Kakheti is the region every Georgian talks about with a smile. It is the most fertile corner of the country, the home of qvevri wine and the place where most of the grapes in Georgia are grown. If you only have one day outside Tbilisi and you love food and wine, this is where you should go.
I have guided wine tours in Kakheti for years, and in this guide I will show you the three ways we usually do it: a short tour to Sighnaghi, a long full-day tour to Tsinandali, and a 2-day trip with one night in Telavi. I will also tell you honestly which places are worth your time and which are not.
Which Kakheti Wine Tour Is Right for You?
- Short Kakheti tour (1 day) – family winery, Badiauri bread and cheese, Bodbe Monastery and Sighnaghi. Relaxed pace, ideal for a first visit.
- Long Kakheti tour (1 full day, from 8:30 AM) – everything above plus Tsinandali and a big tasting at Shumi Winery. Best for real wine lovers.
- 2 days / 1 night – the long tour, a night in Telavi, then King Erekle’s palace, the 900-year-old plane tree, Kindzmarauli winery and the Kvareli wine tunnel.
All three are private tours, so you can change the order, skip a stop or stay longer wherever you like. See our Kakheti day trip from Tbilisi and 2-day Kakheti wine tour for full details.
Option 1: Short Kakheti Tour (Tbilisi – Sighnaghi)
This is the classic one-day route and the one most of our guests choose. You see the heart of Kakheti without spending the whole day in the car.
First Stop: KTW Wine Factory (Free Tasting – But Not the Real Story)
On the way from Tbilisi you pass the KTW wine factory, where the tasting is free and you can buy their wine after the visit. It is a convenient stop, but honestly, as a local and a big admirer of Georgian wine culture, I don’t think it shows what Georgian wine really is. It feels too industrial to understand what wine means to Georgians, its traditions and its variety.
That is why I always recommend my guests to continue to a family winery.
Gurami Papa’s Family Winery: Where You Feel Kakheti
My favourite place in Kakheti is a small family marani run by winemaker Gurami – we call it Gurami Papa’s winery. My guests are always welcomed like family here. They see how people really live in Kakheti, learn about our traditions and get exactly the authentic Georgian experience we want to share.
Batono Gurami leads the tasting himself. Every time, I taste my favourite wine here – Kindzmarauli, a naturally semi-sweet red made from Saperavi grapes. And if you visit in fig season, at the end of summer, I always bring my guests fresh figs straight from the tree.
Badiauri: Shoti Bread and Cheese Straight From the Oven
Next is Badiauri, a village famous for its roadside bakeries. This is the place where I simply forget I am working – warm shotis puri baked on the walls of a clay oven (tone) with fresh local cheese is impossible to resist, and I always treat my guests too. Sometimes guests bake the bread themselves in a small masterclass. If you love cooking, also look at our wine tasting and food masterclass in Kakheti.
Bodbe Monastery
Bodbe is one of the most beautiful places in Kakheti and the resting place of Saint Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia. The nuns who live here keep the gardens in perfect shape, and on a clear day you can see the snowy peaks of the Caucasus across the Alazani Valley.
Tip: check the weather before you go. This part of Kakheti is often covered in fog, and on a foggy day you will not see the views at all.
Sighnaghi, the Town of Love
Sighnaghi is only 10 minutes from Bodbe. It is known as the “town of love”, with old city walls, cobbled streets and balconies overlooking the valley. Here you can even give your driver a break and explore the little town yourselves in small electric cars.
After Sighnaghi we stop for a late lunch or early dinner and drive back to Tbilisi.
Option 2: Long Kakheti Tour (Tsinandali and Shumi Winery)
For guests who really love wine, we start earlier, at 8:30 AM, and go deeper into the region.
- Gurami Papa’s family winery – the authentic home tasting described above.
- Bodbe Monastery and Sighnaghi.
- Tsinandali – the house museum of the Chavchavadze family, with its historic park. If guests want, we stop and visit the museum.
- Shumi Winery – a big tasting where local guides explain every detail, both traditional Georgian qvevri technology and European winemaking methods.
After Shumi we drive back to Tbilisi. It is a long day, but you see both sides of Georgian wine: the family marani and a professional winery.
Option 3: Kakheti in 2 Days (Night in Telavi)
If you have time, this is the best way to enjoy Kakheti without rushing.
Day 1: Family Winery, Bodbe, Sighnaghi, Tsinandali and Shumi
The first day follows the long tour. After the tasting at Shumi we check in at a hotel in Telavi for the night.
Day 2: Telavi, Kindzmarauli and the Kvareli Wine Tunnel
- King Erekle II’s palace in Telavi – the home of one of Georgia’s most loved kings, who was born and died here.
- The 900-year-old plane tree – a giant tree in the centre of Telavi.
- Kindzmarauli winery in Kvareli – a tasting and an interesting tour of one of the biggest wineries in the region.
- Kvareli wine tunnel – a tasting inside a tunnel cut into the mountain, with a walk through the vineyards.
- Lunch in Kvareli, then back to Tbilisi.
Details: 2-day Kakheti wine and culture tour.
Local Tips for Your Kakheti Wine Tour
- Check the weather. Fog is common around Sighnaghi and Bodbe; on a clear day the Caucasus views are unforgettable.
- Choose a family winery. Big factories are fine for buying wine, but a family marani is where you understand Georgian wine culture.
- Try Kindzmarauli and Saperavi for reds, and an amber (qvevri) Rkatsiteli if you have never tried orange wine.
- Come hungry. Shotis puri in Badiauri and a Kakhetian lunch are part of the experience.
- Go private if you can. With your own driver you can taste without worrying about the road back.
- Harvest season (Rtveli) usually runs from September to October and is the most lively time to visit.
Kakheti Wine Tour: Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Kakheti from Tbilisi?
Sighnaghi is about 110 km from Tbilisi, roughly 2 hours by car. Telavi is around 2 hours away as well.
Can I see Kakheti in one day?
Yes. The short tour covers a family winery, Badiauri, Bodbe and Sighnaghi comfortably in one day. For Tsinandali and a big winery tasting as well, choose the long tour that starts at 8:30 AM.
Is the KTW wine tasting worth it?
It is free and convenient, but it is an industrial factory. For the authentic experience, add a family winery where the winemaker hosts you himself.
What is the best time for a Kakheti wine tour?
Any time of year works. Late summer brings figs and grapes, September–October is the harvest, and in winter the views of the snowy Caucasus are beautiful on clear days.
Can I combine Kakheti with other regions?
Yes. Many guests do Kakheti one day and Kazbegi the next. Read our guide on how to get from Tbilisi to Kazbegi.
Plan Your Kakheti Wine Tour With a Local
Want to taste Kindzmarauli with Batono Gurami, eat shotis puri in Badiauri and watch the sunset over the Alazani Valley? Message us on WhatsApp or book our private Kakheti day trip from Tbilisi – we will shape the day around what you love.
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