A Toast to Georgia; Brandy and Wine Tasting | Yampu Tours

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A Toast to Georgia; Brandy and Wine Tasting

PRIVATE TOUR - 10 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY

FROM £$ 4345

Private Tour Highlights

  • Visit local wineries and taste traditional Georgian wine made according to the authentic wine-making tradition of Kveri.
  • Take part in a brandy tasting at one of the oldest liquor manufacturers in Georgia.
  • Walk the grounds of Chateau Mukhrani Royal Palace & Winery, the first and the only true Georgian royal chateau.
  • Explore Uplistsikhe - a rock-hewn town within the most ancient caves in Georgia that once held long meandering corridor-streets, chambers for pagan worship and Georgia's oldest theater.
  • Enjoy a city tour of the Georgian Capital, Tbilisi and visit the Mtatsminda Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures.
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Tour Overview

Awaken your sleepy palette with a trip for the tastebuds, A Toast to Georgia; Brandy and Wine Tasting!

As the small yet mountainous country of Georgia borders Turkey, Armenia, Europe, and Russia, it is no wonder why the country boasts such deliciously hardy cuisine and stiff drinks by drawing inspiration from their neighbors from all corners of the region.

The tour begins in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi where explorers will wander through ancient fortresses, cathedrals and churches throughout the city before meandering through the quaint old city filled with cafes, shops and galleries. The next three days will be spent in Telavi, exploring the region’s wine culture while visiting local wineries and brandy factories.

Returning to Tbilisi, the tour covers more points of interest throughout the capital including the largest necropolis in Tbilisi where many famous writers, scientists, national heroes, and other public figures are buried. After a day of sightseeing, there is the option to go shopping at one of the biggest shopping centers in the Caucasus.

On to Gudauri, visitors will note why the city is known as the best ski resort in Georgia with its unique mountain peaks. Explore the Caucasus Mountains with scenic views with an exhilarating drive on a 4×4 Jeep to Gergeti Mountain to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church before. The voyage will end with a visit to the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe and walking the grounds of Chateau Mukhrani Royal Palace & Winery to enjoy a tasting of wine and Chacha.

Gaumarjos, cheers!

Inclusions
Price includes domestic and regional flights within the itinerary; all hotel accommodations including daily continental or buffet breakfast and daily city tax; all transfers between airports and hotels with assistance and baggage handling; guided tours in English including entrance fees.
Exclusions

International airfare (unless specifically included), airport departure taxes that must be paid on-site, gratuities, meals not mentioned, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals, early / late check-out, room service, visa fees/services and other personal items or services not mentioned.

Best Time to Travel
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Best Good Consult

Package Price: From £$ 4345

Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.

Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.

Trip Type:

All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!

Tour Itinerary

Day
1

Overnight Flight to Georgia

Overnight International Flight to Georgia's capital, Tbilisi.

Overnight International Flight to Georgia's capital, Tbilisi.

Day
2

Welcome to Tbilisi!

Upon arrival to Tbilisi, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Tbilisi derives from the Old Georgian word “tbili”, meaning warm, thanks to its natural hot springs and bathhouses.

Upon arrival to Tbilisi, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Tbilisi derives from the Old Georgian word “tbili”, meaning warm, thanks to its natural hot springs and bathhouses.

Day
3

Tbilisi Cathedral & Churches Tour

Today after breakfast, you will depart to Tbilis (160 km/100 miles, approx. 2.5 hours) and start the city tour. First, we will visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Sameba), one of the tallest Orthodox Christian churches in the world. From Sameba, we move to Metekhi Plateau and Metekhi church built in the 5th century, located on the elevated cliff over the river Mtkvari and the old Tbilisi district. Next, we will move to Narikala, an ancient fortress overlooking Tbilisi from the mountain that can be reached by an aerial cable car form the Rike Park.

From Narikala Fortress, we will stroll down to the old city full of attractions and landmarks: Meidan Square with its outdoor cafes, galleries and souvenir shops, Caravanserai-Tbilisi History Museum, the Bridge of Peace, the historical sulfur bathhouse district of Tbilisi and Tiblisi Flea Market. Overnight in Tbilisi.
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Day
4

Tbilisi - Telavi with Winery Tour

This morning, you will depart for Kakheti region (210 km /130 miles, approx. 3.5 hours) - one of the major traditional wine-making regions of Georgia. Our first stop is at Signagi. A small town situated on the eastern foothills of the Gombori mountain range at an elevation of 790 meters, surrounded by the 18th c. city curtain walls, facing Greater Caucasus Mountains and overlooking valley of Alazani river.

In Signagi, we will visit a local cellar of Pheasant's Tears Winery and taste a traditional Georgian wine made according to the authentic wine-making tradition of Kveri, using a Georgian traditional earthenware vessel for fermentation to age and store the wine. We can take a short walk in the center of Signagi, and afterwards, you will drive to the village of Velistsikhe to visit one of the oldest wine cellars in Kakheti, the museum of Numisi Winery and Cellar Museum, dating back to the 16th c. We will have lunch in Numisi and taste Georgian red and white wines stored in Kveri.

From Velistsikhe, we will continue to Kvareli town and pay a visit to Khareba Wine Cellar, located in a cave on the flank of the Caucasus mountains, for some fun wine tasting. The temperature in the tunnel of Khareba winery stays ideally at 12-14 degree Celsius throughout the whole year. It consists of two main tunnels with a total length of 7.7 km. Afterwards, we will drive to Telavi town for dinner and overnight.
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Day
5

Telavi Historical & Wine Cellar Tour

This morning, we will continue our exploration of Kakheti region (80 km/50 miles, approx. 1.5 hours). We can visit Telavi farmer's bazaar where we can buy local fruits, homemade wine and Georgian vodka, cheese and bread, Georgian traditional sweets such as 'Churchkhela', and much more.

From Telavi, we will go to the village of Tsinandali to see the House Museum of Alexander Chavchavadze, a famous Georgian aristocrat, military figure in service of the Russian Empire, and a Romanticist poet from the 19th century. Nowadays, Chavchavadze's residence, garden and winery in Tsinandali has been turned into a museum.

From Tsinandali, we will drive to Gremi - a 16th century architectural monument in Kakheti. The complex consists of the royal citadel and the Church of Archangels and represents the only surviving part of medieval town of Gremi.

Then from Gremi, we drive will drive to the village of Napareuli, where Twins Wine Cellar and its Qvevri Wine Museum are located. The museum shows the process of Georgian traditional wine-making, step-by-step. Nowadays, wine production of Twins Wine Cellar is still based on the old, local methods. We will have our lunch in a restaurant at the Twins Wine Cellar with various types of wines available. Afterwards, we return back to Telavi.
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Day
6

JSC Sarajishvili Factory Tour

Today, you will drive back to Tbilisi. (100 km/62 miles, approx. 2 hours). Upon arrival, we will be visiting the wine and brandy factory of JSC Sarajishvili - one of the oldest manufacturers of liquor in Georgia, founded in 1884 by a Georgian scientist and entrepreneur Davit Sarajishvili. We can take part in the degustation of the 19th century brandy. It is also possible to purchase a bottle from the old collections at the factory. Tonight, we will have a gala dinner with folk performance at Georgian traditional restaurant. ...read less

Day
7

Tbilisi City Tour

Today, we will continue the Tbilisi sightseeing tour by taking a tram to Mtatsminda Mountain and paying a visit to the Mtatsminda Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures. This is the largest necropolis in Tbilisi where many famous writers, scientists, national heroes, and other public figures are buried. From Mtatsminda, we will continue to the Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli avenue. This museum has numerous collections of house artifacts of natural and human history, rich ethnographic and archaeological collections from different historical periods, and more.

Then, we will take a walk along the Rustaveli Avenue, and take a look at the buildings of the Parliament of Georgia, Rustaveli National Theater, and Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi. We can also visit the glass Bridge of Peace, Shardeni street and Maidan square, which are full of outdoor cafes, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and art galleries.

This evening, you may go shopping at one of the biggest shopping centers in Caucasus, the Tbilisi Mall. Located in the center of Tbilisi on Rustaveli avenue, Tbilisi Mall offers a broad range of shops from many famous international brands. You can also find fruit and vegetable markets, banking facilities, a multi-screen cinema and a family entertainment center in the mall.
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Day
8

Ananuri, Kazbegi & Gergeti Tour

Today, we will explore Caucasus Mountain by driving to Gudauri via Georgian Military Highway (320 km/200 miles, approx. 6.5 hours). The way to Gudauri is quite scenic with attractive views of Great Caucasus Range, serpentine roads and waterfalls. On the way, we will visit Ananuri Fortress which was the residence of Aragvi Eristavis' (Dukes) during 16th-17th c.

Continue to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda), the administrative center of Khevi province via Jvari Pass (Cross Pass; 2395 m. above sea level). During the trip, we will make a few stops to taste the local mineral waters. Upon arrival to Kazbegi, we will take an exhilarating drive on a 4x4 Jeep to Gergeti Mountain, where Gergeti Holy Trinity Church of 14th c. stands. After the activity, drive back to Tbilisi for overnight. ...read less

Day
9

Mtskheta & Uplistsikhe Tour

This morning, you will depart to Mtskheta (190 km/120 miles, approx. 3.5 hours). Mtskheta town is located at the confluence of the rivers of Aragvi and Mtkvari. It served as a capital of ancient Kingdom of Iberia and is famous for two of its historical and architectural monuments: Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Both of these monuments are recognized by the UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Arrive in Gori - a town serving as the regional capital of Shida (Inner) Kartli.

Visit Chateau Mukhrani Royal Palace & Winery - the first and the only true Georgian Royal Chateau, which unites four key components: vineyards, winery, castle and history. Chateau Mukhrani French Garden was created under the inspiration of the French royal gardens. The French garden is the perfect place for photos. Next we will enjoy an excursion in Ivane Mukhranbatoni residence to enjoy a tasting of 4 types of wine and Chacha with light snacks (Shoti bread, Churchkhela, fruit mix, cheese mix, olives, spring water).

Next, you will explore Uplistsikhe - the most ancient caves in the region, dating back to the 1st mill BC, situated 7km Southeast of Gori town on the left bank of the River Mtkvari. The history of Uplistsikhe goes back to the 2nd-1st millenniums B.C. In antiquity, the city was one of the most important centers of Kartli and in the middle Ages it stood on an important trade route that linked Byzantium with India and China. Today various kinds of halls, rooms, buildings made in different epochs still survive and amaze the visitors by its extraordinary position, refined forms and the beauty of decors. You will find huge echoing halls, long meandering corridor-streets, chambers for pagan worship and even the remains of Georgia's oldest theatre. Archaeologists claim that the people of Uplistsikhe had close ties with the centers of Urartu, Iran, Asia Minor and Greek-Roman countries. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.
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Day
10

International Flight Home

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home.

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Telavi, Georgia

Gudauri, Georgia

Places You'll See

  • Tbilisi

    Georgia’s ancient and vibrant capital city, Tbilisi spreads out on both banks of the Mtkvari River, surrounded by mountains. Well known for its hot springs and bathhouses, Tbilisi derives from the Old Georgian word “tbili”, meaning warm. Legend has it that Tbilisi was founded by a king who was hunting in the heavily wooded region with a falcon. The king’s falcon injured a pheasant during the hunt and both birds fell into a nearby hot spring, dying from burns. The king was so impressed with the hot springs that he cut down the forest to build a city, Tbilisi.

  • Telavi

    Located within the Kakheti Region of Georgia, Telavi offers beautiful mountainous landscapes, ancient architecture, monasteries and castle complexes to its visitors. Though it is not a large city, Telavi is the perfect home base to explore the region’s wine culture. Be sure to taste the local cuisine at the quaint local restaurants and savor the delectable wines of the region before exploring Alaverdi Monastery, discovering the Ikalto Academy ruins, or walking the gardens of the Chavchavadze Family Estate.

  • Gudauri

    Known as the best ski resort in Georgia, Gudauri provides well-developed infrastructure, intense altitude, and unlimited possibilities for freeride skiing. The resort is the highest settlement on the Georgian Military Road. The season in Gudauri begins in early December and lasts through April. Visitors can choose to ski Mount Sadzel, the highest point of the resort or Kudebi where skiers can ride from any side of the mountain. Experienced skiers and adventure seekers can also enjoy heliskiing and even paraskiing.

Hotel Options

4 Star Properties

Tbilisi : Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace

Telavi : Chateau Mere

Testimonials

Erik M.

Traveled December 2017

A ++ experience!

We used Yampu last Christmas (2017) for a 2 week trip in Argentina. From the very first email to the follow up after our trip, everything was perfect with Yampu. The hotel selection was matching our needs, the transfers between locations and airports all went very smoothly, the overall trip plan was a good balance of sightseeing, discovery and personal time. The guides were all so friendly and knowledgeable. This was a A+ experience. Our main point of contact in the USA was Christine Cronin. She did an amazing job for us. We like their services so much that we are now planning another trip with Yampu.

Traveled To

Daniel

Traveled

Responsive and helpful

Karolina was super responsive and helpful as usual in arranging and coordinating the itinerary – I enjoyed the whole trip thoroughly!

Traveled To

Nick C.

Traveled November, 2014

We are still basking in the glow of the trip

We can’t say enough about Yampu and the tour of Brazil and Iguazu Falls. From the hotel/lodge selections to our personal guides, everything was wonderful. We are still basking in the glow of the trip. Thank you Yampu

Traveled To


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