Journey to the birthplace of wine itself – where grapes have been cultivated and fermented in clay vessels for 8,000 unbroken years, where UNESCO recognizes the ancient qvevri winemaking method as Intangible Cultural Heritage, and where every family has a wine cellar beneath their home.
Kakheti is to Georgia what Bordeaux is to France, Tuscany to Italy, or Napa to California – except Kakheti was making wine 6,000 years before any of them existed. This isn’t just wine tourism; it’s a pilgrimage to where human civilization first discovered the magic of fermentation.
Combined with medieval fortresses, ancient monasteries, and Sighnaghi – the romantic hilltop town where couples can marry at 3 AM if the mood strikes – this tour captures the essence of Georgian culture: deep historical roots, spiritual traditions, natural beauty, and the joyful celebration of life through wine, food, and hospitality.
Perfect for: Wine enthusiasts, culture lovers, photography enthusiasts, romantic travelers, foodies, and anyone wanting to experience authentic Georgian wine country.
Tour highlights
Experience the birthplace of wine and 8,000 years of unbroken tradition
Kakheti: Where Wine Was Born
In 2017, UNESCO inscribed the Georgian qvevri wine-making method on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. But Georgians have known for millennia what the world is just discovering: this is where wine culture began.
Archaeological evidence proves Georgians were cultivating grapes and making wine as early as 6,000 BC – making Georgia the birthplace of viticulture. While other ancient civilizations came and went, Georgians never stopped making wine, not through Persian invasions, Mongol devastations, Ottoman occupations, or Soviet collectivization.
The Qvevri Method: Ancient Alchemy
Qvevri (clay vessels): Large egg-shaped clay vessels (300-3,000 liters) buried in the ground up to their necks. The Earth’s constant temperature naturally regulates fermentation and aging.
Whole-cluster fermentation: Unlike European winemaking, Georgians ferment everything together—juice, skins, seeds, even stems—for weeks or months. This creates unique “amber wines” or “orange wines” that look like whites but taste complex like reds.
Natural process: Traditional winemakers use no additives, no temperature control, no cultured yeasts—just grapes, clay, and time.
A living tradition: In Kakheti, nearly every family has qvevri buried in their cellar. Winemaking isn’t commercial—it’s familial, spiritual, cultural.
Indigenous Grapes: Found Nowhere Else
Georgia cultivates over 500 indigenous grape varieties—more than any other country. In Kakheti, you’ll encounter:
Rkatsiteli (white): The workhorse of Kakheti, making both European-style whites and amber qvevri wines
Saperavi (red): Georgia’s noble red grape, producing deeply colored, tannic, age-worthy wines
Kisi (white): Rare variety making aromatic, complex amber wines
Mtsvane (white): “Green grape,” often blended with Rkatsiteli
These aren’t familiar varieties you can buy at home. They’re unique to Georgia, shaped by 8,000 years of cultivation in Kakhetian soil.
Itinerary
Departure: 9:30 AM from Tbilisi (hotel pickup)
Return: Approximately 9:00-9:30 PM
Total Distance: 400 km round trip
9:30 AM – Departure from Tbilisi
Your journey begins heading east toward Kakheti. The drive is scenic—leaving the capital’s urban sprawl for increasingly rural, agricultural landscapes. As you approach the Gombori mountain range that separates Tbilisi’s region from Kakheti, the landscape rises into forested hills.
10:45 AM – Ujarma Fortress
Your first stop is Ujarma Fortress, a dramatically situated medieval stronghold perched on a rocky hill above the Iori River, surrounded by lush forests.
Founded in the 3rd century and expanded through the 7th century, Ujarma controlled the trade route between eastern and western Georgia. Its elevated position with commanding views made it nearly impregnable until the Arab invasion of the 7th century.
What you’ll explore: Fortress walls showing sophisticated medieval military architecture, church ruins of a three-nave basilica, watchtowers with panoramic views, and the romantic, mysterious atmosphere of a partially ruined medieval outpost.
Duration: 40-50 minutes
12:00 PM – Gombori Pass: Gateway to Kakheti
Now begins one of the journey’s most scenic segments: crossing the Gombori mountain range.
As you climb the winding mountain road, the landscape transforms from deciduous forests to mixed conifers. Then you crest the pass, and suddenly spread before you lies the Alazani Valley—Kakheti’s wine country. The valley floor stretches in a patchwork of vineyards, with the snow-capped Greater Caucasus mountains forming the horizon.
We’ll stop for photographs—the view demands it.
1:00 PM – Ikalto Monastery & Academy
Arrive at Ikalto, a monastery complex with remarkable historical and cultural significance.
Founded in the 6th century by one of the thirteen Assyrian fathers, Ikalto served as both a spiritual center and an educational institution. The monastery church, built in the 8th-9th centuries, demonstrates early Georgian ecclesiastical architecture.
Ikalto Academy: Founded in the 11th-12th centuries and expanded by King David IV, this was one of medieval Georgia’s most important educational institutions. The curriculum included theology, philosophy, languages, mathematics, astronomy, and notably, viticulture and winemaking. Ikalto claims to have operated the world’s first formal wine-making education program.
Georgian tradition holds that Shota Rustaveli—Georgia’s greatest medieval poet—studied here.
What you’ll see: Main church still used for worship, academy building ruins, an ancient stone wine press (satsnakheli) demonstrating traditional production methods.
Duration: 40-50 minutes
2:00 PM – Traditional Kakhetian Lunch
Dine at a traditional Kakhetian restaurant serving authentic regional cuisine.
The meal includes: Fresh vegetables and herbs, Kakhetian cheese, pkhali (vegetable pâtés with walnut paste), khinkali (dumplings), mtsvadi (grilled meat skewers), shoti bread fresh from the tone oven, churchkhela (traditional grape-must candy), and of course, unlimited local wine.
Your guide will lead traditional Georgian toasts (tamada tradition), explaining the cultural significance of toasting in Georgian life. This isn’t just lunch—it’s immersion in supra culture.
Duration: 60 minutes
3:30 PM – Gremi Historical Complex
One of Kakheti’s most picturesque historical sites, Gremi served as the Kingdom of Kakheti’s capital from the 16th to 17th centuries and was a major Silk Road trading center.
The Church of the Archangels: Built in 1565 by King Levan, this beautifully preserved church features brilliant interior frescoes—remarkably well-preserved 16th-century paintings depicting biblical scenes and portraits of King Levan and his family.
The Bell Tower: Climb to the upper levels for spectacular 360-degree views across Kakheti—vineyards stretching to the Caucasus mountains.
Museum: Archaeological finds, medieval weapons, household items, religious artifacts.
Gremi has a melancholic beauty—the ruins of what was once a thriving Silk Road capital, destroyed by Shah Abbas I in 1615, now a peaceful hilltop with church bells and wind.
Duration: 50-60 minutes
5:30 PM – Bodbe Monastery
One of Georgia’s most important spiritual sites, housing St. Nino’s tomb.
In the 4th century, St. Nino converted King Mirian III and Queen Nana, making Georgia one of the world’s first Christian nations in 337 AD. After her missionary work, she retired to Bodbe where she lived until her death.
What you’ll experience: The convent church with St. Nino’s tomb beneath the altar, beautifully maintained monastery gardens, and the peaceful atmosphere of a working convent.
The Healing Spring (optional): A steep path (200+ steps) descends to a sacred spring believed to have miraculous healing properties. Those who prefer can remain at the monastery.
Duration: 20-30 minutes
6:00 PM – Sighnaghi: Town of Love
As the day’s final light gilds the landscape, arrive at Georgia’s most romantic town.
Why “Town of Love”? Sighnaghi operates a 24-hour wedding registry—couples can marry any time without appointments. This attracted eloping couples and created its romantic reputation.
Exploring Sighnaghi: Walk the remarkably preserved 18th-century defensive walls (4 km with 23 towers) for spectacular views. Wander pastel-colored streets with distinctive wooden balconies. Browse wine shops offering boutique Kakhetian wines and art galleries. Watch sunset paint the Alazani Valley and Caucasus mountains.
Free time: 45-60 minutes to explore independently—walk the walls, browse shops, enjoy wine at a terrace café, or simply absorb the atmosphere.
Duration: 45-60 minutes
7:00 PM – Return to Tbilisi
As stars emerge in the clear rural sky, begin the westward journey back to Tbilisi (approximately 2 hours). Arrival approximately 9:00-9:30 PM with drop-off at your hotel.
Price details
PAX | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Price in USD | 110$ | 95$ | 80$ | 75$ | 70$ |
What’s Included
Tour map
Tbilisi
Ujarma Fortress
Gombori Pass
Ikalto Monastery
Gremi Citadel
Bodbe Monastery
Sighnaghi
Tour gallery
Practical Information
Duration: 11-12 hours (very full day)
Distance: 400 km round trip
Activity Level: Easy to moderate (walking on uneven ground at sites)
Group Size: Maximum 8 people
What to Wear & Bring
Essential: Comfortable walking shoes (cobblestones, fortress grounds, monastery paths), modest clothing for monasteries (shoulders/knees covered), light jacket or sweater (churches can be cool), sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses), camera with charged battery (lots of photo opportunities!).
Recommended: Light layers (temperatures vary morning to evening), cash (GEL) for personal wine purchases and souvenirs, headscarf for women at monasteries (can borrow at sites), small notebook for wine notes.
Physical Requirements
Walking on uneven ground at fortresses and monasteries, climbing stairs (Gremi bell tower, fortress walls), standing during tours. Optional: Bodbe spring descent (200+ steps, can be skipped). Approximately 3-4 km total walking throughout the day.
Age suitability: Appropriate for ages 12+ (wine tasting and historical content more meaningful for teens and adults). This is a long day—14 hours including driving.
Seasonal Considerations
Spring (April-May): Wildflowers bloom, valleys green, perfect temperatures (18-24°C). Beautiful season.
Summer (June-August): Warm to hot (28-35°C). Vineyards lush and green. Long daylight hours. Peak tourist season—book early.
Autumn (September-October): BEST SEASON! Harvest time (rtveli) fills valleys with activity. Perfect weather (20-28°C). Vineyards turn golden. Book well in advance!
Winter (November-March): Cool (5-12°C) but usually not freezing. Vineyards dormant. Fewer tourists, authentic atmosphere.
Wine Tasting Note
Wine tasting and wine with lunch are central to this experience. If you don’t drink alcohol, you’re absolutely welcome—you’ll receive juice, water, or soft drinks instead, and the cultural, historical, and scenic aspects remain fascinating.
