Wine, Cheese & the Caucasus 8 days | Wine estates, local flavours and Georgia’s culinary traditions
This journey is designed for travellers who want to discover Georgia through its most memorable flavours — wine, cheese, bread, khinkali, regional cuisine and
traditional hospitality. The route begins and ends in Kutaisi, leading through western Georgia, Kartli, Tbilisi and Kakheti — the country’s most important wine region. The program combines visits to renowned wine estates, local wineries, food workshops, traditional meals and cultural stops that give the journey more depth and context. This is not only a wine tour. It is a culinary journey through Georgia’s landscapes, tables and traditions — from local markets and family meals to historic wine cellars, qvevri tastings and a farewell supra in western Georgia.
Why choose this program
●discover Georgia through wine, food and regional traditions
●visit some of the country’s best-known wine estates and cellars
●experience Kakheti, Georgia’s most important wine region
●take part in local food workshops, including khinkali and bread-making
●visit SHUMI and its wine museum in Tsinandali
●enjoy traditional supras, tastings and local meals throughout the journey
●follow a well-planned route starting and ending in Kutaisi
How the journey is structured
This is an 8-day culinary and wine-focused touring program of moderate
intensity, designed for travellers who want to experience Georgia through taste, hospitality and local culture. The route combines wine estates, family wineries, food workshops, markets, historic towns and scenic landscapes. Some days are focused mainly on tastings and culinary experiences, while others include cultural stops that help travellers understand the history and character of the regions visited. The program is active, but not rushed. It is structured around good food, wine, local encounters and comfortable travel rather than intensive sightseeing from morning to evening. Accommodation is arranged in carefully selected properties, and all transfers are provided by private vehicle with driver.
Day 1 Arrival in Kutaisi and the First Taste of Western Georgia
Arrival in Kutaisi and the beginning of the journey. The program starts with a relaxed introduction to western Georgia, including a visit to a local market — a lively place to discover regional products, cheeses, spices, seasonal fruit, sweets and local specialities. Depending on arrival time, the day may also include a short walk through Kutaisi and a first dinner in a local setting. This is a gentle opening to the journey, focused on flavours, everyday atmosphere and Georgian hospitality.
Day 2 Imereti: Wine, Cheese and Local Tables
A day dedicated to Imereti, one of western Georgia’s most important culinary regions. The program includes a visit to a local winery or family cellar, with an introduction to Imeretian wine traditions and a tasting of regional wines. The day also focuses on local food: Imeretian cheese, fresh bread, seasonal dishes and the generous table culture for which Georgia is known. Depending on the final arrangement, the program may include a bread-making or cheese focused experience in a local household.
This day sets the tone for the journey: simple, local, generous and full of
flavour.
Day 3
Kartli and Château Mukhrani
Transfer from western Georgia towards central Georgia and Kartli, a region with its own long winemaking tradition. The main stop of the day is Château
Mukhrani, one of Georgia’s most recognised wine estates. It combines
vineyards, a winery, palace architecture and historical heritage; official
Georgian tourism sources describe it as a royal château connecting vineyards, winery, palace and history. The visit may include a wine tour, tasting and time to experience the estate’s historical atmosphere. Depending on timing, the day may also include a culinary element or local lunch before continuing towards Tbilisi.
Arrival in Tbilisi in the evening.
Day 4
Tbilisi: Markets, Bread and Khinkali Workshop
A culinary day in the capital. The program begins with Tbilisi’s food
atmosphere: markets, bakeries, local shops or selected neighbourhoods
connected with everyday Georgian cuisine. The main experience of the day is a hands-on cooking workshop. Travellers learn how to prepare khinkali — one of Georgia’s most recognisable dishes — and may also take part in a traditional bread-making experience, depending on the final arrangement. This is a day focused not on formal sightseeing, but on taste, technique, stories and the pleasure of eating together. In the evening, dinner in a local setting.
Day 5
Kakheti: Sighnaghi, Bodbe and Wine Country
Transfer to Kakheti, Georgia’s most important wine region. The day introduces the landscapes of eastern Georgia: vineyards, villages, views over the Alazani Valley and the warmer atmosphere of the country’s wine heartland. The program includes Sighnaghi, one of Kakheti’s most atmospheric towns, and Bodbe Monastery, associated with St Nino. The day continues with a wine tasting or visit to a local cellar, introducing travellers to Kakhetian wines and qvevri traditions.
Dinner in Kakheti, with local dishes and wine.
Day 6 Tsinandali, SHUMI and Georgia’s Wine Heritage
A day focused on the history and culture of Georgian wine. The program
includes Tsinandali, connected with the Chavchavadze family and the
development of modern Georgian winemaking. The Tsinandali complex includes the memorial house, historic winery, wine cellar, landscape garden, hotel and café, while Tsinandali Estate describes its wine tour as including vineyards and a historic 19th-century cellar.
The day also includes SHUMI in Tsinandali — an important wine estate and
tourism complex located near the Tsinandali museum area. SHUMI is known for its wine museum and ampelographic collection; Wine Travel Awards describes its collection as including more than 2,000 grape varieties from 49 countries. The program may include a museum visit, vineyard walk, tasting and time to understand Georgian wine not only as a drink, but as part of the country’s identity, agriculture and hospitality.
Dinner and overnight in Kakheti.
Day 7
From Kakheti to Kutaisi: Supra and Farewell Flavours
After breakfast, departure from Kakheti and return towards western Georgia. The route allows travellers to see the country changing again — from eastern vineyards and open valleys back towards the greener landscapes of Imereti. Depending on timing, the day may include a stop for lunch, local products or a final tasting along the way. Arrival in Kutaisi in the afternoon or evening. The journey ends with a farewell supra — a traditional Georgian dinner with wine, regional dishes, toasts and the warm atmosphere of western Georgian hospitality.
Day 8
Departure
Time for final purchases of local products, wine, spices, cheese or souvenirs, depending on flight time. Transfer to Kutaisi airport and end of the journey
What’s included
●accommodation in carefully selected properties
●all internal transfers by private vehicle with driver
●breakfasts and selected meals included in the program
●wine tastings, local experiences, workshops or dinners as described in the
itinerary
●travel materials, including the “Uncovered Book”
Not included
● flights
● insurance
● entrance fees (where applicable)
Practical information
●program designed for private groups from 8 participants
●dates arranged individually
●accommodation standard and selected elements of the program can be
adjusted
●the route includes wine regions, local food experiences, workshops and
selected cultural stops
●tastings, workshops and estate visits depend on availability and must be
confirmed for the selected dates
●international flights are not included, but we can advise on the most
convenient arrival and departure options
●travel insurance and entrance fees to paid sites and attractions are not
included unless agreed otherwise
Who this journey is for
This program is well suited for travellers who want to discover Georgia through
wine, food and local hospitality in a comfortable, structured and well-organised
way. It is a strong choice for those who:
●are interested in wine, cuisine and regional traditions
●want to visit recognised wine estates and local wineries
●enjoy tastings, workshops and meals in authentic settings
●prefer a planned itinerary instead of organising everything independently
●want a journey focused on flavour, atmosphere and cultural context
●value comfort, good organisation and a balanced pace
This is not a technical wine course or a fast-paced sightseeing tour. It is a
culinary journey through Georgia, designed for travellers who want to taste the
country properly — through wine, cheese, bread, khinkali, supras and the
landscapes behind them.
Contact
If this culinary journey feels like the right fit for your group, get in touch.
We will prepare detailed information, available dates and a current proposal
based on your preferred travel style, group size, accommodation standard and
selected wine and culinary experiences.
