We explored Georgia‘s traditional and famous Full Day Wine Tour to Kakheti from Tbilisi. Kakheti is an eastern part of Georgia, a favorite for its fertile lands for cultivating wine grape varieties. It is believed that the Grapevine was developed in Georgia about 8000 years ago and produces 500 varieties of grapes.
👉🏼Perfect Georgia Itinerary 5 Days – Plan A Trip To Georgia
The word “wine” is derived from the Georgian language called “ghvino”. Also, many people term Georgia as “Cradle of Wine” because Archaeologists have discovered ancient winemaking clay vessels dating 5th-4th B.C. from this region. Therefore Full Day Wine Tour to Kakheti from Tbilisi is worth doing for all first-timers to Georgia.
Wine Tour In Georgia
Let’s start our wine tour in Georgia with all important tips to know before you plan this day trip from Tbilisi.
Tbilisi to Kakheti
We visited the local winery by private car guided by an English-speaking Georgian guide. The duration of this trip is around 9 to 10 hours. We saw “Winery Khareba,” which is 7.7 km long, a man-made tunnel under the Caucasus mountain range in the Kakheti region/town about 85km from Tbilisi(capital city of Georgia) a major airport of this country).
As this journey along the mountains, the road overlooks beautiful Alazani Valley and many lakes.
After a few stops in between for viewing different historical places like Fort, David Gareja Monastery, Signaghi, the Lover’s city, and Lopota Lake, we reached Khareba Winery.
Packages at Khareba Winery | Full Day Wine Tour to Kakheti from Tbilisi – Georgia – Things to do in Georgia
Khareba Winery offers four different packages for visitors to purchase – the best wine tour in Georgia
- Only viewing of tunnels and no Tasting.
- Tunnel Visit & tasting 2 types of Qvevri Wine Tasting.
- Tunnel Visit – Tasting 4 types of Wine and Learn to Bake of Georgian Bread.
- Same as the Third one with 3 add-on varieties to taste plus a barbeque.
We took the 2nd option, which is costing about 15 Lari(6 USD Dollars) per person.
All listed packages are inclusive of Guide. We can opt for English or Georgian-speaking guided tours across the winery. Blankets are provided at the entrance, as tunnels are chilled because of the natural temperature of the Caucasus. Read some wine-tasting tips and wine tasting outfits so that you don’t ruin your whole day.
After borrowing blankets, our English-speaking guide took us to the tunnel part. There are 15 man-made tunnels interconnected and have a natural temperature of 10 degrees Celsius to 11 degrees Celsius all year round.
She explained the special method of making the Georgian Wines. This method includes grapes pressed (but not filtered) and is kept together for some time. They are then buried underground in clay jars. These clay jars are called “QVEVRI”. The natural temperature of the Caucasus mountains helps in the fermentation of grapes juice turning into specially flavored wine. It is said, that in Georgia, many houses have small underground Wine-cellar.
After visiting tunnels and observing the winemaking process, we came to the Wine Tasting part. It is a lightly dimmed part of a tunnel with many varieties of wine and Georgian cheese. Tbilisi to Kakheti is a perfect day trip for all foodies. Therefore it is one of the best things to do in Georgia.
CHEERS !
Really, it is very much true that Georgian Wines are amazingly sweet.
After tasting we took a small elevator from the tunnel to the top floor for viewing of picturesque countryside, farms, and fields of grape wines surrounding Khareba Winery. Therefore Full Day Wine Tour to Kakheti from Tbilisi is really worth doing for first-timers in Georgia. The road trip from Tbilisi to Kakheti is also very beautiful with farms all around and many nature attractions.
At the exit of Khareba Winery, there is a small shop selling wines, Grape Oil, Cognac and natural forest honey.
Flora and Fauna of this place – Tbilisi to Kakheti
Read about how to ruin a day of Wine Tasting by clicking here…. (Pun involved )
After this beautiful and lovely full-day Wine tour to Kakheti, we returned to Tbilisi at night. Click this link to read other interesting things to do near Tbilisi in Georgia. Visiting Georgia in winters is also fun. Click this to read about what to do in Georgia when it snows.
Before going to Georgia read these tips what you should know……………
NOTE- This is not a sponsored post. All expenses of the tour are done by me. There is no advertising of a specific brand.
All photos are taken by me and use of photos without permission would result into legal action.
DISCLAIMER – The blog’s content is solely my views of a place or a thing. This does not offend any class, religion, ethnicity, or nation. My views can change from time to time. This blog may contain some advertisements or links to commercial products and for that, this site is not responsible after you click those advertisements.
We are independent owners of this site and the views expressed in this are our own. All photographs are owned by the site owner. There can be slight differences in distances, locations, or some details for which the owner of this site is not responsible. This post may contain some affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you. I will earn if you will click through affiliates and make a purchase.