Georgia Kakheti Tours

Kakheti Tours explore Georgia's principal wine region, a stretch of rolling vineyards and low hills east of Tbilisi between the Greater Caucasus and the Gombori mountains. Archaeological evidence of winemaking in the area dates back roughly 8,000 years, and Kakheti is widely regarded as one of the oldest wine-producing regions on earth.

Much of that history survives in daily use. The traditional qvevri method, fermenting and aging wine in large buried clay vessels, is still practiced across the region and was recognized by UNESCO as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013. Many tours combine wine tasting with visits to nearby monasteries and historic towns, often as part of a longer Georgia itinerary out of Tbilisi.

Wineries and Qvevri Tastings

Family-run wineries across Kakheti open their cellars for tastings, many still using the same qvevri pits their families have relied on for generations. Visitors can see the clay vessels buried underground, taste amber and red wines made from indigenous grape varieties such as Saperavi and Rkatsiteli, and often join a full Georgian supra, the traditional feast built around a series of toasts. Meals typically include Kakhetian bread baked in a clay tone oven and dishes flavored with local walnuts, pairing naturally with the region's wine.

Telavi and the Historic Towns

Telavi, Kakheti's regional capital, sits at the center of the wine country and makes a natural base for exploring the surrounding villages. Nearby, the walled town of Sighnaghi overlooks the Alazani Valley from a hilltop and is known for its preserved 18th-century streets and views toward the Caucasus.

Alaverdi Cathedral

Alaverdi Cathedral rises from the Alazani plain northwest of Telavi, built in the 11th century under King Kvirike III and standing among the tallest religious buildings in Georgia. Vineyards surround the cathedral grounds, tended by resident monks who continue to produce wine using qvevri methods, linking the site's religious and agricultural roles.

Nekresi and Ikalto

Nekresi Monastery sits on a forested hill above the Alazani Valley, founded in the 4th century and ranking among the oldest Christian sites in Georgia. Its grounds combine several churches built across different periods with a working winery still producing wine on site. West of Telavi, the Ikalto Academy dates to the 6th century and once combined a monastery with a school of theology and the sciences, its stone wine cellars still visible among the ruins.

David Gareja

The cave monastery complex of David Gareja is carved into the border hills with Azerbaijan, a semi-desert landscape unlike the vineyards further north in Kakheti. The David Gareja Desert Jeep Tour – Sabereebi Caves & Kakheti Off-Road Adventure reaches the more remote cave complexes by off-road vehicle across this terrain, combining the monastery with the nearby Sabereebi caves.

Best Time to Visit Kakheti

September and October coincide with the grape harvest, known locally as rtveli, when many wineries invite visitors to take part in the picking and pressing. Spring brings green vineyards and mild weather, while the harvest season remains the most popular time to combine wine tasting with the region's rural festivals.