This is one of the best tours in Georgia for those interested in Georgian food and wine. The five-day, four-night tour across Eastern and Western Georgia includes visits to five regions: Kakheti, Kazbegi, Kartli, Imereti, and Samegrelo. Winery tours in Georgia are fascinating because Georgia is the oldest wine-making culture in the world, as stated by UNESCO. During archeological works, remains of Kvevri, the clay vessel used to ferment and age wine, were discovered, dating back 8000 years. Georgian wine is unique because of the skin-contact fermentation in Kvevri, which are buried underground and give the wine its distinct taste and color. For example, wines in Kakheti are dry and full of tannins, while wines from Kartli are more acidic and suitable for sparkling wines. Western Georgian wines, particularly from Imereti and Samegrelo, are even more acidic than those from Kartli, making them perfect for summer. This is one of the best wine tasting tours in Georgia, and you will not regret choosing it thanks to the diversity of wineries and sights the trip offers across five regions.
Day 1 – Tbilisi – Sighnaghi – Kvareli – Telavi
On this day, guests will head to Sighnaghi from Tbilisi. Sighnaghi is a small, beautiful town overlooking the Alazani valley, the central valley in Georgian wine making. The views from Sighnaghi are stunning. The first tasting will be in a family-owned cellar, then the road continues to the village of Velistsikhe, an hour from Sighnaghi, where lunch and wine will be served. After lunch, the trip continues to Kvareli wine tunnel, where guests can taste wines made in both European and Georgian styles and compare them. After the tasting, the road continues through the Alazani valley to Telavi. In the evening, guests will enjoy dinner with wine in a family home near Telavi. Overnight in Telavi.
Day 2 – Telavi – Ananuri – Kazbegi
On day two, guests will head from Telavi to Kazbegi. First, they will visit Ananuri fortress, which is a nearly two-hour drive from Telavi. After visiting the fortress, the road will continue to a lunch place near Pasanauri. There, the guests will try the famous Georgian dish Khinkali, the dumpling stuffed with minced meat. After lunch, the road will continue to Kazbegi, where guests will visit Gergeti trinity church. In the evening, dinner will be served in a family with local food specialties. Overnight in Kazbegi.
Day 3 – Kazbegi - Mtskheta– Gori
In the morning, the trip will depart from Kazbegi, head to Mtskheta, and then continue to Gori in the Kartli region. Mtskheta is an ancient Georgian capital, and you will visit an 11th-century cathedral there. After visiting the cathedral, the road continues to a lunch place, and after lunch, you will head to Gori. Gori is home to Stalin’s museum and Uplistsikhe cave town. Guests can choose which of the two places to visit, and afterward they will head to a hotel with a winery. There, guests will enjoy dinner and wine tasting. Overnight near Gori.
Day 4 - Gori - Martvili Canyon – Kutaisi
In the morning, guests will head from Gori to Martvili to visit the canyon and later enjoy lunch with wine tasting at one of the best wineries in Martvili. After lunch, guests will head to Kutaisi, rest at the hotel, and in the evening visit a family near Kutaisi to try Imeretian food specialties and experience masterclasses of different Imeretian dishes.
Day 5 – Kutaisi – Tskaltubo – Guria
In the morning, after breakfast, take a walk in Kutaisi. Upon request, do the Soviet tour to visit the abandoned buildings in Tskaltubo, especially former Soviet-era hotels that were abandoned, looted, or settled by internally displaced people from Abkhazia, or visit one of the beautiful churches near Kutaisi. After one of these local trips, head to Guria, the seaside region, which has its own grape varieties and very good wine with high acidity. Moreover, Guria is famous for its tea production, and guests will be able to try local tea alongside wine, lunch, and dinner. Overnight in Guria.
Day 6 - Guria - Baghdati - Tbilisi
Guests will enjoy a slow morning in Guria and can visit the seaside for a while. After the beach visit, the road will continue to one of the wineries in the Imereti region, either in Baghdati or Zestaponi, where guests will enjoy the last wine tasting and lunch of this beautiful trip. The trip ends in Tbilisi.
