Private Kakheti Wine Tour: Monasteries & Wine Tasting Experience

Summary

Kakheti Wine Region Tour with Monastery Visits & Tastings

You’ll walk through centuries-old monasteries, hear stories about kings and queens, and taste wines aged deep inside mountain tunnels—all while soaking up real Georgian hospitality in Kakheti’s heartland.

What’s the experience like?

The morning air in Kakheti always feels a bit crisp, even in summer. We started out toward Dzveli Shuamta, just outside Telavi—about 7 km if you’re counting. The old basilica here is from the 5th century, and you can still see the rough cobblestones and hewn corners. Our guide pointed out faded carvings on the stone—easy to miss unless you know where to look. There was a faint scent of wild thyme growing near the path, mixing with the cool breeze coming down from the hills.

Akhali Shuamta was next, not far off. This one’s got a different feel—built by Queen Tinatin Gurieli in the 16th century, all brick and soft light filtering through painted walls inside. Some of those old portraits are still there if you squint past the candle smoke. There’s a bell tower that chimes every hour or so; we caught it right at noon, echoing across the quiet grounds. Our guide mentioned a Chavchavadze is buried here—locals still leave flowers sometimes.

After winding through Telavi—the capital of Kakheti now—we made our way to Gremi. It’s hard to picture this place as a bustling Silk Road town, but you can see bits of its royal past in the fortress walls and church domes. The story goes that Shah Abbas I destroyed most of it in 1615; since then, Telavi took over as capital. Standing up on the hill, you get these wide views over vineyards and fields stretching out below.

The real highlight for me was Winery Khareba in Kvareli. You step into this tunnel carved right into the mountain—it stays cool inside, maybe 12 degrees or so even when it’s hot outside. The cellar goes on forever (well, almost 8 km), lined with thousands of bottles aging quietly in the dark. We tasted a couple of their reds straight from the barrel; earthy flavors with just enough bite to them. There’s an underground shop too—picked up a bottle to bring home because honestly, it tastes better when you’ve seen where it comes from.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Kakheti Monasteries and Winery

• Visit Dzveli Shuamta Monastery
• Visit Akhali Shuamta Monastery
• Explore Gremi, former capital of Kakheti
• Tour Winery Khareba wine cellar

Top questions

How long does this private wine tour take?

The full experience usually takes about 8–9 hours including travel between sites and time for tastings.

Is this tour suitable for families or older travelers?

Yes! The route is comfortable for all fitness levels and infant seats are available if needed.

Can I buy wine during the tour?

Absolutely—you’ll have a chance to purchase bottles directly at Winery Khareba’s cellar shop.

What should I wear or bring?

I’d recommend comfy shoes for walking around monasteries and maybe a light jacket—the wine tunnel stays cool year-round.

What’s included

Your own private transport (with AC), bottled water along the way, plus all visits and guided tastings at each stop are included for a relaxed day out.