Georgian Wine Tasting Tour 2025 With Armin – The White Glove Sommelier

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 5 star hotels throughout your tour. We meet in Tbilisi on Friday, 10^th of May, where we will explore  of course the capital. We will then explore the wine region of Kakheti and the Great Caucasus by bus until and return home with unforgettable and enriching impressions.

• English and German speaking Tour Guide and Sommelier
• 6 nights in a double room including breakfast
  Based on availability, specific Hotels may change, but this would be the plan, due to our itinerary:
  • 2 nights in Tbilissi – 5* Ambassadori Hotel Tbilisi
  • 2 nights in Napareuli – Lopota Lake Resort and SPA (classified as 5* Hotel on booking)
  • 1 night in Stepantsminda – 5* Rooms Design Hotel Kazbegi
  • 1 night in Tbilissi – 5* Ambassadori Hotel Tbilisi

• Welcome dinner including wines Plus 5 further dinners including up to 1/3 to 1/2 bottle of wine per person
• Introduction in Tbilisi into Georgian Wines with Light lunch
  plus 4 additional light lunches the following days
• circa 7-8 winery visits / wine tastings (Bina37, Zaza, Chateau Mosmieri,
  Chateau Buera, Zurab Kviriashvili Vineyards, Chelti Winery,  Chateau Mere,
  Chateau Mukhrani)
• Various activities and entries, e.g. Cable Car
• Comfortable private bus

Individual arrival by plane to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Once there, the transfer to the Hotel, probab
ly the 5* Ambassadori Hotel Tbilissi takes place – Until the evening you have some free time and can relax. In the evening we will go by private bus 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.

Tbilisi – After breakfast 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.

Afterwards, we take our light lunch in the old town of Tbilisi and get a first insight into the wine regions and grape varieties in Georgia.

In the afternoon 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.

Now its time to relax for a while.

Next we will dine at the restaurant Bina37. We are expecting delicious Georgian specialties. You also have the opportunity to enjoy their own Quevri wines. After the meal, we return to our Hotel, 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 in the morning, the trip to the wine region of wine region of Kakheti  – Zinandali is on the agenda. 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. And….some people say, with its medieval churches and soft rolling hills covered by vineyards, Kakheti is Georgia’s answer to Tuscany.

As the production of the Qvevris is one of the highlights during all our Wine Tours, for sure we will have also this time 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 Winery Chateau Mosmieri will follow. Mosmieri is a medium size winery that is focused on the production of both Georgian style wines, and European style wines from their own grapes. Their current wine production of around 130,000 bottles per year is made from more than 21 hectares.

We continue our trip to Napareuli and will enjoy handcrafted hospitality.  Lopota Lake Resort and SPA s located in the heart of Kakheti region, exactly on the banks of Lake Lopota. This family owned resort spreads around the lake and is surrounded by picturesque Caucasus Mountains. The hotel offers a magnificent view of the Lopota Valley. After check in it is time to have a short break and relax or have a bath in one of the 6 pools.

For dinner we will be in Château Buera, a distinctive place for wine lovers – expanded vineyards, winemaking and a fabulous Renaissance-style palace. This is a place where modernity and ancient traditions of winemaking meet in harmony. We will taste locally produced high-quality wine, visit the wine cellar and learn interesting stories and facts about winemaking. And we will  try dishes that go perfectly with wine and enjoy breathtaking views of the Caucasus.

After breakfast we will visit the Lokal Market in Telavi. Farmers from the local villages bring their home-grown vegetables, grains, meat, fish, dairy products, spices or homemade sweets.

As we love wine, our next stop is Zurab Kviriashvili Vineyards. This winery was founded in 2002 by Zurab Kviriashvili. It is a boutique winery with only 2,5 hectares, 12 quevris, bio, organic, vegan. Zurab is dedicated to the local grapes. White grapes are Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi, Mtsvane and the red grape Saperavi. We will have a winery tour and a little lunch with his wines.

The history of Chelti Winery, which we visit now,  can be traced back for more than 100 years, when in the village of Shilda, the ancestors of the Mirianashvili family built their first wine cellar.The family tradition was revived in 2001 with the initiative of Giorgi Mirianashvili, who expanded on the already existing household cellars and vineyards. The total space of the territory now amounts to 80 hectares, including vineyards, traditional Georgian (Qveri) and Classic (oak & steel) cellar

Then we drive back to our Hotel Lopota Lake Resort. Relax time and then dinner in the Hotel restaurant.

After breakfast, check out and having a 30 minutes drive, we arrive at Chateau Mere. Whenever he has time, the Owner George Piradashvili welcomes his guests and is doing the wine tasting with some snacks by himself. We will see…

Now lets go to the Great Caucasus region. 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.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Stepanzminda and drive 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.

Drive to the village and check in the 5*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.

On Friday morning we will check out after breakfast drive again in direction to Tbilisi. In between, we make several photo stops, e.g. at the fortification of Ananuri near to the Shinwali Dam and also at the Friendship Monument. On the way there we will have a light lunch. 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.

Transfer to Tbilissi and check in at our  Hotel  in Tbilissi. Feel free on your own to have a drink at the Tsangala`s Wine Bar.

Breakfast and check out. And…if your flight is in the afternoon, we can organize a Hamam visit in walking distince to the Hotel.
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.

• Flight to and from Tbilisi
• Travel insurance
• Additional alcoholic beverages, which are not included in the program
• Other extras or services, which are not included in the program
• Tips for bus driver and local guide

You may already know Armin H. Müller as the radio host of The White Glove Sommelier Wine Show on SuperYacht Radio. Or through its wine events, via his
 tastings, parties or wine trips to the most fascinating wine-growing regions in the world. Traveling with the winner of the Swiss Sommelier Challenge 2018 means fun, enriching your wine knowledge, meeting great people and, above all, getting to know good wines and good cuisine. Magic Wine Moments are pre-programmed.