Discover Kakheti with Travel Art

In Kakheti, a conversation about wine needs little introduction. Simply ask your host how the harvest went, and the talk will soon turn to the vineyard, the weather and stories from the previous year’s grape harvest.

After a conversation like that, a tasting takes on a different meaning. The wine in your glass is now connected to someone’s work, their vineyard and their experience.

In Tsinandali, the history of wine meets the history of culture. At Alexander Chavchavadze’s house museum and wine collection, you discover the life of a family whose name is associated with the revival of European winemaking traditions in Kakheti. Then you step into the garden, follow its paths and imagine yourself in Alexander’s time.

In Telavi, we visit the palace of King Erekle II and the ethnographic museum. Depending on your chosen route, the tour also includes Ikalto, Alaverdi or Shuamta. Each has a setting of its own: in one place, the scale of a church takes you by surprise; in another, it is the courtyard, the old walls or a road through the forest that stays with you. Between these stops, the landscapes of Kakheti are always changing.

Your introduction to Kakhetian food continues with baking shoti bread and making churchkhela. In your host’s hands, it all looks effortless, but your first attempt soon reveals how much practice lies behind each movement. There is a pleasure in taking part, though, especially when you finally taste what you have made together.

In autumn, a journey through Kakheti also brings the particular joy of rtveli, the grape harvest: picking grapes, pressing them in a traditional satsnakheli winepress and gathering around a shared table at the end of the day. Taking part in this tradition brings you closer to Kakhetian life and hospitality. The date of the harvest is determined by the ripeness of the grapes and the weather.

Travel Art’s Kakheti tours let you choose what interests you most: wine, history, food or the grape harvest. Join us, and let’s discover the generous spirit of Kakheti together!