Gastronomy & Wine Tours

Arrive in Tbilisi and transfer to the hotel.

We start the journey to the homeland of wine with a tour of Tbilisi. The main tourist route of Tbilisi includes a walking tour of the historical part of the capital.

We will find the statue of Toastmaster on Sioni Street, which holds the main artefact of the Georgian feast, horn. The Toastmaster monument and many wine shops scattered in old Tbilisi will assure you that you are really traveling to the homeland of hospitality, vines, and wine.

To get better acquainted with the Georgian wine culture, we will travel to Kakheti region, which is the “Cradle of Wine”. First, we visit the fortified town – Sighnaghi, which leaves a special impression with its beautiful streets and distinctive natural location.

We complete the first day of the trip to the homeland of wine in the middle of Kakheti, in the historical city of  Telavi.

After breakfast, we will visit Telavi Agricultural Market, where various types of local products: Georgian spices, traditional sweets – Churchkhela, local watermelon, walnut, or rose rare jams are sold. Then, we will see the Alaverdi Cathedral, built in the 11th century, which is one of the largest religious buildings in Georgia. A visit to Kakheti can’t be without a local family lunch. The kindness of the hosts, the immediacy, the taste of homemade dishes and wine create special emotions around the feast. We continue our journey by visiting the winery in the city of Kvareli, where we will learn the best traditions of wine and cheese mixture. Later we will taste Kakhetian wines in the nearby village.

Today we take the wine route, which leads to the west. On the way, we visit Mtskheta, the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia. In Mtskheta, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Jvari Monastery built in the 6th century and the beautiful Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. From Jvari Monastery there is an amazing panoramic view of the city at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers.

Later we visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which is the largest historical building in Georgia among the survivors and leaves a great impression on the visitor.

Here we will taste the premium wines made by synthesis of traditional Georgian wine technology and classic method. We will also have lunch at restaurant, which offers top-class service and a varied menu.

After visiting the restaurant we will take the road to historical Kutaisi, where we visit Gelati Monastery. The Centuries-old Gelati with beautiful paintings is deservedly included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The next day of travel to western Georgia begins with a visit to the Kutaisi Agricultural Market. Local fruits and vegetables, colourful spices, different types of cheese, or other products arranged neatly on the shelves in different sections are interesting for foreign visitors to see. We continue towards Tskaltubo and visit the Prometheus Cave, which is a natural beauty monument.

In the afternoon we move from Imereti to Samegrelo. The vine and wine culture is more modest in western Georgia than in eastern Georgia. We will visit Martvili, where we taste the distinctive wines and the special cuisine of the region. we return to Kutaisi

On the last day of the trip, we return to Tbilisi, on the way we will taste the unique wines of Imereti and Kartli. Our route passes the industrial city, Chiatura. The journey is made mysterious by the rich nature with narrow valleys and large cliffs, Soviet-era architecture, ropes, mines, and historical monuments. We will visit a family winery in one of the Imeretian villages and taste the rare wines made in the traditional method. In the same family, we share refined Imeretian cuisine. We return to Tbilisi pleasantly drenched with wine.

Departure

Drive over the hills of the Gombori Mountains to the wine country of Kakheti. Visit the ruins of the Academy of   Ikalto and the Alaverdi Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Kakheti. Drive to Telavi, the capital of Kakheti, and stroll through the farmers’ market. In the early afternoon, visit the historic princely residence of  Zinandali, a meeting place for the intellectual elite of Russia and Georgia in the 19th century. Continue to the beautifully situated Mosmieri winery. On a guided tour, you will learn about the differences between the Georgian and European methods of wine production. Afterwards, dinner including wine tasting.

overnight stay in Telavi

Drive via Gremi to the Nekressi Monastery, located on a wooded mountain ridge. Here you will find the oldest church in Georgia (4th century), built in the style of a Zoroastrian fire temple, as well as an ancient Georgian wine cellar in which clay amphoras (Kvevri) are embedded in the ground for storing wine according to the traditional “Georgian” method. Drive along the Georgian Wine Route to Gurjaani with a visit to the double-domed church of Kvelatsminda, and then on to the medieval town of Sighnaghi high above the Alazani Plain. In the evening, return to Tbilisi.

Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

In the morning, a city tour through the old town of Tbilisi. Medieval churches of Metekhi (13th century), Anchiskhati (6th century) and Sioni (13th century), synagogue, mosque and Narikala fortress. Oriental bath district, Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue, where Art Nouveau buildings line up magnificently.

Visit to the wine museum with exhibits from 8,000 years of wine history . Wine tasting in the museum’s 17th century cellars. Dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Overnight in Tbilisi

Drive over the Gombori Mountains to the wine region of Kakheti. Visit the Ikalto Church (8th century) with the ruins of the former academy, where in the 9th century, in addition to philosophy, law and rhetoric, wine growing and wine culture were taught.

In Vardisubani we visit a Kvevri potter . Making Kvevris is a special art that is only mastered by a few masters. Visit the mighty Alaverdi Cathedral (11th century). Drive to Kondoli and visit, including wine tasting. Continue to the administrative center of Telavi and take a short walk to the fortress.

Overnight stay in Telavi.

Visit the former princely residence of Tsinandali , where Prince Alexander Chavchavadze was the first Georgian to produce wine using the European method at the beginning of the 19th century. Guided tour followed by wine tasting. Trip to Napareuli . Visit to the Kvevri Museum , where you can see the various processes of Kvevri production (pressing, “cooking”, self-cleaning, natural filtration).

Overnight stay in Kvareli.

Visit the Nekresi Monastery on a wooded mountain ridge. The monastery includes the oldest church in Georgia (4th century), built in the style of Zoroastrian temples, and an ancient Georgian wine cellar. Continue along the Kakheti Wine Route and visit the Khareba Winery with wine tasting in the underground wine depot, 7.5 kilometers of tunnels cut into the rock.

Continue to the village of Velistsikhe and visit the family winery . Lunch including wine tasting. Continue to Sighnaghi.

Overnight stay at Sighnaghi

In the morning, a tour of the historic town of Sighnaghi on the edge of the vast Alazani plain. Lunch at the family winery . Return to Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi

Drive to the old capital Mtskheta at the crossroads of the Military Road and the Silk Road. Visit to the Jvari Monastery (6th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Continue along the old Silk Road to Ateni. Visit to the winery, The Ateni microzone was already a royal wine-growing region in the 10th century and in medieval literature the Atenuri wine is praised as “wine of kings” and “better than any other” . Shared dinner including wine tasting.

Overnight stay in Ateni

Drive to Uplistsikhe. Located on the caravan route, Uplistsikhe was one of the most important transshipment points for the coveted goods from East and West. Continue to the former princely residence Château Mukhrani , where Prince Ivane Mukhranbatoni produced wine using European methods especially for his foreign guests in the 19th century. Guided tour of the residence and production facility including wine tasting.

Finally, visit the family winery near Mtskheta. A farewell dinner together including wine tasting before returning to Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi

Transfer to the airport is expected early the following morning.

Arrive in Tbilisi and transfer to the hotel.

On the first morning of the trip to Georgia, we walk through the narrow streets of Tbilisi. The walking route of the historical part leads to the ancient churches, synagogues, mosques, colorful wooden houses, sulphur baths, and the Narikala fortress. And then the most delicious part of the day, a visit to the place where Khachapuri is made.

In the morning we visit the Agricultural Market of Tbilisi.  Choosing products in the market with her is an exciting experience.

In the afternoon we visit the ancient city of Mtskheta, where we visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Jvari Monastery built in the 6th century and the beautiful Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Later, we visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which is the largest historical building in Georgia among those left standing and leaves a great impression on the visitor.

Then, we will follow the famous Georgian Military Road to Gudauri.

In the morning we leave for Stepantsminda, which is famous for its breathtaking views of the Great Caucasus. In the first half of the day we visit Gergeti Trinity Church. With its special location and centuries-old history, it really represents the face of Georgia.

In the afternoon we visit a local family and prepare traditional Georgian Khinkali (dumplings) together with the hostess. Khinkali is not only a delicious dish in Georgia, but also a ritual tradition.

After dinner, we will drive to Tbilisi. On the way, we will stop at the colorful Zhinvali Reservoir and visit the beautiful Ananuri complex.

It is impossible to get acquainted with Georgian cuisine without a visit to Kakheti, which is famous not only for its winemaking but also for its outstanding cuisine.

Kakhetian feast is simple, but very rich, distinguished by meat and vegetable hat pair well with wine.

We visit a local family in Kvareli, where we will prepare traditional dishes together with the host.

We take part in the traditional bread baking process and prepare traditional sweets – Churchkhela from grape juice, which will be an interesting culinary experience for us.

After lunch, we visit the Gremi complex. There are many architectural buildings included in the Gremi complex. The visitor will easily get an impression of the greatness and strength of old Gremi.

Then, we see the Alaverdi Cathedral built in the 11th century, which is one of the largest religious buildings in Georgia.

In the cafe near the cathedral, we will taste different types of Georgian national lactic acid product – Matsoni (yogurt).

We are completing a trip to Kakheti with a visit to a small family cellar. Here we taste natural wines produced in a clay amphora (Qvevri) by the traditional method.

In the evening we will return to Tbilisi.

On this day we take the road to the west, and on the way, we’ll see some interesting sights. In the first half of the day, we will visit cave-town, Uplistsikhe. Uplistsikhe was a waypoint on the Silk Road, which passed here. It was one of the oldest settlements and urban centres in the Caucasus. Then we will visit the Stalin Museum in the center of Gori. The museum complex includes the memorial house where Stalin was born and spent his childhood, the exhibition building, and Stalin’s personal carriage.

After visiting the museum, we continue our journey to historical Kutaisi, which is one of the oldest cities in the world. Here will taste Imeretian Satsivi for dinner in Kutaisi. Without Satsivi traditional Georgian festive supper is unfeasible.

In the morning we visit Kutaisi agricultural market. Visiting the market is an interesting experience to get to know people better or to discover the culinary peculiarities of different parts. Then we visit Gelati Monastery. The centuries-old monastery with its beautiful paintings is deservedly included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Our gastronomic adventure continues in western Georgia. We will visit a local family in Martvili, where we will taste a special Megrelian cuisine. The richness and attractiveness of Megrelian cuisine is not only for a variety of dishes but also for the amazing combination of their constituent ingredients. Together with the hostess, we will prepare a masterpiece of Megrelian cuisine – Elarji.

we return to ancient Kutaisi.

In the morning we return to Tbilisi.  On the way, we will see a religious monument with a special architecture – Katskhi pillar. Above, atop the forty-meter pillar is a small monastery where the only monk lives. Imeretian cuisine is considered one of the best in the country by Georgians themselves. We can easily be convinced of this while having lunch at one of the Imeretian families.

The dishes prepared on the “Ketsi” (clay pot) are an essential part of this region. Here we share refined Imeretian cuisine and unique homemade local wines.

We return to Tbilisi with positive emotions.  Our culinary adventure ends with a farewell dinner and once again enjoy the traditional Georgian cuisine and the best combination of premium wines.

Transfer to the hotel and departure.