This Kakheti wine route to Telavi, Gremi and Kvareli takes the scenic way into Georgia's wine country, climbing over the forested Gombori Pass and dropping into the northern Alazani Valley, where vineyards run right up to the foot of the Caucasus. Along the way you see the region's main town, a 16th-century royal citadel and one of Georgia's best-known wine villages, finishing with a tasting. It is a private tour with your own guide and your own pace.
It suits wine lovers, history fans and travellers who have already seen Sighnaghi or want a quieter corner of Kakheti. The landscapes are some of the finest in eastern Georgia, with long views across the valley to the snow-capped ridge, especially in spring and autumn.
Highlights of the route
Gombori Pass
Rather than the main road east, this tour crosses the Gombori range, a forested ridge between Tbilisi and the Alazani Valley. The road winds up through thick forest, and on a clear day the views back across the hills and down into Kakheti are excellent. It is a quieter, greener way into the region and a good place to stop for photographs. In winter the pass can be snowy or foggy; if so, your guide takes the main road around the range instead, so nothing is lost.
Telavi
Telavi is the main town of Kakheti and was once a royal seat. At its centre is Batonis Tsikhe, the walled residence of the Kakhetian kings, including Erekle II, whose statue stands outside. Nearby grows a vast, ancient plane tree that locals are proud of. The town is a good place to stretch your legs, visit the market and pick up spices, churchkhela or local cheese. Telavi is also the natural base if you choose to stay overnight in the region, with easy access to the monasteries and wineries around it.
Gremi Monastery
Gremi was the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti in the 16th and early 17th centuries, a busy trading town on routes between east and west. The town was destroyed by the armies of the Persian Shah Abbas I in the early 1600s, but the hilltop citadel survived: the brick Church of the Archangels, built by King Levan of Kakheti, a bell tower and defensive walls. Inside the church are frescoes, and a small museum on site tells the story of the kingdom. Climb to the top for views across the valley to the mountains.
Kvareli
Kvareli lies right at the foot of the Greater Caucasus, and the setting, with vineyards stretching to the mountain wall, is one of the most beautiful in eastern Georgia. The area is the home of Kindzmarauli, a naturally semi-sweet red made from Saperavi, and of several well-known wineries. Kvareli is also the birthplace of Ilia Chavchavadze, the writer and public figure regarded as one of the fathers of modern Georgia; his family house is now a museum. Ask us about adding the wine tunnel cut into the mountainside here.
Wine Degustation
The tasting brings the day together. Georgians have made wine for thousands of years, and the traditional qvevri method, fermenting in clay vessels buried underground, is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. In this part of Kakheti you are likely to taste Saperavi in its many styles, from dry to semi-sweet, alongside amber Rkatsiteli. Your guide will explain what makes each one distinctive, from the grapes to the way they are aged, and why amber wine tastes so different from European whites. Non-drinkers are welcome, and the stop is as much about Kakhetian hospitality as about the wine.
Make it your own
Every part of this route can change. Ask us about adding Alaverdi Cathedral or the Tsinandali estate near Telavi, the hillside monastery at Nekresi near Kvareli, or a longer visit to a family winery. Many travellers combine this tour with our Sighnaghi and Bodbe route over two days, staying a night in Telavi or Sighnaghi. Guides speak English, Russian and Georgian, and we can keep the walking light at Gremi for anyone who would rather not climb. See more on our Georgia wine tours page, or read about the best Georgian wines before you go.
Good to know
- Gremi and other churches on the route are active: cover shoulders and knees, and women may want a headscarf.
- The climb up to the Gremi citadel is short but steep, so comfortable shoes help.
- Harvest season (Rtveli) usually runs through September and October and is a lively time to visit wineries.
- Carry some cash for Telavi's market and small roadside stalls.
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, group size and where you are staying, and we will put together a route and a quote.
