Kakheti wine country in brief
Kakheti lies east of Tbilisi and is the region most visitors mean when they say Georgian wine. It sits well away from Borjomi, so most people visit it on a day trip from the capital or as a separate leg of a longer route. This page is a guide to the tradition and the practical side, not a list of cellars.
Two towns anchor most visits. Signagi is a hill town above the Alazani valley, and Telavi is the cultural centre of Kakheti with a royal palace. A day trip can reach one or both, but a full wine route takes more time than a single day gives you.
The Qvevri tradition
What UNESCO recognises and what it does not.
A Qvevri is an egg-shaped clay vessel used for fermenting, ageing and storing wine. Traditionally it is set into the ground. UNESCO describes grape juice fermented with skins, stalks and pips, with a fermentation and ageing time of 5 to 6 months. Not every wine in Georgia follows this recipe exactly.
Georgian Qvevri winemaking has been on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2013. The listing covers the method. It is not a world heritage status for each winery and not a quality mark for every bottle.
Our pick: Kakheti wine day
A guided day with transport and all entry fees, from Tbilisi.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kakheti wine tours from Tbilisi
Guided day trips to Georgian wine country with tastings, with live prices and availability.
Kakheti wine tour: what to plan
The practical points for a day out.
Signagi
A hill town above the Alazani valley with a historic wall. It is 1:40 hours by road from Tbilisi, so a day trip is realistic.
Telavi
The cultural centre of Kakheti, with a royal palace. It takes 1:55 hours from Tbilisi. Do not count the drive as the time for a whole wine route.
Fitting it into a trip
A day trip from Tbilisi works if you have a spare day before heading south. If your time is short, pick Kakheti or the Borjomi side first, since combining them in one day would be rushed.
Tbilisi guide →Drinking and driving
The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.0 per mille. Do not combine tastings with driving yourself. A guided tour or a driver solves this.
Tasting and buying wine in Kakheti
Keep expectations simple.
Ask before you go
Visits to cellars differ from place to place. Ask each one about tasting prices, group size and whether a booking is needed. Prices vary from place to place.
Pace the day
Plan one or two stops, a meal and the drive back. A day that adds more stops usually ends in a rush on the road home.
What to carry
Take water, a layer for cool cellars and cash in lari for small purchases. If you buy bottles, check your airline rules for checked baggage.
Kakheti and the rest of your Georgia trip
Where the region fits.
Tbilisi trip
Old town, sulphur baths and the road south.
Georgia tours with Borjomi
Multi-day routes and drive times.
Georgia holidays
Regions, entry rules and travel advice.
Tasting fees and booking rules differ by place, so ask each one for its terms. Cellar opening hours and harvest dates change year to year, so check them before you plan around them.
Kakheti wine: frequently asked questions
What is Qvevri wine?
Wine made in an egg-shaped clay vessel that is traditionally buried in the ground. UNESCO has recognised the method as intangible cultural heritage since 2013.
How far is Kakheti from Tbilisi?
Signagi is 1:40 hours by road and Telavi 1:55 hours. Both are one-way road times without stops.
Can I visit Kakheti as a day trip from Borjomi?
It is a long way. Most visitors go from Tbilisi, since the region is on the other side of the capital from Borjomi.
Can I drive after a tasting?
No. The limit for drivers is 0.0 per mille. Book a guided tour or a driver.
Does UNESCO recognise every Georgian wine?
No. The listing covers the traditional Qvevri method, not a quality mark for each winery or bottle.