Over the Gombori pass, vineyards run beneath the Greater Caucasus. Kakheti is the heart of Georgian wine, where grapes are still fermented in buried clay qvevri, a method on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
What a Kakheti stay looks like
The pace here is set by lunch. A typical day with Rezo:
- A morning at the Tsinandali estate and its garden.
- A visit to a family qvevri winery, followed by a long lunch with the winemaker. Rezo chooses the winery to suit the group.
- An afternoon drive to Sighnaghi, with time on the town walls at sunset.
Telavi (about 570 m above sea level) is the regional centre and the natural base for the east of the region; Sighnaghi, on a ridge above the Alazani valley, is where many travellers prefer to sleep.
Further out
The David Gareja monastery complex lies in semi-desert on the edge of the region, and is a longer day suited to travellers who want something quieter than the wine trail.
Telavi is also the gateway to Tusheti
The 4×4 road to Tusheti starts from the Alazani valley, so Kakheti and Tusheti combine naturally in the eight-day Wine valleys to high villages idea.
Getting here
Kakheti is about 85 km and two hours from Tbilisi. It also links to the north: the road from Kazbegi to Telavi is a long day of about five hours, which Rezo breaks with a late start and a proper lunch.
If wine is the reason for your trip, read the Kakheti wine guide first.