A Georgian Wine Itinerary You’ll Want to Repeat
6 Aug 2026
Planning to travel to Georgia anytime soon? This itinerary follows the grapes through eastern Georgia, mixing winery visits with monasteries, mountain roads, historic towns and enough khinkali to make you sign up for Pilates upon returning home. As you might know, the country has more than 500 indigenous grape varieties, and discovering them together with the ancient local culture is a lot of fun!
Begin in Tbilisi
After you unboard your British Airways or EasyJet flight, give yourself a full day in the capital before heading into wine country. Explore Old Tbilisi, cross the Mtkvari, soak in the sulphur baths and finish with dinner accompanied by Georgian polyphonic singing. If you still have energy, Tbilisi’s bars and clubs can keep you occupied until the bakeries reopen.
Spend two days in Kakheti
Kakheti is Georgia’s largest and best-known wine region: the home of Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi and Kakhuri Mtsvane. Here, amber wines are traditionally fermented with skins, pips and sometimes stems in qvevri buried underground.
Stay overnight rather than attempting to squeeze Kakheti into one frantic day trip. Visit Telavi and its market, enjoy the panorama from Nekresi Monastery and walk along the walls of Sighnaghi. Leave time for at least one hands-on cooking or churchkhela-making class too. Georgian wine makes considerably more sense once you have tried folding khinkali yourself.
For larger producers whose wines you may recognise from UK shelves, consider Giuaani, Shumi, Tbilvino and Winery Khareba. For a smaller-scale experience, try Dakishvili, Babaneuris Marani, Pheasant’s Tears or Okro’s Wine. Other excellent stops include Vazisubani Estate, Nekresi Estate, Ikano Estate, Marani Milorauli, Ghvardzelashvili’s Marani, Lagazi Winery and Kerovani Winery. Book ahead: many Georgian wineries are family homes rather than conventional visitor centres.
Take the mountain road
From Kakheti, cross towards Mtskheta-Mtianeti via Tianeti. The road twists through forests and mountains before joining the Georgian Military Highway near Ananuri Fortress.
From here, continue to Kazbegi for another overnight and a short hike, or return to Tbilisi through Mtskheta. Georgia’s former capital is home to the UNESCO-listed Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Samtavro Monastery.UNESCO describes them as outstanding examples of medieval religious architecture in the Caucasus.
This is also Chinuri and Goruli Mtsvane territory. Château Mukhrani and Iago’s Wine are the best-known local names, while Sevsamora and Villa Mosavali combine wine, food and accommodation.
Follow Chinuri into Shida Kartli
If you prefer to sleep in Tbilisi, explore Shida Kartli as a separate day trip. Begin at Ori Marani in Igoeti, known for artisanal sparkling and still wines, then continue to Iago’s Wine in Chardakhi.
Iago and Marina are Georgia’s natural-wine pioneers, and Marina’s cooking deserves its own fan club. Their Chinuri shows just how different Georgian white wine can taste beyond Kakheti.
Save one day for Bolnisi
South of Tbilisi, Bolnisi brings together Georgian wine and the legacy of the Swabian Germans who settled here in the nineteenth century. Visit theBolnisi Museum, explore the historic German quarter and arrange a visit to the Georgian-German Wine House.
Complete the day with tastings at Brothers’ Cellar and Disveli Estate. Bolnisi has its own appellation of origin, yet receives far fewer visitors than Kakheti, so you are more likely to meet winemakers than tour buses.
That is eastern Georgia covered (or at least your first attempt!) The western grapes, hillside vineyards and more tender style of wines deserves another journey, and another article.
