In the Land of Wine

Georgia
Wine cellar with kvevri wine pots at ancient Nekresi monastery winery in Kakheti. Kakheti is a region in eastern Georgia with Telavi as its capital.
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Overview

  • Duration:5 days 4 nights
  • Tour Type:Georgia
Georgia is one of the oldest wine cultures on earth. The earliest evidence of winemaking found anywhere in the world was discovered here, with grape residue in ceramic jars dating back more than 8,000 years. Kakheti, in the fertile valleys below the Greater Caucasus range, is the living heart of that tradition. Its vineyards produce some 500 varieties of grape, its families have been making wine for generations, and the ancient qvevri method of fermenting wine in clay vessels buried in the earth is still practiced today as it has always been.

This program is built for travelers who want to go beyond tasting and into understanding — the landscape, the monasteries, the families, the stories and the food that together make Kakheti one of the most rewarding wine regions to visit anywhere in the world.

 

Day 1 — Arrival in Tbilisi Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Welcome dinner in Tbilisi with an introduction to Georgian wine and cuisine.

Day 2 — Tbilisi and Chateau Mukhrani A morning in Tbilisi, followed by trip to Mtskheta to visit the UNESCO sites of Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. The afternoon heads to Chateau Mukhrani, a Georgian royal estate with origins in the 16th century, for a guided tour of the vineyards and cellars, lunch paired with estate wines.

Day 3 — Heart of Kakheti Bodbe Monastery and the resting place of Saint Nino, then Sighnaghi, Georgia's most romantic walled town above the Alazani Valley. Lunch and wine tasting at a family winery with culinary workshops including mtsvadi barbecue. The evening moves to Telavi, the regional capital of Kakheti.

Day 4 — Telavi, Alaverdi and the Vineyards Morning at Alaverdi Monastery, one of the tallest medieval cathedrals in Georgia, set among ancient vineyards that have been cultivated by monks for centuries. A visit to a second family winery in the afternoon goes deeper into the qvevri method, with an amber wine tasting and a traditional feast with the winemaking family. Nekresi Monastery on its forested hillside above the Alazani Valley closes the day.

Day 5 — Departure Return to Tbilisi and transfer to the airport.

Includes

  • Airport meet and greet and all transfers throughout
  • 4 nights accommodation with daily breakfast
  • Professional English-speaking guide throughout
  • All transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
  • Welcome dinner in Tbilisi
  • Lunches as indicated in the program
  • Wine tasting and lunch at Chateau Mukhrani
  • Wine tasting and culinary workshops at a Kakheti family winery
  • Qvevri amber wine tasting with a winemaking family
  • All entrance fees to sites and museums
  • One bottle of water per person per day

Highlights

  • Chateau Mukhrani royal estate, winery tour and lunch with wine tasting
  • Jvari and Svetitskhoveli in ancient Mtskheta
  • Bodbe Monastery and Sighnaghi town walls
  • Family winery lunch with culinary workshop
  • Alaverdi Cathedral among the Kakheti vineyards
  • Qvevri amber wine tasting with a winemaking family
  • Nekresi Monastery above the Alazani Valley

Every Journey is a Starting Point

Every itinerary we present is a carefully considered starting point, not a fixed itinerary. Our programs have been designed with years of on-the-ground experience, but no two groups are alike and no two journeys need to be either.

Every program in our portfolio can be adapted to suit the specific needs, interests and pace of your clients. Dates, duration, accommodation level, additional experiences, all of it can be shaped around what your clients are looking for. Our team is here to make it work, from the first conversation to the final detail.

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