Kakheti Wine Experience – Sighnaghi, Gori & Traditional Georgian Tastings

• Tbilisi-Telavi-Sighnaghi-Gori-Tbilisi

During this tour you will visit

Day 1 - Arrival and Tbilisi City Tour

• Arrival and an evening walk in Tbilisi. Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, and for every traveler, taking a glimpse of the city is a necessity. During our walking tour, you will see the most important parts of old Tbilisi, you with a guide will see Metekhi Cathedral, Bridge of Peace, Bath district and all the famous parts of historical Tbilisi.
• Overnight in Tbilisi

Day 2 - Sightseeing of Kaheti and Its Wine

• After having breakfast in the hotel, meet your guide and driver to start your way to Kakheti, the cradle of wine. In Kakheti, you have a long day full of historical sights. Your first stop after driving through one of the most beautiful roads in Georgia, Gombori is a small town called Telavi. Telavi is the administrative center of the Kakheti region. It is also one of the oldest towns in Georgia. After a short walk in the old town of Telavi, visit the residence of King Erekle II. It was just restored and remade into a museum. Here you can see: numismatic material, late medieval armor, XVII–XIX cc copper items, weapons, etc. The next stop will be the small village of Vardisubani, home to Zaza, a traditional Qvevri maker. Zaza represents the fourth generation of his family engaged in crafting qvevris and making wine. Here, we will taste some of the most traditional Saperavi and Rkatsiteli wines and observe the fascinating process of Qvevri production. We will visit the religious center of Kakheti, Alaverdi Monastery (11th century). Here, you will see the tomb of Father Joseph of Alaverdi (6th century) as well as remarkable 11th-century frescoes. Alaverdi is also renowned for its vineyards and its centuries-old tradition of winemaking. During our visit, we will taste the monastery’s wine. As is well known, Alaverdi Monastery is home to one of the largest wine productions in Georgia. It is largely thanks to the monks of Alaverdi that the ancient tradition of Georgian qvevri winemaking has been preserved to the present day. Moreover, Georgian traditional qvevri winemaking has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Ikalto, our next stop, was the largest educational center in eastern Georgia during the Middle Ages. Today, the ruins of three churches and the academy building have survived.The last site we will visit on this day is the Gremi Historical Complex. Gremi served as the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti in the 16th and 17th centuries. The city consisted of three parts, but only the Archangels' Complex survived the devastating invasions of Shah Abbas I. We will also visit a family-run winery in Eniseli. Begaso Winery is a young boutique winery with a rich history. Here, we will taste their renowned Saperavi wine, enjoy a traditional dinner, and settle in for the night.
• Overnight in Eniseli.

Day 3 - Kakheti Full of Wine and Love

• In the morning, after having breakfast at your hotel, meet your driver and start your tour. We begin our day in the wine region of Georgia, Kakheti. In the morning, visit a local Qvevri maker, Zaza, and taste his wines. The road will take you to Sighnaghi, also called "The City of Love." You’ll take a walk through the streets of the little town. Discover the longest defensive wall in Georgia, the Wall of Sighnaghi, and enjoy unforgettable views of the Alazani valley. The people of Sighnaghi love wine as well, so we will definitely visit Pheasant’s Tears, one of the most famous and renowned restaurants in the region, celebrated for its exceptional wines and distinctive traditional cuisine. The next stop is Bodbe Nunnery, the burial place of the enlightener of Georgia, Saint Nino. We’ll continue our way to Kvareli. Here, we will enjoy breathtaking views and hear fascinating stories about the miraculous Icon of the Iveron Mother of God, as well as learn about the daily life and work of the nuns. Afterward, we will continue our journey to Kvareli. Visit Khareba Winery, located in the tunnels carved in the Caucasus Mountains. Here you will be able to try several types of wine and have a nice tour of the tunnels.
• Transfer to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi

Day 4 - Kartli and Goruli Mtsvane 

• In the morning, after having breakfast at your hotel, meet your driver and start your tour.
• Today, you are going to the central part of Georgia. On the way, visit the Jvari monastery in Mtskheta. Jvari is a UNESCO site. It is located on a hill and has beautiful views of the surrounding area. Continue your way to Mukhrani. Visit Château Mukhrani. This is a big winery in the palace of the duke. Taste four different wines. Possibly have lunch in the restaurant of the winery and enjoy the beautiful gardens that surround the palace. The next stop will be at Iago’s Winery. Iago is a local winemaker who has all the facilities in his house. Taste his Qvevri wines and learn about traditional ways of making wine in Georgia.
• On our way back, we will make a stop in the historic town of Mtskheta and visit the magnificent Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Overnight in Tbilisi

Day 5 - Departure

• In the morning, after having breakfast at the hotel, enjoy your free time. This several hours you can use for shopping.
• Transfer to the airport.
• Departure

Inclusions

• All transfers (1-2 pax by sedan, 3-4 pax by Mercedes Vito or similar, 5-10 pax by Mercedes Sprinter passenger van);
• Sightseeing tour program with English-speaking guide;
• Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
• Bottled drinking water.