Every time is a good time to explore wine-country, especially now, following right on from a very successful 2018 harvest, which saw tons of grapes processed and local farmers earning over GEL 190 million.
According to Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, where in 2012 there were about 50 different wine enterprises or cellars in Georgia, today that number stands at 500.
“As a result of the correct state policy pursued in the viticulture and wine industry, the wine industry has been significantly strengthened in Georgia - exports of wine are up, resulting in increasing wine and wine production,” he added.
Whether you want to taste some of those wines or discover how they are made, a stay in a hotel with a wine cellar is a must-do experience during your stay here. There are an increasing number to choose from, from top-of-the range luxury, to local farm-stays. We’ve prepared a selection to tempt you below.
BUCHA'S GUEST HOUSE AND WINE CELLAR
Bucha’s is a charming guesthouse in Telavi that highlights the best of Kakheti – beautiful pastoral scenery, warm family hospitality, and amazing food and wine.
The property itself has barbecue facilities, a large garden, a terrace, and a shared guest lounge. Guests also have access to a shared kitchen, but why would you want to cook when the family that owns the guest house can make you traditional Georgian dishes on request?
Wine tastings are offered in the lovely traditional wine cellar where the family can also explain the wine-making process. Some rooms feature stunning views of the Alazani Valley.
All rooms have shared bathrooms. The guest house has free WiFi and parking.
8 L. Gudiashvili Str., Telavi, Kakheti
TEL (+995) 577 12 10 33
GUESTHOUSE BAKHVI, OZURGETI
Guesthouse Bakhvi is located in Bakhvi village in Ozurgeti. The 2-story building boasts a large yard and rooms in an old rural style. The fact it has had very little work done to it since 2015 makes it an original choice for your stay.
The house also features a wine cellar, vineyard, well, small bamboo plantation, spring, special tables for feasting, kiwi and flower gardens, beehives, traditional storage for corn and much more for those interested in ecotourism and Georgian rural life. Travelers can enjoy staying in a hospitable and relaxing environment while tasting local food and wine.
Price: 15 GEL per person (half board – 40 GEL)
Facilities: 2 rooms for up to 4 people; shared bathrooms in fair condition; hot water; large garden, parking.
Bakhvi Village, Ozurgeti
TEL (+995) 577 61 77 96 (Vazha Antadze); (+995) 551 10 26 96 (Lia)
TWINS WINE CELLAR
Twins (which is owned by twin brothers) offers 12 rooms: 6 double, 2 triple and 4 deluxe. Each room comes equipped with modern central heating and free Wi-Fi. Don’t miss out on their unique Qvevri collection and Qvevri Wine Museum!
The hotel is cozy and decorated with old household items, juxta-positioning the modern standards. Sit and imagine yourself lord or lady for the day- looking out over the vineyards towards the Caucasus Mountains.
The hotel offers various activity packages. The best, at 77 GEL p/p, includes a visit to the Qvevris, the museum, wine cellars and vodka distillery, tastings of wine and chacha, baking Georgian bread in a Tone oven, lunch, and making churchkhela. NOTE: minimum 10 people required for this tour.
Napareuli village, Kakheti,
TEL (+995) 2 42 40 42; (+995) 595 226 404
KINDZMARAULI WINE CELLAR
Kindzmarauli Wine Cellar is located in the heart of extensive vineyards in the micro-zone of famous Kindzmarauli. The factory was built in 2003 and is one of the leading companies, equipped with the state-of-the-art technologies where visitors can see the production process, harvest area planted with more than 420 ancient Georgian grape varieties, taste both new and aged wines, and visit a Chacha distillery plant. Kindzmarauli Wine Cellar’s assortment includes 23 brands of premium quality wine, of which three - red dry ‘Kakheti Kingdom,’ dry white Kakheti Kingdom and red naturally semi-sweet ‘Kindzmarauli Original’ are the exclusive brands of the company.
Kvareli, Georgia
TEL (+995) 249 74 77
JAVAKHISHVILI'S CELLAR
The Javakhishvili wine cellar is the best place for wine degustation and to get a taste of traditional Georgian dishes. The building and surroundings are stunning and put you in "real" Georgia.
The staff are friendly and professional as they tell you about the wines you're tasting.
Wander their huge wine cellar, relax under their two gazebos and buy something for home from the large wine shop.
Akhalsopeli, Kvareli, Kakheti
TEL (+995) 577 06 89 40
WINE CELLAR CHATEAU ZEGAANI
Chateau Zegaani is a wine estate built in 1820 by Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, a great political and cultural figure of the 19th century, as well as the founder of modern Georgian viticulture. You can taste the wine made from Saperavi and Rkatsiteli grapes by the Tatulashvili family, as well as Mukuzani PDO wine. White and red wines made in Qvevri are also served here. The old Georgian brick building houses a restaurant, with a nice design and a wide variety of cuisine. The company often organizes tasting of its own wines in the restaurant.
Zegaani village, Gurjaani
TEL (+995) 210 30 44, 599 17 48 41
VINOTEL
Every detail of this converted 19th century house by the river was thought out in painstaking detail, including the furniture, which was collected and restored over years. The hotel features a range of rooms- from lux (sauna included) to standard. But even standard is luxurious! There is a restaurant and wine cellar stocking over 150 varieties, which can host numerous events. Note the painted mirrored ceiling in the entrance hall (artist: Eka Mukhadze), an exact replica of that found in the 17th century Persian Embassy in Sololaki district.
4 Elene Akhvlediani Ascent, Tbilisi
TEL (+995) 322 55 58 88
SCHUCHMANN WINES CHATEAU & SPA
This charming red-brick chateau, boasting unmistakable Georgian features, is located quite close to Telavi, the central town of the Kakheti region. Surrounded by vineyards, it’s a stylish place for a high-class getaway offering a range of very good European-style and Qvevri wines that are available for tasting and buying both in the Chateau and in its wine bar in Tbilisi which is located in the basement of the historic caravanserai building- the perfect place to store and serve wine in the right temperature conditions.
If you like semi-sweet wines, you will love their Kindzmarauli, the local wine appellation. For those who like it dryer, red dry Mukuzani stored in oak barrels is the best choice. Among the Qvevri wines represented by the line Vinoterra, the most interesting is white dry Kisi.
Back to Chateau, you can enjoy Schuchmann wines while absorbing the sunrays near the fantastic swimming pool. Or, indulge yourself in the wine spa – the hot wine baths and a scrub with grape seeds are extremely good for the skin! A visit to Schuchmann Chateau and Spa in Kakheti is an integral wine experience!
Kisiskhevi village, Telavi
TEL (+995) 593 48 73 74
WINIVERIA CHATEAU MERE
Chateau Mere has 15 spacious rooms (two suites on the rooftop, 12 standard rooms and a family suite), all of which have stunning panoramic views of the Caucasus Mountains and Alazani Valley. The rooms feature antique furniture and modern comforts, including a flat screen TV and free Wi-Fi.
Chateau Mere can offer guests a wide range of activities: picking and crushing grapes, learning about wines and cheese making, baking bread, making churchkhelas, riding horses, hiking, and more. You can also try their house wine, Winiveria fine dry red and white.
Price per night from 220 GEL.
15 Vardisubani, Telavi Region, Kakheti
TEL (+995) 595 990399
CHATEAU MUKHRANI
The elegant white castle was designed by French architects at the request of the noble Mukhranbatoni family. Completed in 1885, its beauty is truly striking even today. The gardens were created by Versailles gardeners of the XIX century, and the attention to detail is sure to impress, reminding one of the estates of Central Europe.
In summer and early autumn, the territory of Chateau Mukhrani looks like an enchanted place, especially during the harvest celebration. The magic of the period, when the new wine is being conceived, is hard to describe. Better to arrange a visit to the Chateau, to see the field work and industrial part of the winery for yourself. Head down into the darkness of the cellars and smell the time and labor that are corked in the barrels there…
The most outstanding regional wines of Chateau Mukhrani are Goruli Mtsvane (white dry), Tavkveri (red dry) and Shavkapito (red dry). Of course, there are more Georgian grapes, and even locally planted Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc, but those are from the Kartli region, born, grown and cultivated in this soil. The richness of Georgian nature proceeded in the European manner – that’s what makes them taste so extraordinary.
Order a tasting in the Chateau, or visit the Wine Studio by Chateau Mukhrani on Meidani Square in Tbilisi. There are several kinds of samplings for any budget; with light snacks or without.
Chateau: Mukhrani village, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, Georgia
Wine Bar: Meidani Sq., Tbilisi
TEL Chateau: 595 99 13 15/16; Wine Bar: 591 99 25 69