Wine Route

Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Departure for the village of Chardakhi, to visit the cellar of Georgian winemaker Iago, who explains the history of Georgian wine and shows us his organic wine production methods. Iago owns two hectares of 60-year-old vineyards and produces 5,000 bottles of natural dried white wine a year, all fermented and aged in Qvevri (Georgian amphora). Traditional, environmentally-friendly chalk-based methods are used for the vineyards, grapes and winemaking processes. He produces wine from one of the best Georgian grape varieties, the "Chinuri", whose quality and particular aroma attract attention. Wine tasting with hand-made cheese.

Departure for Mtskheta - the former capital of the Kingdom of Iberia, to visit the 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral ("Life-giving column"). It is dedicated to Saint Nino, evangelizer of Georgia in the 4th century. She came from Cappadocia, holding the famous vine cross, to spread Christianity.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 2h, 75km.

Visit the monastery and academy of Ikalto, founded in the 6th century, where one of the oldest schools of viticulture was established in the Middle Ages. Here, we see the remains of the wine culture that developed within the walls of this spectacular place.

Visit the Qvevri school-academy in Ikalto. The Qvevri is a handmade clay vessel used by Georgians to make wine. It is buried in the ground to guarantee the temperature and humidity levels required for ideal wine fermentation. We meet the Qvevri maker, who explains and demonstrates the Qvevri-making process. We then visit a typical ethnographic house with an old wine cellar, to learn more about the Kakhetian winemaking method, which requires that juice, seeds, grape skin, shoots and branches are all fermented together in the Qvevri. The traditional Georgian winemaking method is listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. Tasting of various family wines.

Continuation to Alaverdi Cathedral (11th century), at the foot of the largest mountain in the Caucasus, with panoramic views over the Alazani valley. The monastery boasts an 11th-century wine cellar and wines produced by the monks. This is where the link between winemaking and Christianity can be seen.

Arrive in Telavi - the capital and historical city of Kakheti.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 3h, 140km.

Continue on to Kvareli. Discover the 8 km-long tunnel cellar, based on ancient traditions, which works to preserve a unique viticulture and produces wine using ancient methods as well as the latest technologies. Wine tasting.

Take the road to a charming little town, Sighnaghi, and stroll along its cobbled streets and along the wall, admiring the splendid panorama of the Alazani Valley and the Great Caucasus. You can visit a local wine cellar and organize cooking classes with a very welcoming owner: making traditional bread in a typical mold called "Tone" and making "Churchkhela" (preparation with grape juice before it starts to ferment, flour and nuts).

In the evening, return to Tbilisi. On both sides of the road, you can see vineyards of indigenous grape varieties.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 4h, 220km.

Continuing on to the village of Jighaura, visit the scientific research center on viniculture: a conservatory of Georgian grape varieties with 465 local genotypes, of which around 40 varieties are used in wine production, meeting with the conservatory professional, discussion.

Take the road to Chateau Mukhrani - the prince's estate governed by the Bagrationi royal family, which is based on the historic tradition of wine production in the Mukhrani region. Today, the winery has been completely rebuilt, equipped with modern technology and stores over 1,000 barrels of wine at a constant temperature of 16°C. Château Mukhrani produces wine from grapes harvested in its own vineyards, combining modern and traditional technologies. Discover the history of the Georgian royal family and taste top-quality Mukhrani wines.

Departure for the central part of Georgia, the Shida Kartli region. Visit to the ancient rock-cut town of Uplistsikhe, where 5,000-year-old grape seeds have been discovered, proving that Georgia is the world's oldest wine-producing country.

Continuing on to one of the most important regions for wine production - the Ateni Gorge, a lovely gorge in the valley of the Tana River, with small exotic villages, beautiful nature, cool areas and pine forests. The region is unique for its wine-growing tradition and unique wine. Here we meet a former Georgian Minister of Culture and a local winemaker, who explains the traditional methods of making very specific natural wines - Atenuri and Tavkveri. The winemaker owns the guesthouse and is proud to preserve and develop the age-old agricultural and cultural traditions of the Ateni region.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 3h, 155km.

Visit an industrial winery that produces the famous and highly enjoyable Khvanchkara wine - a semi-sweet red wine made from the Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grape varieties grown in this region. It is characterized by a ruby color, a harmonious and delicious taste, with specific fruity nuances and a varietal aroma. Wine tasting.

Visit to the 10th-century Nikortminta church, a pearl of Georgian architecture rich in frescoes and fascinating ornamentation of vines and grapes. Visit to the 18th-century Barakoni church.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 4h, 205km.

This time, we discover the wines of the Imereti region. The region's most popular grape varieties are : Tsolikouri, Tsitska, Krakhuna, Otskhanuri Sapere, Aladasturi, etc. Unlike traditional Kakhetian wine, Imeretian winemakers use less chacha (grape marc) to make white wines, while red wines are generally fully fermented using chacha technology. The vineyards of Imereti feature different styles of layout, known as verticals.

We head off to the village of Nakhshirgele to meet local winemaker Ramaz, who welcomes us to his cellar built next to the vineyard. He takes us on a tour of his vineyard and gives us a taste of his natural white and red wines. We also sample an extraordinary strong drink, the green Chacha.

We continue on to the village of Obcha to meet the young winemaker Baia. She tells us all about the winemaking process and lets us taste the best of her wines, including Baia's Otskhanuri Saphere - more acidic and less sweet than the majority of Imerian wines, due to the region's humidity.

In the evening, arrive at Borjomi, remarkable for its natural mineral springs.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 5h, 235km.

Visit the Nateladze family winery and meet a young winemaker who produces wine from grapes grown on trees over 1 to 2 hundred years old. Meskhuri wines are produced in Qvevri using traditional methods. They are very rare and harmonious, with a low alcohol content and well-balanced acidity; most sommeliers say they are the most elegant and well-balanced wines. Tasting of several types of natural and extremely rare Meskhetian wines.

Continuing on to the village of Tchatchkari, we have to walk to see the 4-century-old vines that are still alive and productive. On the way, we pass terraced vineyards typical of the region.

Discover the splendid 12th-century troglodyte town of Vardzia which requires good physical fitness to enter the caves and narrow tunnels.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 2h30, 120km.

Arrival at Bolnisi - a micro-zone of typical wines located in the Kvemo Kartli region. This region is central in the history of wine production in Georgia. Archaeological excavations on the Imiri hill (dated to the 6th-5th century B.D.) prove that it was here that the first wild vine was planted and its grapes turned into wine, for the first time in the world (in early Neolithic period).

Visit to a local winemaker's cellar in Bolnisi (village of Khatissopeli), which has been renovated by three sisters to continue the family wine-making tradition. The hosts will introduce us to the history of the family and the region, as well as the wine culture that began 8,000 years ago. Taste their natural wine and discuss its characteristics. The area's characteristic varieties and ancient local winemaking traditions create the unique organoleptic qualities of Bolnuri wine. The name "Bolnisi" has recently been added to the list of Georgian appellation wines among the 19 registered names.

See the 5th-century Bolnisis Sioni Church, known for the oldest Georgian inscriptions written in Georgian Asomtavruli (old Georgian alphabet).

In the evening, arrival in the capital.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 6h, 310km.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 30 minutes, 20km.