Georgia Gourmet Wine Travel

Experience this unique Georgian Gourmet Culture and Wine Travel. Georgia is a very fascinating destination. Georgia is considered the “cradle of wine” with a wine-growing tradition that dates back over 8,000 years. Immerse yourself in this fascinating culture. Archaeologists have found evidence of this ancient wine culture during excavations in Imiri in Georgia. 8,000 years ago during the Neolithic period there were three small towns in which wine was cultivated. Thus, Georgia is probably the oldest wine region in the world. Out of 4,000 grape varieties worldwide, 528 are from Georgia. Of course, in Georgia, you can also find in wine barrel or in a steel tank fermented wines, but traditionally the wine is produced in a clay amphora.

Mostly, this clay amphora – called in Georgia Qvevri – is closed with stone and clay. Then natural wine matures in the amphora, just as it did thousands of years ago. It gains in the cooling earth its own, natural taste, which has little in common with a wine developed in a stainless steel tank.  The ancient tradition of Qvevri wine production in Georgia has been recognized by UNESCO as a very important intangible cultural heritage in 2013. Since that time, the international attention has been awakening for Georgia. Since the wine journalist Alice Feiring put Georgian wines on the TOP 10 list a year ago in a “Forbes” list, the attention for the small country east of the Black Sea has risen sharply. Nevertheless, Georgia is still largely unknown to us.

This is understandable, because without speaking Georgian or Russian the individual tourist can hardly travel this country. Outside of Tbilisi sometimes it is hard to find somebody speaking English.

Georgia attracts visitors with exciting, autochthonous wines (wood, steel and natural wines from the amphora) and, and, and ….. with an unparalleled hospitality. So I am very happy to invite you to this culinary and scenic wine discovery trip to the center of the most beautiful wine-growing areas in the Kakheti region. Enjoy the Georgian cuisine with many different delicious dishes, which has a well-earned place on the culinary Olymp. This trip is also a cultural trip, because at the intersection between Europe and Asia, you will discover interesting ancient churches, monasteries and castles and experience breathtaking landscapes between the Small and the Great Caucasus.

You will be staying in 4 star and 5 star hotels throughout your tour. We meet in Tbilisi where we will explore the capital. We will then explore the wine region of Kakheti and the Great Caucasus by bus  and return home with unforgettable and enriching impressions.

Individual arrival by plane to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Once there, the transfer to the  5* Ambassadori Hotel Tbilissi takes place – http://www.ambassadori.com – Until the evening you have some free time and can relax. In the evening we take a walk and go by cablecar to the funicular restaurant complex, where there is a big welcome dinner. You will receive an introduction into the so-called “Supra” the Georgian table drinking rituals during a feast, which is accompanied by the Tamada (Toastmaster) with many emotional drinking toasts.

After breakfast and check out in the morning, the trip to the wine region of Kakheti – Zinandali is on the agenda. As the production of the Qvevris was one of the highlights during the 2017 Wine Tour, for sure we will have an insight in how to produce a Qvevri. This place will offer you also Qvevri Wine and Qvevri Chacha (Grappa)

A Light Lunch in the Shumi Winery will follow. The name “Shumi” has an old origin, which means genuine, pure, undiluted wine.

Apart from its wines, the wine region around Zinandali owes its fame to the princehood of the Chavchavadzes, who played a key role in the political and artistic life of Georgia in the 19th century. You visit the Alexander Chavchavadze Museum and visit the antique wine cellar, lunch at the museum bistro and tasting of the Quevri wines of the associated winery.

We have a full schedule for this day. However, if the time management would still allow it , we would include a Bonus and continue our journey to the ancient, historic monastery complex Necresi, which is perched high above the valley. A settlement existed here already in the second pre-Christian century. The three-aisled basilica from the 6th century is one of the oldest churches in Georgia. A little later the monastery was founded. It worked as an important cultural center of Kakheti until the 19th century. Otherwise we continue our trip straight to Napareuli. Dinner and overnight at Lopota Lake Resort and SPA, located on the banks of Lake Lopota. The hotel offers a magnificent view of the Lopota Valley. http://www.lopota.ge

Today, after breakfast and check out, we go by bus to the Local Market in Telavi and will get a short impression about the spices, vegetables and all other items on the market.

Since the Great Caucasus is an absolute “must” and highlight during a trip to Georgia, we will embark for a few hours trip along the Georgian army road to Stepanzminda. On the journey there are impressive landscapes to be seen. We make several photo stops (most probably way on the way back), e.g. at the fortification of Ananuri near to the Shinwali Dam and also at the Friendship Monument.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Stepanzminda. Depending on weather and time, we drive or may walk up to 2175 meters to the famous Trinity Church Gergeti Sameba. First it might seem to be unspectacular and yet it will be an unforgettable experience. When we arrive, we visit the church, of course, but we also enjoy the impressive 360 ° panorama on all sides. The view over the valley, the place Stepantzminda and the 5047 meter high snow covered Kasbek is indescribably impressive. Its like heaven on earth.

Then check in the Rooms Design Hotel Stepanzminda. Until dinner you can relax or go to the sauna. For dinner we will enjoy Georgian specialties in the hotel restaurant.

Tbilisi – After breakfast you will get a guided sightseeing tour: we explore the Old Town on foot, including the Liberty Square, the restored and unrestored parts of the old town, the Sioni Cathedral, the Eclectic Synagogue, the Jumah Mosque, the Narikala Fortress and the modern ” Rustaweli Boulevard “. We stroll through narrow streets with carpet dealers and souvenir shops.
Afterwards, we take our light lunch in the g.Vino Wine Bar in the Old Town and receive an introduction and small presentation from the Wine Tourism Association into the wine regions and grape varieties in Georgia.

In the afternoon we will go by bus to the former Georgian capital Mtskheta. This town is located a few kilometers north of Tbilisi at the confluence of the rivers Kura and Aragwi. It was the medieval capital of Georgia and is still a religious center of the country. The cultural monuments of Mtskheta belong to the UNESCO World Heritage. We continue our Tour to the Monastery Jvari. On a hill above the town rises the impressive cross-dome structure of the Jwari monastery from the 7th century. We enjoy the beautiful view and drive back to Tbilissi.

Next we will dine at the bina37 restaurant. We are expecting delicious Georgian specialties. You also have the opportunity to enjoy local beer from Mirzaani brewery. After the meal, we return to the 5* Ambassadori Hotel Tbilissi, where we will spend the night.

If you would like to continue the evening on your own with your new friends, you can enjoy a glass of wine at the bar.

After breakfast and check out, we visit the Khareba wine tunnel, unique in the Caucasus region. You will explore a portion of these remarkable three seven-kilometer-long tunnels. The tunnel has a unique collection of the best wines of the region. The whole year, the temperature of the tunnel is 11-13 ° C, ideal conditions for the storage and maturation of the wines. After the tour follows a wine tasting directly in the tunnel.

Khatuna awaits us on her small farm in Ninigori. During the “Cooking Experience” / cooking course “Georgian specialties with Khatuna” we learn to prepare some Georgian specialties ourselves. She tells us her cooking recipes and shows us how to bake bread according to old tradition over the open fire. We will enjoy the homemade specialties in the family atmosphere while we have lunch together and try Khatuna’s homemade wine. Let us be inspired by Georgian hospitality.

After this delicious lunch we go to Sighnaghi and walk through this “City of Love”, which was founded in 1762 by King Erekle II. From the city wall, you have a charming view of the Alazani Valley and the mountain chain of the Great Caucasus. In the wine bar Pheasant’s Tears by John Wurdeman, we now will have an aperitif/winetasting.

Afterwards you will visit the winery of Avtandil Bedenashvili in Kardenachi (Gurdjaani District). You will also taste the Georgian wines and have delicious dinner there. Transfer to our hotel Lopota Lake Resort.

On Sunday morning we will have a lovely breakfast, check out and enjoy once again the spectacular panorama.

After enjoyin breakfast and once more the panorama view we enter the bus, we drive to the Mukhrani region. On the way there we will have a light lunch and some foto stops. After an amusing journey we reach the traditional winery Chateau Mukhrani from 1878, located 40 km west of Tbilisi. You will have a guided tour through the wine cellar, followed by a wine tasting and farewell dinner at Chateau Mukhrani. In 2017 Patrick Honnef, Winemaker, Viticulturist, CEO Château Mukhrani, graduated from Wine Management and Winemaking in Heilbronn gave us an excellent backstage access to the winery. Transfer to Tbilissi and check in at the 5* Ambassadori Hotel Tbilissi. Feel free on your own to have a drink in the Tsangala wine bar.

Breakfast and check out. After this beautiful Cultural and Gourmet Wine travel through Georgia, you can now share your unique education and new experiences with your family and friends. Transfer to the airport and departure.

As most flight are in the afternoon, you might want to try a Hamam. They are situated in Abanotubani, the bath-area of Tbilisi. There are several ones. One bath looks from the outside like a glamorous medressa. Others are only recognized through round bumpers in the roof. The looks are highly influenced by the vivid history. Seeing Romans, Turks and other ethnic groups passing through the Caucasus. First it “smells” a bit, that is because of the hot sulfurous water You can rent cabinets for men, women or for mixed sexes for a certain time. Each cabinet is connected to a sauna and hot bath. And of cours you can order also a massage.

And now it is time to say Good bye.

Georgia Gourmet Wine Travel Dates:
Tuesday 14. May until Monday 20. May 2019

Value for this trip in a double room: € 3.190 per Person

PROMOTION price in a double room: € 2.497 per Person

in case of a Single Room plus € 380

 The price does not include:

– The flight to and from Georgia
– Travel insurance
– Alcoholic beverages, which are not included in the program
– Other extras or services, which are not included in the program
– tips

Contact: Armin H. Müller

amueller@gourmetwinetravel.com  / Mobile: +41 76 3377722

After booking you will receive a confirmation email and before the trip you will get all information and a detailed program. This is not a binding program, as Program changes are always possible. The money transfer to all means is at the same time a binding booking. In the case of a cancellation, each participant is obliged to have either a travel cancellation insurance or to provide another participant as substitute.

Terms of cancelation: In case of cancellation of the booked travel up to 60 days before the travel begin 40 % of the travel price is payable, in case of cancellation of the booked travel up to 45 days before the travel begin, 60 % of the travel price is payable, in case of a later cancellation or of a no-show, the entire travel price has to be paid. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us.