Wine lovers visiting Tbilisi this autumn have another date to add to their calendar. On Saturday, October 24, 2026, the wine festival “New Small Wineries on the Big Stage” (ახალი მცირე მარნები დიდ ასპარეზზე) returns to the Georgian capital for its eighth edition.
The festival will take place from 12:00 to 19:00 at Club Underwheel in Mtatsminda Park, bringing together emerging Georgian wineries, winemakers, wine professionals and visitors interested in discovering bottles they may not yet find in shops or restaurants.
A Festival Dedicated to Georgia’s Small Wineries
Georgia’s wine scene extends far beyond its largest commercial producers. Across the country, small family cellars and new wineries are experimenting with indigenous grape varieties while continuing centuries-old Georgian winemaking traditions.
“New Small Wineries on the Big Stage” was created specifically to give these producers a place to introduce themselves to a wider audience. For visitors, that makes the festival an opportunity to taste wines from wineries that are still relatively unknown and, importantly, to speak directly with the people who make them.
If this is your first encounter with Georgian wine, the festival can also be a good introduction before travelling into the country’s wine regions. Our wine tours in Georgia take the experience beyond the tasting table and into vineyards, traditional marani and family-run cellars.
What to Expect at the 2026 Festival
The emphasis is on discovery rather than established labels. Visitors will be able to taste wines from emerging producers, learn about their vineyards and winemaking techniques, and hear the stories behind individual wineries directly from the winemakers.
Expect a mix of Georgian wines, food and snacks, conversations with producers and the autumn atmosphere of Mtatsminda above Tbilisi.
Many small Georgian wineries continue to work with qvevri — the large clay vessels traditionally buried underground for fermentation and ageing. Georgia’s traditional qvevri winemaking method was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. You can read more about the tradition through the National Wine Agency of Georgia and UNESCO.
Travellers who want to see how these techniques work in practice can also join our Organic Wine Tour in Kakheti, which visits small producers and traditional qvevri wineries outside Tbilisi.
Festival Information
- Festival: New Small Wineries on the Big Stage 2026
- Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Time: 12:00–19:00
- Location: Club Underwheel, Mtatsminda Park, Tbilisi
- Ticket: 20 GEL, including a tasting glass
- Organizer: Georgian Wine Club
- Supported by: Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the National Wine Agency
Tickets: Buy festival tickets on TKT.ge.
The original Georgian-language festival announcement is also available through Vinoge / Marani.
Visiting Tbilisi During Wine Season
Late September and October are particularly interesting months for wine-focused travel in Georgia. The grape harvest — rtveli — takes place at different times depending on the region, altitude, grape variety and weather. If wine is one of the reasons for your trip, read our guide to Rtveli in Georgia and how to join the grape harvest.
The October 24 festival is also easy to combine with sightseeing in the capital. Our Tbilisi city tour explores the Old Town, Narikala Fortress, sulfur bath district, historic churches, caravanserais and the neighbourhoods that shaped the city before you head up to Mtatsminda for the afternoon wine festival.
Why This Festival Is Worth Visiting
Large wineries are relatively easy to find when travelling around Georgia. Small producers are different. Some make only limited quantities, receive visitors by appointment and sell primarily through specialist wine shops, restaurants or directly from their cellars.
That is what makes “New Small Wineries on the Big Stage” particularly interesting for travellers who already know Georgian wine — or want to get beyond the best-known labels. In one afternoon, you can meet multiple producers, compare different grape varieties and winemaking styles, and potentially discover wineries that are only beginning to build their reputation.
If you are in Tbilisi on October 24, 2026, it is one of the most interesting wine events to include in an autumn visit to the Georgian capital.
Planning a wine-focused trip through Georgia? Explore our Georgia wine tours or combine Tbilisi with a journey through Kakheti’s vineyards, family cellars and traditional qvevri wineries.
