Tbilisi to Kakheti day trip: the complete wine country itinerary

A day in Georgia’s wine country

Kakheti is the heart of Georgian wine — the eastern province where 70% of the country’s grapes are grown, where qvevri winemaking has been practised continuously for 8,000 years, and where the landscape is a long, gentle Alazani Valley watched over by the white wall of the Greater Caucasus to the north. A day trip from Tbilisi gives you enough time to taste seriously at two wineries, walk a clifftop town, visit a pilgrimage monastery, and return in time for a Tbilisi dinner — if you plan carefully.

This guide sets out the two standard itinerary variants (Sighnaghi-focused and Telavi-focused), handles the logistics for each, and flags the mistakes that sabotage a Kakheti day.

At a glance

• Distance from Tbilisi: 110 km to Sighnaghi, 95 km to Telavi, 160 km to Kvareli
• Driving time: 1.5–2 hours to Sighnaghi or Telavi; 2.5 hours to Kvareli
• Total day length: 9–11 hours
• Best season: May–November for landscape; late September–October for the rtveli harvest
• Difficulty: Easy driving; pace depends on how much you taste
• Alcohol consideration: If self-driving, nominate a non-drinking driver — Georgian police enforce a near-zero blood alcohol limit strictly

How to get there

Organised tour (the obvious choice)

A full-day Kakheti tour is one of Georgia’s signature tourist experiences. Standard tours include transport from Tbilisi, two or three winery visits with tastings, a Sighnaghi or Telavi town walk, lunch, and return. Prices range from 60 GEL per person for a large-group minibus tour to 250+ GEL for a small-group premium tour with a wine expert guide.

Book a Kakheti wine tour with 9 tastings from Tbilisi

Rental car

Kakheti is easy to drive. The road east from Tbilisi via the Gombori Pass (to Telavi) or via Sagarejo (to Sighnaghi) is well-paved, lightly trafficked, and beautifully scenic. The problem is obvious: drinking wine is the point of the trip. Solutions: bring a non-drinking companion, spit rather than swallow at tastings, or book a driver for the day. A solo self-driver who actually tastes will be over the legal limit.

Private driver

At 150–230 GEL for a full day, a private driver is the sensible choice for two or more people who want to taste seriously. You set the pace, pick the wineries, and do not worry about the road. Ask your accommodation for a recommendation or book through a Tbilisi wine tour operator.

Marshrutka

Shared minibuses to Telavi and Sighnaghi leave from Tbilisi’s Samgori or Ortachala bus stations throughout the day. Fare 10–15 GEL. Gets you to town but not to wineries — you then need a local taxi or walk. Realistic only for a one-destination Sighnaghi day trip.

Suggested itinerary: Sighnaghi version (most popular)

• 08:30: Depart Tbilisi
• 10:30: Bodbe Monastery (45 minutes)
• 11:30: Sighnaghi — walk the walls and old town (1 hour)
• 12:45: Lunch at a Sighnaghi restaurant (1.5 hours, with wine)
• 14:30: Pheasants Tears winery, Sighnaghi — tasting and cellar tour (1.5 hours)
• 16:15: Drive toward Tbilisi with one final stop
• 17:00: Kindzmarauli Marani or Khareba tunnel (1 hour)
• 18:30: Depart for Tbilisi
• 20:30: Arrival

Suggested itinerary: Telavi/Kvareli version (for wine depth)

• 08:00: Depart Tbilisi (via Gombori Pass — more scenic)
• 10:00: Alaverdi Cathedral (30 minutes)
• 10:45: Telavi town and Batonis-Tsikhe fortress (1 hour)
• 12:00: Schuchmann Wines or Teliani Valley — tasting (1.5 hours)
• 13:30: Lunch at a winery restaurant (1.5 hours)
• 15:00: Khareba Winery Kvareli tunnel (1 hour)
• 16:30: Nekresi Monastery viewpoint (30 minutes)
• 17:30: Drive back to Tbilisi
• 20:00: Arrival

What to see at each stop

Sighnaghi

The “city of love” — a walled Georgian hill town at 800 metres, looking over the Alazani Valley toward the Caucasus. An 18th-century defensive wall with 23 towers surrounds the old town; most of it can be walked in 30–45 minutes. Within the walls, cobbled lanes lead past wine bars, guesthouses, small museums, and the central Nino Pirosmani square. The view from the town’s eastern ramparts, across 70 kilometres of vineyards to the snow line of the main Caucasus ridge, is one of the defining Georgian landscapes.

For the deeper experience, see the Sighnaghi dedicated day trip.

Bodbe Monastery

Two kilometres below Sighnaghi, Bodbe is the burial place of Saint Nino — the 4th-century slave-woman-turned-evangelist who brought Christianity to Georgia. The monastery is a working convent and an active pilgrimage site; the church is 9th-century, restored with frescoes from the late 19th century. The cypress avenue leading in, and the Alazani Valley view from the terrace, are memorable. Forty-five minutes is plenty.

Alaverdi Cathedral

One of the great medieval Georgian churches — an 11th-century domed cathedral at the foot of the Greater Caucasus, surrounded by vineyards belonging to the Alaverdi monastery itself. The monks maintain a small working qvevri cellar; the church interior is vast and restrained, with 16th-century frescoes in the sanctuary. Modest dress required.

Telavi

The regional capital of Kakheti — a lively town of 20,000 people that functions as the gateway to the upper Alazani wineries. The Batonis-Tsikhe fortress in the centre is a 17th-century royal palace of the Kakhetian kings, now a museum. Good cafes and an excellent Saturday market. An hour in the town centre is enough.

A winery: Pheasants Tears

The most famous small winery in Kakheti — American-Georgian-run, in Sighnaghi itself, pioneering the modern natural-wine qvevri revival. Tastings are intimate (six to eight wines), the restaurant is outstanding, and the cellar visit explains qvevri winemaking clearly. Book ahead.

A winery: Schuchmann Wines

German-Georgian ownership, modern facility in Kisiskhevi near Telavi, strong technical winemaking in both qvevri and European styles. Beautiful grounds, hotel on site, large tastings (up to 10 wines), and an excellent restaurant. Good for a deeper wine day.

A winery: Khareba Kvareli Tunnel

An industrial wine cellar dug 7.7 km into a Caucasus cliff, containing tens of thousands of bottles ageing at constant 12°C. Tastings in the underground gallery are theatrical; the Khareba wines themselves are reliable mid-range. Worth combining with a visit to another, smaller producer.

For a deeper selection, see the best wineries guide and Kakheti wine tours.

Kindzmarauli Marani

In Kvareli, the Kindzmarauli Corporation makes Georgia’s most famous semi-sweet red (a Stalin favourite, from the Saperavi grape grown only in the Kindzmarauli appellation). The tour-and-tasting is traditional and informative; the cellars are industrial in scale.

Where to eat

Pheasants Tears (Sighnaghi): The defining modern Kakhetian restaurant. Seasonal, ingredient-driven, heroic wine list. Book.

Okros Marani (Sighnaghi): Casual, excellent local food, strong wine selection at fair prices.

Schuchmann Vinotel (Kisiskhevi, near Telavi): Winery restaurant with a broad menu and quality cooking.

Twins Old Cellar (Napareuli, between Telavi and Kvareli): Traditional qvevri winery with an attached restaurant serving Kakhetian village food. Book ahead in harvest season.

Chelti Estate (between Tbilisi and Sighnaghi): Stopover option for lunch returning to Tbilisi.

What to pack

• Layers: The Alazani Valley is warmer than Tbilisi in spring and autumn by several degrees; wineries’ underground cellars are cold year-round.
• Modest clothing: For Bodbe, Alaverdi, and Nekresi — shoulders and knees covered, scarf for women.
• Walking shoes: Sighnaghi’s cobbles are punishing on heels.
• Water: 1 litre minimum; the Kakheti heat in July and August is serious.
• Snacks: Tastings typically include bread and cheese but you may still need something in the car between stops.
• Spittoons / tissues: Serious tasters bring them. Not essential but useful.
• Small cash: Tips for winery guides (10–20 GEL per group) and church candle donations.

FAQ

Sighnaghi or Telavi — which is better for a day trip? Sighnaghi is more picturesque, easier to walk, closer to Tbilisi (saves 30 minutes each way), and has better restaurants. Telavi is more authentic, closer to the best wineries, and has the Alaverdi Cathedral. First-timers: Sighnaghi. Second visit: Telavi.

How many wineries should I visit in a day? Two is ideal — one intimate small producer and one larger estate. Three is possible but rushed. Four is drunk.

Can I buy wine to take back to Tbilisi? Yes. Most wineries sell bottles directly; some ship internationally. Bottle prices range from 20 GEL for good everyday Saperavi to 200+ GEL for flagship qvevri wines. Duty-free at Tbilisi airport also has a decent selection.

Is the drive to Kakheti dangerous? No. The roads are good and lightly trafficked. The Gombori Pass to Telavi has bends and requires concentration in wet conditions; nothing extreme.

Can I do Kakheti in winter? Yes. Vineyards are dormant but the wineries run tastings year-round and the landscape has its own stark beauty. Sighnaghi in snow is particularly photogenic. December to February is the quietest season.

How does Kakheti compare to other wine regions? Kakheti produces about 70% of Georgian wine and is the historical centre of qvevri fermentation. Kartli (closer to Tbilisi) offers shorter trips to estates like Chateau Mukhrani. Imereti produces different grape varieties and a distinct style. For most first-time visitors, Kakheti is the obvious destination.

Related guides

• Kakheti wine tours in depth — winery selection and route planning
• Qvevri winemaking explained — the 8,000-year tradition
• Best wineries in Georgia — our full producer list
• Tbilisi to Sighnaghi — the short Kakheti day trip
• Rtveli harvest festival — timing a September visit

Book the Kakheti wine tour from Tbilisi Book a Sighnaghi and Bodbe day trip from Tbilisi