7-Day Tour of Georgian Winemaking from Tbilisi
Tbilisi, Georgia
Trip Type: Wine Tasting & Winery Tours
Duration: Flexible
The traditional Georgian wine-making method, in clay vessels called Qvevri, has been given a status of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO. While giving the status the following criteria were considered: experience in winery as well as Qvevri making that is widely spread within the whole country, the method was transferred from generation to generation and the role of the tradition in Georgians daily life within social and religious contexts.
Qvevri is a clay vessel of different size, with Georgian origins, were newly pressed out wine is poured, sealed and buried in earth, were the fermentation process is starting. The method has been used for 8000 years in Georgia. The ceremony of traditional wine making process plays big role in Georgian culture and is inseparable part of Georgian cultural identity. The tradition is also very widely used in Georgian folklore.
Qvevri is a clay vessel of different size, with Georgian origins, were newly pressed out wine is poured, sealed and buried in earth, were the fermentation process is starting. The method has been used for 8000 years in Georgia. The ceremony of traditional wine making process plays big role in Georgian culture and is inseparable part of Georgian cultural identity. The tradition is also very widely used in Georgian folklore.
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The traditional Georgian wine-making method, in clay vessels called Qvevri, has been given a status of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO. While giving the status the following criteria were considered: experience in winery as well as Qvevri making that is widely spread within the whole country, the method was transferred from generation to generation and the role of the tradition in Georgians daily life within social and religious contexts.
Qvevri is a clay vessel of different size, with Georgian origins, were newly pressed out wine is poured, sealed and buried in earth, were the fermentation process is starting. The method has been used for 8000 years in Georgia. The ceremony of traditional wine making process plays big role in Georgian culture and is inseparable part of Georgian cultural identity. The tradition is also very widely used in Georgian folklore.Day 1:
Leaving Tbilisi for Sighnaghi. The “Love City” – Sighnaghi, where you will visit the museum and taste Georgian traditional cuisine and wine made by the traditional Georgian method in clay vessels (Qvevri). Following Sighnaghi, the group will visit one of the winery centers in Kakheti – city Gurjaani, where you will learn Georgian traditional winemaking technology and taste different varieties of wine. In the evening, you'll leave with your stay overnight in a hotel in Kvareli.
Day 2:
In Kvareli, you will visit the tunnel that was dug out of the flank of the Greater Caucasus Mountains near Kvareli in Kakheti. The tunnel was originally built by the military towards the end of the 1950s. The rapid development of military technologies, however, rendered the tunnel’s defensive potential obsolete. From that moment on, the tunnel was used to store Kakheti’s finest wines. It has a natural temperature of 12-14˚C throughout the year, ideal for storing and ageing wine. This is where the Winery Khareba stores around 25,000 bottles of its finest wines. Overnight in a hotel in Kvareli.
Day 3:
Leave for Napareul. On the way to Napareuli, you will visit the historical capital of Kakheti – Gremi. In Napareuli, you will visit a wine museum and “Twins” wine cellar. Following Napareuli, the group will visit Alaverdi Monastery and “Matsoni House”, where you can taste some traditional Georgian dairy products. Overnight in a hotel in Telavi.
Day 4:
In the morning, you will visit the Aleksandre Chavchavadze museum in Tsinandali. The museum includes Enoteca, where you can taste local wines. Returning to Telavi, you will visit one of the biggest wine factory in the region – “Teliani Valley”. Leaving Telavi, you will then visit the Old and New Shuamta monasteries. Overnight in a hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 5:
Visiting sightseeing places in Tbilisi, as well the factory of Georgian brandy – Sarajishvili. Late dinner in the restaurant “Funicular” on the mountain Mtatsminda.
Day 6:
Leaving Tbilisi early in the morning for Kutaisi. On the way to Kutaisi, you will visit the Stalin museum in Gori and taste wines in Ateni valley, made by a local winemaker. Following Gori, you will visit the winery “Khareba” in Terjola, where you will taste traditional wines of another region of Georgia – Imereti. In Kutaisi we will visit Bagrati cathedral, that was renovated three years ago. Overnight in a hotel in Kutaisi.
Day 7:
Leaving Kutaisi for Racha. Visiting the Shaori reservoir and historical monument – Nikortsminda. In Racha you will taste wine – Khvanchkara, made from one of the most rare species of grapes, that can be harvested only in the village Khvanchkara due to its unique climate conditions. In the evening leaving for Tbilisi and the end of the tour.
Qvevri is a clay vessel of different size, with Georgian origins, were newly pressed out wine is poured, sealed and buried in earth, were the fermentation process is starting. The method has been used for 8000 years in Georgia. The ceremony of traditional wine making process plays big role in Georgian culture and is inseparable part of Georgian cultural identity. The tradition is also very widely used in Georgian folklore.Day 1:
Leaving Tbilisi for Sighnaghi. The “Love City” – Sighnaghi, where you will visit the museum and taste Georgian traditional cuisine and wine made by the traditional Georgian method in clay vessels (Qvevri). Following Sighnaghi, the group will visit one of the winery centers in Kakheti – city Gurjaani, where you will learn Georgian traditional winemaking technology and taste different varieties of wine. In the evening, you'll leave with your stay overnight in a hotel in Kvareli.
Day 2:
In Kvareli, you will visit the tunnel that was dug out of the flank of the Greater Caucasus Mountains near Kvareli in Kakheti. The tunnel was originally built by the military towards the end of the 1950s. The rapid development of military technologies, however, rendered the tunnel’s defensive potential obsolete. From that moment on, the tunnel was used to store Kakheti’s finest wines. It has a natural temperature of 12-14˚C throughout the year, ideal for storing and ageing wine. This is where the Winery Khareba stores around 25,000 bottles of its finest wines. Overnight in a hotel in Kvareli.
Day 3:
Leave for Napareul. On the way to Napareuli, you will visit the historical capital of Kakheti – Gremi. In Napareuli, you will visit a wine museum and “Twins” wine cellar. Following Napareuli, the group will visit Alaverdi Monastery and “Matsoni House”, where you can taste some traditional Georgian dairy products. Overnight in a hotel in Telavi.
Day 4:
In the morning, you will visit the Aleksandre Chavchavadze museum in Tsinandali. The museum includes Enoteca, where you can taste local wines. Returning to Telavi, you will visit one of the biggest wine factory in the region – “Teliani Valley”. Leaving Telavi, you will then visit the Old and New Shuamta monasteries. Overnight in a hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 5:
Visiting sightseeing places in Tbilisi, as well the factory of Georgian brandy – Sarajishvili. Late dinner in the restaurant “Funicular” on the mountain Mtatsminda.
Day 6:
Leaving Tbilisi early in the morning for Kutaisi. On the way to Kutaisi, you will visit the Stalin museum in Gori and taste wines in Ateni valley, made by a local winemaker. Following Gori, you will visit the winery “Khareba” in Terjola, where you will taste traditional wines of another region of Georgia – Imereti. In Kutaisi we will visit Bagrati cathedral, that was renovated three years ago. Overnight in a hotel in Kutaisi.
Day 7:
Leaving Kutaisi for Racha. Visiting the Shaori reservoir and historical monument – Nikortsminda. In Racha you will taste wine – Khvanchkara, made from one of the most rare species of grapes, that can be harvested only in the village Khvanchkara due to its unique climate conditions. In the evening leaving for Tbilisi and the end of the tour.
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