kakheti but I haven’t included them in this guide because they do not belong to the area where wine is produced

We visited the following places in 3 days.

On the first day, we just went to Sighnaghi, stopping in Ninotsminda. On the second day, we drove around the whole region, including Gurjaani, Telavi, Alaverdi, Artana, Gremi and Kvareli. On the third day, we went back to Tbilisi , stopping in one winery and Davit Gareja.

Interested in taking a tour to Kakheti? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Ninotsminda (off the beaten track)

The first village we stopped at was Ninotsminda, where you find Ninotsminda Church, which has been a place of Christian worship since the 5th Century, and the half-ruined Church that still stands dates back from then.

I recommend you stop here for 15 minutes, to take a break from the journey.

How to get to Ninotsminda

Ninotsminda is a relatively big village, so I am sure there are marshrutkas coming from Sagarejo or Sighnaghi but, to be honest, unless you have your car, I am not sure that it is worth it.

The first big town coming from Azerbaijan is the walled city of Sighnaghi, commonly named as ‘’the City of Love’’ by the locals, a European-like town with its hilly cobbled streets and set up, so different from anything you have seen in Georgia .

Located high on the hill that rises from the flat Alazani Valley, with the Caucasian mountains of Dagestan in the background, Sighnaghi is a truly postcard town.

It is so pretty, but you also need to remember that this is a very touristic town, where you can even find a Mexican restaurant and actually, some people working in the different businesses are not very welcoming precisely.

We had a few bad experiences, like when the lady of a café brought me a cappuccino which was cold because she poured milk directly from the fridge but then, very rudely, she refused to change. Stuff like that.

To be honest, after checking out the few viewpoints, I found Sighnaghi very boring and, despite being a popular day trip from Tbilisi , I would prefer going somewhere else.

However, we spent 2 nights here because it is a great base to explore the region, plus it is the only place with a relatively nice atmosphere in the evening.

Is Kakheti worth the day trip or not? – Well, it depends. Are you coming by yourself in a marshrutka? Then, it is not because, in only one day, you will be able to visit Sighnaghi and, in my opinion, there are other places in Georgia which are far more interesting, starting with Davit Gareja or Chiatura. Nevertheless, if you have a car (or you are going on a tour) and plan to visit several places across the region, then yes, a day trip to Kakheti is worth it.

Things to do in Sighnaghi

• Check out the different viewpoints – Especially the one located here: 41.614291, 45.921477 – From where you can see a panoramic view of the town, the valley, and Dagestan.
• Bobde Monastery – This beautiful monastery is where St. Nino is buried, the woman that converted Georgia to Christianity. It is also a pretty cool viewpoint of the city.
• Explore the town, souvenir shops, city walls, etc. – If you don’t have much to do, I recommend you go around to check the town.

Where to eat in Sighnaghi

Pheasant’s Tears – The most famous restaurant in Sighnaghi is also a winery. It is a bit pricey but they have good food. You need to book in advance. 

How to get to Sighnaghi

Marshrutkas leave from Ortachala Station in Tbilisi all day long.

Gurjaani Kvelatsminda Church (off the beaten track)

If you go north after leaving Sighnaghi, after 30km, you find Gurjaani, famous for having the only ancient double-domed church in Georgia, from the 8th century.

The church is located out of town, and you need to walk for 10 minutes from where you leave the car.

The priests living there were surprisingly welcoming, more than any other church we have been to.

How to get to Gurjaani

You may find marshrutkas going to Gurjaani but then is a really good walk to the church.

Telavi is the largest city in Kakheti (but only 28,000 inhabitants) and today’s regional capital.  What I like about it is that it has a very local vibe, but it is not as charming as other towns and villages. 

However, I didn’t visit it much, but we just passed it through in our first visit, and then, on my second visit, I just came here to find transportation to Tusheti. 

If you have time to visit it, then great but, otherwise, I don’t think it is worth the trip, even though I believe it could also serve as a great base to travel around Kakheti.

How to get to Telavi

You find direct marshrutkas from Tbilisi and, definitely, from all surrounding towns.

Alaverdi is known for having the Cathedral of Saint George, an impressive church surrounded by dreamy vineyards, which contains one of the oldest wineries in Georgia, whose brand has been sold since the 11th century, even though they have been producing wine since the 5th.

Here, the priests make the wine most traditionally but remember that, if you want to visit the ”wine” part, you need to book in advance. This is their very confusing website .

On the other hand, the Cathedral can be visited at any time, and it contains some impressive frescoes from the 11th century.

Don’t miss Alaverdi in your Kakheti itinerary.

How to get to Alaverdi

I am sure you can come here from Telavi but, in any case, the monastery is a bit out of town.

Interested in booking a wine tour? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

Artana (off the beaten track)

When we visited Kakheti, we had something very clear, and that was that we wanted to visit a traditional wine cellar. We had no idea where to find it, but we just kept driving, stopping in the most random villages, until we found Artana.

Artana is a tiny village with absolutely nothing to see, but 1 or 2 cellars which are definitely worth stopping for, as they still produce wine in qveris and do pretty much everything by hand. 

Those micro wine cellars sell actual branded organic wine, pretty good, not like the industrial crap – as my Georgian friend says – that popular wineries sell.

Since we visited Kakheti during harvest season, we were extremely lucky to visit a cellar right during the production process.

We saw how they manually put the grapes in a small machine that shreds them (but they still need to keep making pressure with their hands) and then put them in the qveris . 

That winery belonged to some guys from Tbilisi , and they allowed us to enter and observe how they do all the process, and even invited us to have some wine.

Visiting this micro-winery was by far, the best things we did in Kakheti.

How to find the right, traditional wine cellar If you want to find one of those micro-wineries that make wine in the traditional way, go to random villages. We entered a couple, but the one we had the best experience was at the one in Artana I told you about before. Just remember that the famous ones don’t traditionally make wine anymore, plus they are filled with tourists.

With its turquoise roof and its patterned mud-brick, the Citadel of Gremi is the perfect example of adapting a church to the Persian style of architecture, like most mosques you find in Iran .

Gremi, today a tiny village from the Kakheti region, used to be the capital of Kakheti until it was invaded and destroyed by the Persians in the 17th century.

By the way, very close to the church, where you leave the car, there is a restaurant run by an old lady serving all types of traditional food. We ate there and had a great time. 

I don’t recommend it

The only thing I will say here is that Kvareli is home to the largest and most visited wineries in Kakheti: Khareba and Kindzmarauli. 

These two wineries are, basically, monster corporations that produce wine in mass production. Like my Georgian friend says, they sell chemical crap.

Moreover, the visiting areas tend to be absolutely packed with tourists, so if you ever try to book a tour to Kakheti, make sure they don’t take you to either of these wineries. 

On the other hand, Kvareli also became famous when former Georgian President Saakashvili bought a house here. Hence it became a prime tourist spot among locals and wealthy Russians.

Because of this, I believe that there must be some good restaurants and fancy accommodation, but in any case, this is not what you came to Kakheti for.

More information for visiting Kakheti

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

Don’t forget to check our travel guide to Georgia .

As well as all our Georgia articles:

• Travel Guide to Kazbegi
• Tbilisi Travel Guide
• Georgia Itinerary
• Best Books on Georgia
• Trekking Guide to Georgia

One reply on “How to visit Kakheti, Georgia’s wine region”

I stayed in Tbilisi and visited Kazbegi in Georgia, but now I regret not seeing Kakheti! Georgian wine is something special. Thanks for sharing

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Kakheti Tour

by garyadmin2019 | Mar 29, 2019 | Combined Tours , Tours

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Day 01: Arrival in Tbilisi, Tbilisi City Tour

Meeting at the air port and transfer to the hotel.

Tbilisi city tour. Walking tour in famous Sulfuric Baths district, (Abanotubani) and Legvtakhevi Waterfall, visit Metekhi church (12th Century) and Narikala fortress, (4th Century) panoramic view of the city from the hill where located monument mother of Georgia. ( Kartlis deda) Visit national museum of Georgia and main avenue, Rustaveli. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 02: Tbilisi - Mckheta - Kazbegi - Tbilisi

We drive to visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta (3000 years old) and see its historical places: Jvari church (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) where the Robe of Christ is buried. Both Jvari and Svetitskhoveli are UNESCO World Heritage sites. On the way visit Ananuri architectural complex (17th century), the two churches and the fortress overlook the Zhinvali water reservoir. Arrival in Kazbegi town, jeep tour to Gergeti Trinity Church (13th Century) located at 2175m. walking tour to visit Gveleti waterfalls. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 03: Tbilisi - Gori - Ufliscikhe - Tbilisi

Day 04: tbilisi - david gareja - sighnaghi, day 05: sighnaghi - gremi - tsinandali - tbilisi, day 06: georgia – armenia – haghpat – sanahin – dilijan, day 07: dilijan – haghartsin – sevan – yerevan.

Breakfast at hotel. Check-out. Short city tour of Dilijan.

Dilijan is a famous spa rich in curative mineral springs, some of which are comparable to those at Vichy in France and Davos in Switzerland. The surrounding mountains are covered by forests and Alpine meadows. The climate is rather mild with cool summers and warm sunny winters. Armenians believe that if there are woods, mountains and mineral springs in paradise, then paradise has to look like Dilijan. Haghartsin Monastery Complex. Haghartsin monastery, not far from Dilijan spa, is hidden from the tumult of the world. The monastery was built by the architect Minas in 1248 with lavish decorations of carved stone. The main church is typical of the churches built between the 10th and 13th centuries. The oldest church in the complex is with the cross-winged dome named after St. Gregory. The refectory of Haghartsin is also very unique in character. There is a number of very interesting khachkars in the complex. The monastery itself is situated within an oak forest, in the gorge of a small river. You can easily forget your worries when you are up there in nature surrounded by trees due to the beautiful setting of the Monastery Complex.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 08: Yerevan City Tour

Breakfast at hotel. Yerevan City tour:

Yerevan is the capital of Armenia and one of the oldest cities in the world. It stretches under the gaze of biblical mountain Ararat and resembles a beautiful gilt bowl to those flying over it. A basalt slab with an Urartu cuneiform inscription, unearthed by archaeologists in the south-eastern part of the city shows the age of Yerevan to be 2791 years old. “Mayr-Hayastan” (panoramic view of Yerevan), Matenadaran (Depository and Museum of Ancient Manuscripts). Street tour including Republic Square, Yerevan State University, Victory Bridge, Tsitsernakaberd (1915 Genocide Memorial), Sports & Concerts complex, Kiev Bridge, Parliament, Palace of President, Academy of Sciences, Opera house. State Museum of History of Armenia (founded in 1919). Evening free or walking in the city centre.

Day 09: Yerevan – Echmiadzin – Zvatnots – Yerevan

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to St. Echmiadzin (Holy See). En route – Hripsime Church:

This is a masterpiece of architecture and a marvellous example of cross-cupola architecture of the 7th century. Weddings and baptisms are performed here on Saturdays and Sundays. Remnants of very old constructions were discovered under the temple in 1959 while the temple was being restored. Virgin’s tomb lies here in the crypt of the church.

Cathedral of St. Echmiadzin (UNESCO World Heritage). Liturgy (on Sundays only).

This oldest Christian temple was founded in 301 and is one of the first churches in the Christian World. Holy Mass takes place on Sundays in the Cathedral. It is an architectural monument of early Christianity. It houses a unique museum of religious artefacts. There is a small altar in the centre of the Cathedral where, according to legend, Christ descended from Heaven and with a golden hammer pointed to the site upon which the Cathedral was to be built. The remnants of a pagan temple have been discovered during excavations made inside the Cathedral. Return to Yerevan. En route – Zvartnots temple (UNESCO World Heritage).

Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 10: Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan

Breakfast at hotel. Half-day trip to Garni Pagan Temple and Geghard Monastery.

This pagan temple of Garni was built in 1st. c. AC and was devoted to one of the Armenian Pagan Gods – Mitra. After Armenia converted to Christianity in the 4th c., the rulers of the country used the temple as their summer residence.

Proceed to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage): Geghard was initially known simply as Ayrivank (Cave Monastery). The present buildings comprising it date back to 10-13th cc., at which time it was renamed as Geghard meaning “lance” (spear) in Armenian. Return to Yerevan. Agricultural produce market and Vernissage (souvenirs, arts and crafts market). Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 11: Departure

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