Wine Escape

TBILISI – BODBE – SIGHNAGHI – GURJAANI – TBILISI

Pick up from indicated hotel in Tbilisi – tour to Kakheti region (110 km to the first destination, Bodbe).

Kakheti is synonymous with wine. There are hundreds of different grapes grown here, and every village has its own particular variety. Kakhetians are usually characterized as less effusive than West Georgians, but very hospitable.

Visit to The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe(9th century), nested among tall Cypress trees on a steep hillside overlooking the Alazani Valley, where it commands breathtaking views of the Greater Caucasus mountains.

Proceed to Sighnaghi (2 km from Bodbe), Kakhetian town surrounded by ancient wall, settled since the Paleolithic period.

Sighnaghi offers picturesque landscapes, pastel houses and narrow, cobblestone streets. Located on a steep hill, Sighnaghi overlooks the vast Alazani Valley, with the Caucasus Mountains visible at a distance. (Walking tour of Sighnaghi, Photography, enjoying landscapes).

Drive to Gurjaani (23 km from Sighnaghi) and visiting Local Wine House, a family business run by locals, who do not like to call it a “business”, but rather “Sharing Georgian hospitality and traditions“.

Taking masterclasses in baking Georgian bread – “Shoti“, Georgian cheese-filled bread – “Khachapuri” and traditional Georgian sweet – “Churchkhela“. You will have an opportunity to attend the brewing of Georgian Vodka (“Zavodoba”), which is very interesting process; you will also see how traditional Georgian bread is baked and how Churchkhela is made. Brief lecture will be provided about masterpieces of Georgian cuisine, such as Khachapuri, Khinkali, Mtsvadi and many other Georgian dishes. You will have an opportunity to participate in this process and master old Georgian culinary technologies and finally taste the dishes made by your own hands. All this will be provided in a pleasant ethnographic environment decorated with old Georgian exhibits and other interesting things.

Wine tasting: Kakheti region is famous for its ancient wine growing traditions and hospitality. As a guest of the wine house you have an opportunity to taste several kinds of wine produced by family methods as well as by factory methods. There is 2 centuries old press (equipment used for wine squeezing), which is until now used for the purpose of making wine and which presents the pride of the cellar. Here you can also see old earthen crocks (“kvevri”), where different types of wine are stored. Guests can bottle wine which they take out of “kvevri” with their own hands and purchase it in a sealed condition.

And now it’s time for Georgian “SUPRA” – which means “feast“, but is something more than that, much more unique and unforgettable. While enjoying various assortment of delicious Georgian dishes, your host family dressed in national clothing – Chokha, will make sure to provide you with loads of moments to remember.

Return to Tbilisi(115 km from Gurjaani); Drop off at indicated hotel.