Tour Overview
Cradle of wine
Cradle of wine – Kakheti is the most important region for winemaking, characterized by its unique vine grape varieties, unusually well suited climate, topography, and centuries of exceptional winemaking experience. As interest in natural and artisan wine making increases, a great deal of attention has recently been falling on Georgia’s ancient tradition of quevri wine-making. This method of wine-making dates back over 7000 years. In 2013, the traditional Georgian qvevri (kvevri) wine-making method was recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Signagi
Signagi – City of wine and love, as it is being called in recent years. It is famous for its long city walls: there are well preserved 4.5 kilometer of stone walls – which stretch along small mountain ridges Museum of Signagi – history of the city, the region, and look at the rare works by Niko Pirosmani and Lado Gudiashvili.
Telavi
Telavi – the capital of the Eastern province of Kakheti, is home to several of the region’s world-famous wineries, art museums, castles and a theater highlighting folk singing and dancing.
Bodbe Monastery
Bodbe Monastery – Located two kilometers far from the Sighnaghi, this beautiful monastery is one of the most important places for Georgians, because St. Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia, is buried there. Strolling through the magnificent monastery garden makes you feel calmed down and relaxed… You can also go down to the holy spring of St. Nino, and plunge into healing cold water.
David Gareja Monastery.
One of the best day trips from Tbilisi, according to the Lonely Planet, if not the best one, is a trip to the incredible David Gareja Monastery. The complex of David Gareja is just about one hour from Tbilisi, and I agree it can’t be missed (at the end of this post you’ll see how to travel to David Gareja from Tbilisi).
Davit Gareja was built in the 6th Century by Assyrian Priests sent to strengthen Christianity in Georgia. The complex consists of 13 monasteries spread out in the hills of this semi-desert area around what is today the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Davit Gareja was built in the 6th Century by Assyrian Priests sent to strengthen Christianity in Georgia. The complex consists of 13 monasteries spread out in the hills of this semi-desert area around what is today the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Kvareli
Kvareli - The small, pretty town of Kvareli is located 150 kilometers from Tbilisi, and is both an interesting place for a day trip, and the starting point for a longer tour throughout Kakheti. Wine lovers, nature fans, and history connoisseurs will all find something for themselves here! Wine is the blood of Kakheti and of Georgia, and Kvareli is an important vessel.
Tsinandali
Tsinandali – Lopota - Chavchavadze house museum – Chavchavadze was also the first Georgian noble to produce and bottle Georgian wine according to European methods. His vineyard is still cultivated to this day. Visitors can see a bottle of Saperavi wine from 1839, the first harvest at Tsinandali. There are also 16,500 bottles of other sorts of wines.
Garden – The Tsinandali garden occupies 18 hectares of land. The park is richly inhabited by European, Asian and American exotic plants.
Garden – The Tsinandali garden occupies 18 hectares of land. The park is richly inhabited by European, Asian and American exotic plants.
