This Sighnaghi and Kakheti wine tour from Tbilisi is the classic introduction to Georgia's wine country: a tasting of the region's famous wines, a visit to the peaceful convent where Georgia's most beloved saint is buried, and an afternoon wandering the walled hilltop town of Sighnaghi, looking out over the Alazani Valley to the Caucasus beyond. It is a private tour with your own guide, so you can linger wherever you like.
It suits couples, wine lovers, families and anyone visiting Georgia for the first time. The day is relaxed rather than demanding, with plenty of time to eat, sip and enjoy the views, and it shows how deeply wine, faith and hospitality are woven into Georgian life.
Highlights of the route
Sighnaghi
Sighnaghi was fortified in the 18th century under King Erekle II, and long stretches of its defensive wall and towers still wrap around the town. Today it is a place of cobbled lanes, wooden balconies and tiled roofs, all looking out across the Alazani Valley with the Greater Caucasus on the horizon. Walk a section of the walls, browse the craft and carpet shops, and visit the town museum, which holds paintings by Niko Pirosmani, Georgia's best-known self-taught artist, who was born in a village nearby. Sighnaghi is known as the "City of Love" and its registry office famously marries couples at almost any hour.
Wine Tasting
Kakheti produces most of Georgia's wine, and a tasting here is the heart of the day. Expect to learn about qvevri, the large clay vessels buried in the ground in which Georgians have made wine for thousands of years, a method UNESCO recognises as intangible cultural heritage. You are likely to meet Saperavi, an inky red, and Rkatsiteli, a white that becomes a deep amber when fermented on its skins. Your guide will help you understand what you are tasting and why Georgian wine is so different. Non-drinkers are welcome and there is always something to enjoy.
Bodbe Monastery
Bodbe, a short drive from Sighnaghi, is a working convent set among cypress trees and gardens on a hillside above the valley. It is the burial place of Saint Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century, which makes it an important place of pilgrimage. Visitors walk through the gardens and church, and many follow the long stairway down through the woods to a spring associated with the saint, where pilgrims bathe. The return climb is steep, so take it slowly or enjoy the view from the top instead.
Make it your own
This tour is a starting point, not a set itinerary. If you love wine, we can add more cellars or a family-run producer; if you prefer churches and history, ask us about adding David Gareja, the cave monastery complex on the semi-desert border with Azerbaijan, which makes for a longer but memorable day. Many travellers combine this route with our Telavi, Gremi and Kvareli tour across two days, with an overnight stay in Sighnaghi or Telavi in between. Our Georgia wine tours page has more ideas.
Guides speak English, Russian and Georgian. Families can slow the pace and swap the tasting for a long lunch, and older travellers can skip the steps at Bodbe without missing the best of it. Before you go, read our guide to the Kakheti wine region.
Good to know
- Bodbe is a convent: women should cover their hair and wear a skirt, men long trousers, and everyone should cover their shoulders.
- Sighnaghi's lanes are cobbled and steep in places, so wear comfortable shoes.
- Grape harvest, known as Rtveli, usually falls in September and October and is a lively time to visit. Spring is green and quieter.
- Carry some cash for small shops, markets and roadside stalls selling churchkhela and other local treats.
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, group size and where you are staying in Tbilisi, and we will come back with a plan and a quote.
