Food & Wine Tour of Georgia

(7 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Tbilisi with Kakheti & Kartli

Georgia is considered one of the birthplaces of wine, and this private tour of Georgia focuses on the unique history and qualities of wines in Georgia’s top two wine regions, Kakheti and Kartli, as well as the delicious local foods that complement them.

Begin in Tbilisi, the riverside capital of Georgia. Also enjoy a private cooking demonstration to learn to make Georgian specialties such askhinkali (dumplings) and khachapuri (cheese bread). During private city touring, visit the Old Town, and walk winding streets past colorful traditional houses. See the impressive ramparts of Narikala Fortress and the monumental Mother of Georgia statue in the hills above. Visit the Abanotubani bath district, where bathhouses have provided access to Tbilisi’s natural hot springs for centuries. See revered religious sites such as Sioni Cathedral, the Juma Mosque and the Great Synagogue. Visit Freedom Square, and stroll along tree-lined Rustaveli Avenue past elegant historical buildings that house the Parliament of Georgia and major cultural institutions. Tour the archaeological highlights of the Georgian National Museum. See bold recent architecture such as the Bridge of Peace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. Also visit a bustling food market and top local boutiques. If desired, ride the funicular up Mount Mtatsminda or the gondola to Narikala Fortress for panoramic views.

Continue to the beautiful Kakheti wine region, the most important wine region in Georgia. Among the vineyard-draped hills and river valleys, learn about the 8,000-year history of winemaking in Georgia, including the traditional use of qvevri (giant clay amphorae) for fermenting and aging. During private wine tastings, meet a maker of traditional qvevri and sample wines made from indigenous grapes such as Saperavi and Rkatsiteli. Visit Kakheti’s most interesting villages, such as Sighnaghi, a charming hill town with traditional architecture and panoramic views of the rural Alazani Valley and the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. At Tsinandali Estate, sample local wines and tour the restored house of a 19th-century Georgian aristocrat. Upon request, we can arrange additional touring in the region such as driving over scenic Gombori Pass, touring rock-hewn Davit Gareji Monastery, and visiting the 11th-century Alaverdi Monastery and its winery. One evening, experience a typical supra (Georgian feast with lots of toasting and good cheer).

Return to Tbilisi and one day, venture to the Kartli wine region. Enjoy a tour and wine tasting at Chateau Mukhrani, a top Georgian winery and vineyard estate centered on a 19th-century palace. Stop in Mtskheta—the ancient capital of Georgia, an important Christian pilgrimage destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Jvari Monastery, a landmark sixth-century structure that sits high atop a hill with commanding views over the region. Also tour the venerated 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which is deeply connected to the Georgian Orthodox Church and contains the tombs of renowned Georgian kings and religious patriarchs. Continue to Uplistsikhe, a centuries-old cave city with rock-cut churches, residences and other structures carved into a stone mountain overlooking the Kura (Mtkvari) River.