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

✓ Ujarma Fortress – 3rd-7th century strategic stronghold in forested hills
✓ Gombori Pass – Mountain crossing with spectacular Alazani Valley panoramas
✓ Ikalto Monastery & Academy – 6th-century monastery with medieval wine-making academy
✓ Gremi Historical Complex – 16th-century royal fortress with frescoed church
✓ Authentic Kakhetian Lunch – Traditional feast with local wine
✓ Bodbe Monastery – Sacred pilgrimage site with St. Nino’s tomb
✓ Sighnaghi – Town of Love – Romantic hilltop town with 24-hour wedding registry
✓ Alazani Valley Views – Caucasus mountain backdrop over endless vineyards

Kakheti: Where Wine Was Born

8,000 Years of Unbroken Tradition

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 and wine culture. While other ancient civilizations came and went, Georgians never stopped making wine, not through Persian invasions, Mongol devastations, Ottoman occupations, or Soviet collectivization. Wine survived because it’s inseparable from Georgian identity.

The Qvevri Method: Ancient Alchemy

Georgian traditional winemaking is fundamentally different from European methods:

Qvevri (clay vessels): Large egg-shaped clay vessels (300-3,000 liters) are buried in the ground up to their necks. The Earth’s constant temperature naturally regulates fermentation and aging.

Whole-cluster fermentation: Unlike European winemaking, where white wines are made from juice only, 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 and structured like reds.

Natural process: Traditional winemakers use no additives, no temperature control (beyond earth’s natural cooling), no cultured yeasts—just grapes, clay, and time. The result is living, breathing wine that tastes of place and tradition.

A living tradition: In Kakheti, nearly every family has qvevri buried in their cellar or courtyard. Winemaking isn’t commercial—it’s familial, spiritual, cultural. Georgians don’t just make wine; they make a connection to their ancestors and their land.

Indigenous Grapes: Varieties Found Nowhere Else

Georgia cultivates over 500 indigenous grape varieties—more than any other country. In Kakheti, you’ll primarily 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.

Your Wine Country Journey

09:30 AM – Departure from Tbilisi: Eastward to Wine Country

Your journey begins with departure from Tbilisi, heading east toward Kakheti. The drive itself 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. This is the gateway to Georgia’s wine country.

10:45 AM – Ujarma Fortress: Ancient Guardian of the Trade Route

Your first stop is Ujarma Fortress, a dramatically situated medieval stronghold perched on a rocky hill above the Iori River, surrounded by lush forests.

Historical Significance:

Founded in the 3rd century and expanded through the 7th century, Ujarma served as a crucial defensive and administrative center controlling the trade route between eastern and western Georgia. Its strategic position—elevated above the river with commanding views in all directions—made it nearly impregnable.

The fortress flourished for centuries until the Arab invasion of the 7th century, when it was largely destroyed. The ruins that remain tell stories of centuries of Georgian resistance against invaders from east and south.

What You’ll Explore:

• Fortress Walls – Sections of the defensive perimeter survive, showing sophisticated medieval military architecture
• Church Ruins – The remains of a three-nave basilica within the fortress walls
• Watchtowers – Climb to elevated positions for views across the surrounding forests and valleys
• Strategic Position – Understanding why this location was chosen and defended for centuries

The Setting:

What makes Ujarma particularly memorable is its setting—dramatically positioned hills, surrounding forests, the river valley below, and the sense of remoteness despite being relatively close to main roads. It feels like discovering a forgotten medieval outpost.

In spring, wildflowers dot the hillsides. In autumn, the forests turn gold and crimson. The fortress has a romantic, mysterious atmosphere enhanced by its partial ruin and natural setting.

Time at Ujarma: 40-50 minutes

12:00 PM – Gombori Pass: The Gateway to Kakheti

Now begins one of the journey’s most scenic segments: crossing the Gombori mountain range via the Gombori Pass.

The Ascent:

As you climb the winding mountain road, the landscape transforms from deciduous forests to mixed conifers. The air cools and freshens. The views become increasingly expansive.

The Summit & Panoramic Revelation:

Then you crest the pass, and suddenly, spread before you like a promised land, lies the Alazani Valley—Kakheti’s wine country.

The valley floor stretches away in a patchwork of vineyards, orchards, and villages. Beyond, rising like a distant wall, the Greater Caucasus mountains form the horizon, snow-capped peaks gleaming in the sun.

This moment—this view—is when you truly understand Kakheti’s geography and beauty. It’s a fertile valley sheltered between two mountain ranges, blessed with sun, protected from harsh northern winds, with rivers flowing from the Caucasus to water the vines.

We’ll stop for photographs. The view demands it.

The Descent:

As you descend into Kakheti proper, vineyards begin appearing. First scattered, then increasingly dominant until the landscape becomes an endless green sea of grapevines. During harvest season (September-October), you’ll see families working in vineyards, tractors hauling grapes, the whole valley engaged in the ancient rhythm of harvest.

01:00 PM – Ikalto Monastery & Academy: Wine, Faith & Learning

Arrive at Ikalto, a monastery complex with remarkable historical and cultural significance.

The Monastery’s History:

Founded in the 6th century by one of the thirteen Assyrian fathers (Syrian monks who strengthened Christianity in Georgia), Ikalto served as both a spiritual center and an educational institution for centuries.

The monastery church, built in the 8th-9th centuries, demonstrates early Georgian ecclesiastical architecture—simple, powerful forms in local stone with minimal decoration.

Ikalto Academy: Medieval Center of Learning

But Ikalto’s true fame rests on its academy, founded in the 11th-12th centuries and significantly expanded by King David IV (the Builder) in the 12th century. Ikalto Academy was one of medieval Georgia’s most important educational institutions, training scholars, theologians, and administrators during Georgia’s Golden Age.

The curriculum was comprehensive:

• Theology and religious studies
• Philosophy and rhetoric
• Languages (Greek, Latin, Armenian, Persian)
• Mathematics and astronomy
• Natural sciences
• Music and poetry
• And notably: viticulture and winemaking

The World’s First Wine-Making Education:

Ikalto Academy claims to have operated the world’s first formal wine-making education program. While this assertion is difficult to verify definitively (records from the medieval period are incomplete), it’s certainly plausible given:

1. Georgia’s 8,000-year winemaking tradition
2. Wine’s central role in Georgian culture and Orthodox liturgy
3. The academy’s comprehensive curriculum, including practical sciences
4. The importance of vineyard management and wine production to the Georgian economy

Whether literally “first” or not, Ikalto represents the institutionalization of wine knowledge—the transformation of traditional craft into systematic education. This captures something essential about Georgian wine culture: it’s not just folk tradition, but sophisticated knowledge passed intentionally through generations.

Exploring the Complex:

• Main Church – The 8th-9th-century monastery church, still used for worship
• Academy Buildings – Ruins of the medieval academy structures
• Wine Press (Satsnakheli) – An ancient stone wine press on the grounds, demonstrating wine production methods
• Atmospheric Grounds – Peaceful monastery grounds with old trees and the sense of centuries of learning and prayer

The Shota Rustaveli Connection:

Georgian tradition holds that Shota Rustaveli—Georgia’s greatest medieval poet and author of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”—studied at Ikalto Academy. While not definitively proven, the association connects this place to Georgia’s literary golden age.

Time at Ikalto: 40-50 minutes

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02:00 PM – Traditional Kakhetian Lunch: A Feast

It is lunch time already.

The Restaurant:

You’ll dine at a traditional Kakhetian restaurant—often family-run, serving authentic regional cuisine prepared according to local traditions.

The Meal:

Kakhetian cuisine is hearty, flavorful, and wine-friendly. A typical lunch includes:

Cold Appetizers:

• Fresh vegetables – Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs (tarragon, cilantro, parsley)
• Kakhetian cheese – Often homemade, fresh, and salty
• Pkhali – Vegetable pâtés (spinach, beets, beans) with walnut paste
• Ajapsandali – Eggplant and vegetable stew

Main Courses:

• Khinkali – Georgian dumplings, Kakhetian style, are slightly different from the mountain versions
• Mtsvadi – Grilled meat skewers (pork or beef) marinated in Georgian spices
• Chakapuli – Stewed lamb with tarragon, plum, and herbs (spring specialty)
• Or Chakhokhbili – Chicken stew with tomatoes and herbs

Bread:

• Shoti – Traditional Georgian bread from a tone (clay oven)
• Fresh, hot, and essential for Georgian dining

Desserts:

• Churchkhela – Traditional Georgian candy (walnut strings dipped in grape must)
• Fresh fruit – Whatever’s in season
• Pelamushi – Grape must pudding

Wine: Of course, the meal is accompanied by Georgian wine—often, unlimited local wine is included with lunch. Your guide will lead traditional Georgian toasts (tamada tradition), explaining the cultural significance of toasting and wine in Georgian life.

The Experience:

Georgian meals are long, social affairs. There’s no rushing. Courses come gradually. Conversation flows. Wine glasses are refilled. Toasts are made to friendship, to Georgia, to your journey, to peace, to family.

This isn’t just lunch—it’s immersion in Georgian hospitality and supra culture that defines social life here.

Lunch duration: 60 minutes

03:30 PM – Gremi Historical Complex: Royal Fortress

Well-fed and perhaps slightly wine-warmed, you continue to Gremi, one of Kakheti’s most picturesque historical sites.

Historical Background:

Gremi served as the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti from the 16th to 17th centuries, during a period when Georgia was fragmented into separate kingdoms. The town was a major trading center on the Silk Road, connecting Persia, the Caucasus, and Russia.

In 1615, Shah Abbas I of Persia invaded, capturing and destroying Gremi. The town never fully recovered—the capital moved to Telavi—leaving Gremi as a preserved snapshot of 16th-century Kakhetian royal life.

The Royal Citadel:

What survives is the royal citadel, dramatically positioned on a hill:

The Church of the Archangels:
The centerpiece is a beautifully preserved 16th-century church dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Built in 1565 by King Levan of Kakheti, the church exemplifies late medieval Georgian architecture.

Interior Frescoes:
Step inside and brilliant frescoes cover the walls—remarkably well-preserved 16th-century paintings depicting biblical scenes, Georgian saints, and portraits of King Levan and his family. The vibrant colors and artistic sophistication demonstrate Georgian art at a high point.

The royal portraits are particularly significant—detailed enough that we can see individual features, clothing, and royal regalia of Kakhetian monarchs 450 years ago.

The Bell Tower:
The three-story bell tower stands adjacent to the church. Climb to the upper levels for spectacular panoramic views across Kakheti—vineyards stretching away, the Alazani Valley spreading north, the Caucasus mountains on the horizon.

Museum:
The complex includes a museum displaying:

• Archaeological finds from Gremi
• Examples of medieval weapons and armor
• Household items showing daily life in the royal capital
• Religious artifacts and manuscripts
• Architectural details and carved stones

The Atmosphere:

Gremi has a melancholic beauty—the ruins of what was once a thriving capital, now a peaceful hilltop with church bells and wind. The contrast between its former glory as a Silk Road trading hub and its current quiet preservation creates a poignant atmosphere.

The setting is stunning—the citadel’s elevated position, the 360-degree views, the well-maintained grounds, and the architectural grace of the church all combine for one of Kakheti’s most photogenic sites.

Time at Gremi: 50-60 minutes

05:30 PM – Bodbe Monastery: Sacred Pilgrimage Site

As afternoon light begins its golden descent, you visit Bodbe Monastery, one of Georgia’s most important spiritual sites.

St. Nino: Georgia’s Enlightener

To understand Bodbe, you must know St. Nino’s story (also told in our Mtskheta tour, but essential to Kakheti as well):

In the 4th century, a young Cappadocian woman named Nino received a divine vision calling her to convert Georgia to Christianity. She traveled to Mtskheta (then the capital) and through faith, miracles, and determination, converted King Mirian III and Queen Nana in 337 AD, making Georgia one of the world’s first Christian nations.

After her missionary work, St. Nino retired to Bodbe in Kakheti, where she lived her final years in prayer and contemplation. She died here, and King Mirian built a church over her grave in the 4th century.

The Monastery Today:

The current monastery dates to the 9th century and functions as an active convent with resident nuns maintaining spiritual traditions.

What You’ll Experience:

The Main Church:
The convent church houses St. Nino’s tomb beneath the altar, making this one of Georgia’s holiest pilgrimage sites. The interior, while less ornate than some Georgian churches, possesses profound spiritual atmosphere.

Monastery Grounds:
Beautifully maintained gardens offer peaceful spaces for reflection. Old trees, flower beds, and carefully tended grounds create a contemplative environment.

The Healing Spring (Optional):

A steep path (around 200 steps) descends from the monastery to St. Nino’s sacred spring. According to tradition, a spring miraculously appeared where St. Nino prayed, and the water possesses healing properties.

The spring is enclosed in a small chapel in a shaded grotto. Pilgrims drink the water, fill bottles, light candles, and pray. Whether you’re religious or not, the spring’s peaceful setting—cool, shaded, with water flowing continuously—provides a moment of tranquility.

Note: The spring descent is optional—those who don’t want to navigate the stairs can remain at the monastery.

Spiritual Atmosphere:

After a day of fortresses, wine tasting, and feasting, Bodbe offers a different energy—contemplative, peaceful, spiritual. The working convent maintains genuine religious practice, not performance for tourists. You’re witnessing living faith that connects directly to St. Nino’s 4th-century mission.

Time at Bodbe: 20-30 minutes

06:00 PM – Sighnaghi: The Town of Love

As the day’s final light gilds the landscape, you arrive at Sighnaghi—Georgia’s most romantic town, perched on a hilltop overlooking the Alazani Valley with the Caucasus mountains as backdrop.

The Town of Love: Origins of the Name

Sighnaghi earned its romantic nickname for a uniquely Georgian reason: it operates a 24-hour wedding registry.

Couples can arrive at any time—3 AM, Sunday morning, midnight on Tuesday—and get married immediately. No appointments necessary, no waiting periods. Just show up with passports and witnesses, and you’re married within an hour.

This policy was implemented to encourage both Georgian couples and tourists to marry in this beautiful hilltop town. The 24-hour availability attracted eloping couples, spontaneous romantics, and gradually created the “town of love” reputation.

Combined with picture-perfect architecture, stunning views, intimate scale, and pedestrian-friendly streets, Sighnaghi became Georgia’s honeymoon and romantic getaway destination.

The Town’s History:

Founded in the 18th century by King Heraclius II as a fortified settlement for Kakhetian residents, Sighnaghi was designed to protect the local population during periods of conflict. The impressive defensive walls (still intact) stretch 4 kilometers with 23 towers—remarkable fortifications for a town of this size.

Walking Sighnaghi:

The Defensive Walls:
You can walk sections of the remarkably preserved 18th-century fortifications. The walls offer spectacular panoramic views—the Alazani Valley spreading below like a green carpet, vineyards and orchards creating patterns, villages dotting the landscape, and the Greater Caucasus mountains rising as a distant wall. On clear days, you can see across into Azerbaijan.

Traditional Architecture:
Sighnaghi’s charm lies in its beautifully preserved architecture—pastel-colored houses (pinks, yellows, blues, creams) with distinctive wooden balconies overhanging narrow cobblestone streets. The style is uniquely Kakhetian with Italian influences from the 19th century.

Every corner seems designed for photographs—flower boxes overflow from balconies, weathered wooden shutters frame windows, stone stairways lead to hidden courtyards, and the pastel walls glow in the golden evening light.

Main Square & Café Culture:
The central plaza features cafés and restaurants with terraces offering Caucasus mountain views. As evening approaches, locals and visitors fill the terraces, sipping wine and watching the light change on the mountains.

Wine Shops & Cellars:
Sighnaghi has become a center for artisanal wine producers. Small wine shops offer tastings of boutique Kakhetian wines, often from producers you can’t find outside Georgia. Natural wine enthusiasts particularly love Sighnaghi’s wine scene.

Art Galleries:
The town has attracted artists drawn by the light, views, and atmosphere. Small galleries showcase contemporary Georgian art—a nice contrast to the day’s historical sites.

The Romantic Atmosphere:
Whether the “town of love” is marketing or genuine, Sighnaghi undeniably possesses romantic charm:

• The golden-hour light painted everything in warm hues
• Couples strolling hand-in-hand along the walls
• Musicians sometimes play in the square
• The views create natural awe
• The intimate, pedestrian scale encourages slow exploration
• Wine flowing freely
• The pace unhurried

Free Time:

You’ll have 60-75 minutes to explore independently:

• Walk the fortress walls for sunset views
• Browse wine shops and galleries
• Enjoy coffee or wine at a terrace café
• Wander the photogenic streets
• Shop for souvenirs (local crafts, wine, churchkhela)
• Simply absorb the atmosphere

Sunset Timing:

If timing aligns, you’ll witness sunset from Sighnaghi’s walls—the mountains turning pink and purple, the valley below glowing, the sky painted in spectacular colors. It’s a fitting conclusion to a day in wine country.

Time in Sighnaghi: 45-60 minutes

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07:00 PM – Return to Tbilisi

As darkness settles over Kakheti and stars emerge in the clear rural sky, you begin the westward journey back to Tbilisi.

The return drive takes about 2 hours. Most visitors are pleasantly exhausted—from wine, food, walking, sensory experiences, and the sheer amount absorbed in one day.

Your guide remains available for questions, recommendations, or companionable silence as you process a day that ranged from 3rd-century fortresses to medieval academies, from ancient wine traditions to modern natural wine renaissance, from sacred monasteries to romantic hilltop towns.

Arrival in Tbilisi: Approximately 9:00-9:30 PM

Total Distance: 400 km round trip

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What Makes This Kakheti Journey Special

The Real Wine Country Experience
This isn’t a sanitized wine tour hitting commercial wineries. You’re experiencing authentic Kakhetian wine culture—family cellars, traditional qvevri methods, wines that taste of place and tradition, and hospitality that’s genuinely warm rather than performed.

8,000 Years Made Tangible
From Ikalto Academy’s medieval wine education to modern qvevri cellars, you’re experiencing living continuity with 8,000 years of winemaking tradition. This isn’t historical recreation—it’s unbroken practice.

Diversity of Experiences
Few tours combine such range: military fortresses, spiritual monasteries, wine education, authentic feasting, royal palaces, and romantic hilltop towns. It’s history, culture, gastronomy, spirituality, and natural beauty interwoven.

The Alazani Valley Setting
The landscape itself is a character—lush vineyards stretching to dramatic mountains, fertile valleys protected by ranges on both sides, light that painters dream of, and the sense of a blessed land where grapes thrive.

Authentic Hospitality
Georgian hospitality isn’t a cliché—it’s real. From wine cellar owners sharing family traditions to restaurant staff insisting you eat more, you’ll experience genuine warmth that makes Georgia beloved by travelers.

Expert Cultural Guidance
Our guides know Kakheti intimately—the history, the wine, the traditions, the best viewpoints, and countless stories that bring each site to life. They’re not just drivers and translators—they’re cultural interpreters.

The Romance Factor
Whether you’re traveling as a couple, with friends, or solo, Kakheti’s combination of wine, food, stunning landscapes, and places like Sighnaghi creates an inherently romantic atmosphere. This is a journey that appeals to all the senses.