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
Imereti: wine and traditional cooking
Visit to Gelati Monastery and drive through lesser-known areas of Imereti. The day includes stops at small wineries offering insight into local production methods and the character of western Georgian wine.
In the afternoon, visit to a local family for a hands-on introduction to Georgian home cooking, including khachapuri preparation and essential elements of the Imeretian table.
A day built around wine, food and direct local interaction.
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
Transfer to the selected airport and end of the programme. The final route arrangement may be adjusted according to flight schedules and the group’s departure airport.
What’s included
● Accommodation in carefully selected properties
● All internal transfers by private vehicle with driver
● Breakfasts and selected meals included in the programme
● Wine tastings, estate visits, local experiences, workshops and dinners as described in the itinerary
● Meetings with local producers, winemakers or host families where included in the final arrangement
● Travel materials prepared for the group
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 journey is designed for travellers who want to understand Georgia through taste, landscape and local craftsmanship — not only through monuments and viewpoints.
It is a good fit for travellers who:
● are interested in Georgian wine, regional cuisine and local products
● want to experience several culinary regions within one journey
● enjoy meeting local producers, winemakers and families
● prefer authentic food experiences over staged tourist shows
● want to understand how landscape, climate and tradition shape Georgian cuisine
● enjoy hands-on elements such as cooking workshops, cheese tastings and wine visits
● are looking for a structured journey with strong local context, rather than a passive leisure stay
This is not a resort-style food holiday in one place. It is a travelling culinary journey through Georgia — created for people who want to taste the country in the places where its flavours actually come from.
Ask about this culinary journey
If this journey feels like the right fit for your group, send us a message.
We will prepare detailed information, possible dates, a current price proposal and practical recommendations based on your travel period, group size, preferred comfort level and final route arrangement.
Tell us when you would like to travel, how many people are in your group and what kind of food and wine experiences matter most to you — and we will guide you from there.
