Travel Notes · Wine
A wine day in Kakheti
Eight thousand years of winemaking, two hours from Tbilisi. Here is how to make the most of one day.
Getting there
The easiest way is a driver for the day, booked through GoTrip or your hotel, so nobody has to drive after the tastings. Minibuses from Samgori go to Sighnaghi and Telavi.
Morning: Bodbe and Sighnaghi
Visit Bodbe Monastery, resting place of Saint Nino, then walk the walls of Sighnaghi with views over the Alazani Valley.
Midday: a family cellar
Small family wineries welcome visitors for a tasting and a home-cooked lunch. Ask to see the qvevri buried in the floor.
Afternoon: Tsinandali or Alaverdi
Tour the Chavchavadze estate at Tsinandali, or see Alaverdi Cathedral where monks still make wine.
What to taste
Saperavi (deep red), Rkatsiteli and Kisi in amber qvevri style, and the semi-sweet Kindzmarauli. Finish with a small glass of chacha.
Best time
September and October, during the rtveli harvest, when families pick and press grapes and everyone is invited to help.