Family Wineries — Not Tourist Factories
We visit small family estates that do not work with group tour aggregators. The owners meet guests personally, show their qvevri, and talk about winemaking — it is a conversation between people, not a scripted performance.
The first stop is a winery in the Telavi district specialising in Rkatsiteli on extended maceration — what the West now calls "orange wine". Amber-coloured, full-bodied, with grippy tannins: on the international natural wine scene this is a revelation, but in Kakheti people have made wine this way for thousands of years.
The second winery is on the Tsinandali estate, adjacent to the palace-museum of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze. The focus here is on classic red varieties — Saperavi, Mukuzani — made in the European style. Tasting at Tsinandali includes a tour of the historic cellars where the prince's 19th-century wine collection (over 16,000 bottles) is still preserved intact.
What You Will Learn
Timur will explain the difference between the Kakhetian and Imeretian methods of winemaking, why orange wine is neither white nor red, how to taste wine properly, and what pairs with Georgian dishes. He adapts the level of detail to the group — whether you are a complete beginner or have visited wine regions before, the tour works for you. Read more: Kakheti Day Trip Guide.
The Route in Detail
We begin in the picturesque Telavi wine district, home to family wineries that take pride in their centuries-old traditions. Here you can watch grapes fermented in qvevri — enormous clay vessels sealed with beeswax and buried in the earth — and learn about the grape varieties native to Kakheti. Winemakers explain their methods and share the decisions behind each vintage. During the tasting you will try both red and amber wines, as well as compare the difference between qvevri wine and wine made by European methods.
After the first stop we continue to the Tsinandali estate in the village of Tsinandali, famous across Georgia as the home of poet-prince Chavchavadze. The estate's setting — surrounded by a centuries-old park and looking toward the Alazani valley — is among the most beautiful in Kakheti. The winery produces some of the region's most refined wines, and the combination of museum, park, and cellar makes this stop genuinely special. We end the day at a private family cellar where the winemaker pours directly from the qvevri at a stone table — wine, cheese, walnuts, and stories. This is not designed for tourists; it is simply how this family shares their wine.
Throughout the tour Timur shares facts about winemaking traditions, the geography of the Alazani valley, and the history of Kakheti as a region. At each winery you will meet the people behind the wine and have the chance to ask questions about a craft passed down through generations.
Why Choose This Tour
What makes this tour different
- 2-3 family wineries — not commercial factories. I know each family personally and choose hosts who have not been spoiled by mass tourism.
- Tasting 8-12 varieties including rare amber qvevri wines impossible to find in shops.
- Private group of up to 7 — you are never with strangers from a bus.
- Timur drives, you taste. No need to worry about the return journey.
- Direct conversation with winemakers — translation and context provided.
- Flexible pace — if you want to spend more time somewhere, we stay.
Included
- Private transfer from Tbilisi and back
- English-speaking guide (Timur)
- 3 winery visits with tastings
- 6-10 wines total
- Lunch at family guesthouse
- Tsinandali estate tour
Not Included
- Wine purchases to take home
- Additional drinks
- Personal purchases
Timur's Tip
Georgian qvevri wine is above all about the vessel. A clay amphora holding 200 to 3,000 litres is buried in the earth, filled with whole-cluster grapes, and sealed for six months. The result is amber wine with tannins — unfamiliar to those who have only tasted European wine, but genuinely unique. I recommend the "Giorgoba" family winery in Telavi: father and son, qvevri in the ground since 1978, and their Rkatsiteli at ₾15 a bottle is better than most of what is sold in Tbilisi's wine shops. In October it is rtveli — the grape harvest — and if you come then, the family will invite you to stomp grapes with your feet. This is not put on for tourists; it is simply how the harvest works.
Practical Information
The wine tour departs from your hotel in Tbilisi between 09:00 and 10:00. Return to Tbilisi by 19:00-20:00. The tasting covers 10-15 varieties of Georgian wine: from classic Saperavi and Rkatsiteli to rare amber qvevri wines. Timur drives throughout the day — you focus entirely on tasting. Group size: up to 7 people.
What to Know Before You Go
Georgian qvevri wine is produced with 3 to 6 months of skin contact — the result is the amber (orange) colour and tannin structure that distinguish it from both conventional white and red wine. The taste is unlike European wine: more nutty, with a longer finish, and often more complex. I recommend trying at least one qvevri wine — there is no equivalent experience anywhere else in the world. Wine can be purchased at the winery for ₾8-15 per bottle (the same wine costs ₾25-40 in Tbilisi). Bring a bag if you plan to buy bottles to take home.
What to Wear
Comfortable shoes and light clothing. The wineries involve walking on gravel paths and into cellars (slightly cool year-round). In summer, bring sunscreen and a hat — the Kakheti valley is significantly warmer than Tbilisi. In autumn, a light jacket for the evenings.
Ready to book?
Timur is a private tour with a 4.9 rating, groups of up to 7, hotel pickup, and 10% deposit to confirm. Response within 24 hours.
More about the private tour →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need wine knowledge to enjoy the tour?
No. Timur explains each wine in accessible English without jargon. The tour is designed for wine lovers of all levels — from complete beginners to experienced tasters. If you are already knowledgeable about wine, the qvevri method will open a genuinely new chapter.
How long is the tour and what is included?
10 hours including travel. Three winery visits, 6-10 wines, and lunch at a family guesthouse are all included in the ₾225 price. The only additional costs are wine bottles you choose to purchase and personal drinks beyond the tasting.
Can I buy wine to take home?
Yes. Each winery sells bottles directly at prices well below Tbilisi retail — ₾8-15 per bottle for wines you simply cannot find elsewhere. Budget ₾30-80 if you want to take a small selection home. Georgian customs allow up to 3 litres of wine per person in checked luggage.
When is the best time to visit Kakheti?
The wine tour runs year-round. The most spectacular time is October during the rtveli grape harvest — you can watch and often join the harvest at the family winery. Spring (April-May) is also excellent: the vineyards are in fresh leaf, weather is mild, and the wines from the previous autumn harvest are newly released. Summer is hot but the wineries are open; winter visits have the advantage of near-empty roads and the cellars stay a constant cool temperature throughout.
Book This Tour
Timur · Sakhva Travel · licensed guide No. 8247109128 · rating 4.9 · 500+ guests
