Culinary & Wine Tour in Georgia

This carefully designed Culinary and Wine Tour in Georgia is not only soothing for the palate, but also for the mind and soul. You will experience the spectacular landscape of the Great Caucasus, as well as the ancient culture of the country with its polyphonic songs and Georgian folklore.

For wine lovers, this trip is a unique opportunity to explore the wine country of Georgia, taste outstanding red wines, white wines, sparkling wines, as well as dessert wines and learn about the ancient Georgian method of winemaking in Qvevris (clay amphorae), which is now part of the UNESCO cultural heritage.

On the trip you can also enjoy the culinary highlights of Georgia. We travel through several regions of the country, visit various farming families and taste regional dishes typical of the country, usually accompanied by homemade, traditional wines. During the master cooking classes, you will also get the opportunity to prepare your favourite dishes yourself.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Georgia

Pickup at the airport and transfer to your hotel

Accommodation: Hotel in Tbilisi 4*

Day 2: City tour and Wine tasting

Guided tour of the old town followed by a visit and wine tasting in a wine cellar with a presentation of the most important Georgian grape varieties. A total of about 400 grape varieties grow in the country, some of which are ancient, endemic varieties that had fallen into oblivion during Soviet times but are now slowly gaining popularity again.

In the evening we will go to a local family who will show us how to prepare some Georgian Specialities and of course we will also taste them.

Georgian cuisine is very varied and well-balanced, but regionally very different. In the eastern part of the country, there is a lot of cattle breeding and the specialities are often prepared from meat. In the western part of the country, the food consists mainly of fruit and vegetables that are seasoned very well, but not excessively.

Typical Georgian spices include dried fenugreek and khmeli suneli (a Georgian herb mixture). Today you will also have the opportunity to prepare some dishes yourself. Dinner is in the family garden, accompanied by homemade wine.

Accommodation: Hotel in Tbilisi 4*
(B/-/D)

Day 3: Wine culture and religion

Today's culinary wine tour takes us to the beautiful landscape of the Great Caucasus.

First, we drive to the historical capital of Georgia - Mtskheta, where we visit a UNESCO cultural heritage - the Jvari monastery from VII century.

Continue along the Georgian Military Road to the Jinvali Reservoir, where another highlight of the country, the Ananuri Fortress (XV - XVIII c.) awaits us.
Afterwards we will drive to a wine cellar where we will taste different wines typical for the region during an extensive guided tour.

In the evening we are guests in a traditional restaurant, where we are served a mixture of dishes from different regions, with good Georgian wine.

Accommodation: Hotel in Tbilisi 4*
(B/-/D)

Day 4: Along the Silk Road

Today you will discover Kartli, the region in the heart of the country that lies on the famous Silk Road and gave the country its native name (Sakartvelo, Georgia in Georgian).

Kartli is known for its light and fruity white wines. The most popular of these are:

1. Chinuri - The name comes from the Georgian word Chinebuli, which literally means "excellent".
2. Goruli Mzwane - Translated: the Green of Gori.

Kartli also produces high quality, fruity dry red wines, mostly in the traditional Qvevris. The most popular of these are:

1. Tavkveri - a very diverse, late-ripening variety that is popular not only in the Kartli region but throughout the country.
2. Shavkapito - An autochthonous grape variety that almost became extinct in Soviet times. 

Kartli is a very fertile region and most of the fruits like apples, pears, but also stone fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage etc. come mainly from this region. Culinary wise, the region is known for its tasty soups, such as sorrel soup, nettle soup and yoghurt soup. A very popular dessert also comes from the region: Nazuqi, a sweet bread made of flour, honey, milk, sultanas and cinnamon, baked in clay jars on a wood fire.

At a winery today, we will learn about different wines and their production methods, as well as the culinary delights of the region.

The day will also be rich in cultural experiences as we visit the oldest cave town in the Caucasus - Uplisziche and a UNESCO heritage site, the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral from the XI century.

In the evening, after arrival in Tbilisi, you will have free time.

Accommodation: Hotel in Tbilisi 4*
(B/L/-)

Day 5: Kakheti – Highlight of culinary wine tour

Today we drive to the main wine region of Georgia - Kakheti. The best grape varieties grow here on the banks of the river Alazani, at an altitude of 400 to 700 metres. The region is characterised by loamy soils on a mineral-enriched limestone bedrock, which gives the wine its special depth of flavour and typical rustic, earthy notes.

Of Georgia's 20 endemic grape varieties, 15 grow in Kakheti, such as Tibaani, Napareuli, Mukuzani Kinzmarauli, etc.

In terms of cuisine, Kakheti is mostly known for meat dishes, the most popular are:

1. Mzvadi (spit-roasted meat) made of beef, or pork roasted on vine wood. The vine wood gives the meat a special flavour.
2. Chaqapuli - lamb cooked in tarragon and plum sauce.
3. Khashlama - fresh beef (preferably brisket) cooked in a broth with onion and bay leaf. The sauce is drained and only the meat is eaten, seasoned with salt and freshly chopped parsley.

Today we will not only get to know the diverse wines and culinary delights of the region, but also the varied landscape and culture of Kakheti.

We will drive over the Gombori Pass (1,620 m), visit the nunnery Akhali Shuamta from the XVI century and then drive to a winery where wines are produced according to both Georgian and European methods. The local winemaker explains the difference between the two methods during a guided tour of the production facilities and wine cellar.

We continue to a princely house where wines were produced according to European methods for the first time in Georgia in the 19th century.
At the end of the day, we visit the farmers' market in the capital of the region - Telavi, where fresh fruit, vegetables and numerous herbs and spices are offered for sale in large quantities.

We will have dinner in a nice family-run hotel, where we will also stay overnight and take part in a small master cooking class for regional dishes.

Accommodation: Family hotel in Telavi
(B/-/D)

Day 6: City of Love-Sighnaghi and the Capital Tbilisi

We take a walk in the old town of Telavi and then drive to the most important sacral building of the region, the Alaverdi Cathedral from the XI century.

We continue past the Gremi fortified church to the wine cellar of Kvareli. Here, a branching tunnel vault, which was intended to serve as a place of refuge during the Second World War, has been converted into a wine cellar, where excellent wines of the region are pressed.

We take a guided tour of the tunnel and then sample 3 different types of wine.

Our next destination is the city of love, Sighnaghi. This small town, with about 2,000 inhabitants, is not only known for its Mediterranean flair and beautiful location, but also for its light cuisine, with lots of fruit and salad, as well as its good wines.

After a walk through the city, we stop at a nice restaurant with a magnificent view of the Great Caucasus, and enjoy a light lunch accompanied by home-made, traditional wines.

In the evening we arrive in Tbilisi and after resting at the hotel we drive to a traditional restaurant where we can once again delight our palate with wine and culinary highlights while enjoying enchanting folklore with Georgian dances and songs.

Accommodation: Family hotel in Telavi
(B/L/D)

Day 7: Departure

Depending on flight time, transfer to Tbilisi airport.

Included services:

Transfers: Hotel / Airport
Round trip by comfortable minibus
English speaking tour guide

7 x breakfast / 4 x dinner / 2 x lunch
5 x wine tasting
3 x master class
1 x folklore evening
All entrance fees and guided tours
Overnight stays: according to itinerary