Kartli Wine Route

Kartli, the historic heart of Georgia surrounding Tbilisi, offers a...

Kartli, the historic heart of Georgia surrounding Tbilisi, offers a different wine experience than Kakheti. The region is known for its crisp white Chinuri and the rare Tavkveri rosé. Visit ancient cave cities, Stalin's birthplace, and family cellars where qvevri have been buried for generations.

A Wine Memories curated trail · winememories.fi

8 experiences 🇬🇪 Georgia moderate 1-2 weeks

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Curated by Wine Memories

  1. 1
    🍷

    Iago's Wine

    Legendary producer of Chinuri, the signature white grape of Kartli. Iago Bitarishvili is one of Georgia's most respected natural winemakers.

    tasting $$
  2. 2
    🗺️

    Mtskheta - Ancient Capital Wine Walk

    UNESCO World Heritage ancient capital of Georgia. Walk the streets where Christianity arrived via the wine-loving St. Nino, and taste at local cellars.

    tour $
  3. 3
    🗺️

    Chateau Mukhrani

    Royal estate of the Bagrationi dynasty restored to its 19th-century glory. Combines European winemaking with Georgian tradition.

    tour $$
  4. 4
    🍷

    Gotsa Wines

    High-altitude vineyard at 1,000m producing distinctive wines. Beka Gotsadze is a rising star in Georgian natural wine.

    tasting $$
  5. 5
    ⛰️

    Ateni Valley Wine Route

    Scenic valley known for its sparkling wine tradition. The 7th-century Ateni Sioni church overlooks ancient vineyards.

    adventure $
  6. 6
    🗺️

    Gori Wine Factory (Stalin's Birthplace)

    Historic winery in Stalin's birthplace. Tour the cellars and learn about Soviet-era winemaking while tasting Kartlian wines.

    tour $
  7. 7
    🗺️

    Uplistsikhe Cave City

    Ancient rock-hewn city dating to 1000 BC with wine cellars carved into the caves. One of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus.

    tour $
  8. 8
    🍷

    Natenadze's Wine Cellar

    Family winery specializing in rare Kartlian grape varieties. Zurab Natenadze is preserving grapes that almost went extinct.

    tasting $

Plan the trip

Insider tip. Combine with a visit to Uplistsikhe cave city - ancient wine presses are carved into the rock.

Getting there and around

Car required
Yes
Parking
Free at wineries. Paid parking at Mtskheta ($2-3) and Uplistsikhe ($3).
Nearest airport
Tbilisi (TBS) - 20-40 min to most Kartli sites
Drinking and driving
Based in Tbilisi, hire day driver ($40-60) or use taxi apps (Bolt, Yandex). Easy day trip logistics.
Other airports
  • Kutaisi (KUT) - 2.5 hr via highway
Without a car
Mtskheta accessible by marshrutka (30 min) and train. Other sites need car or taxi.

Where to stay

Base yourself in
Tbilisi
Why there
All Kartli sites within 1.5 hr of capital. Superior dining, nightlife, and accommodation.
Booking tip
Tbilisi fills up for festivals (New Wine, tbilisi Jazz). Book 1 month ahead for spring/fall.
Nightly range
$40-200

Recommended stays

Budget
Fabrika Hostel - $15-30/night, trendy converted factory, great social scene
Luxury
Rooms Hotel Tbilisi - $180/night, design hotel, rooftop bar
Mid-range
Hotel Kopala - $80/night, Old Town views, excellent breakfast
Vineyard stays
Stay in Mtskheta for early morning monastery visits - Hotel & Spa & Mtskheta, $60/night

What it costs

Includes
Accommodation (2 nights in Tbilisi), tastings, meals, driver/transport
Meals
$15-25/day in Tbilisi - excellent food scene
Per person
$150-350
Ways to spend less
  • Mtskheta wine bars offer tastings by glass ($3-8)
  • Combine Uplistsikhe and Gori in one trip to save transport
  • Iago's Wine is expensive but unmissable - budget for it
  • Tbilisi restaurants are 1/3 price of Western Europe
Tasting fees
$10-25 per winery (Chateau Mukhrani higher)

Booking and timing

Lead time
2 weeks minimum for Iago's Wine - he's often away
Closed days
Most sites open daily. Monasteries have prayer times.
Peak season
Spring (April-May) and fall (Sep-Oct) busiest for wine tourism
Best time of day
Morning for Mtskheta (better light, fewer crowds). Afternoon for wineries.
Group size
Family cellars prefer 2-6 people. Chateau Mukhrani handles larger groups.

Where to eat

Lunch
  • Mtskheta wine bars - khachapuri and local wines, $8-15
  • Gori restaurants - excellent khinkali (dumplings), $5-10
  • Uplistsikhe parking area - simple grills, $5-8
Dinner
  • Tbilisi: Cafe Littera - upscale Georgian, $30-50
  • Tbilisi: Shavi Lomi - modern Georgian, $20-35
  • Tbilisi: Keto da Kote - traditional, excellent wines, $25-40
Winery restaurants
  • Chateau Mukhrani has a restaurant - book with your tour

If your time is short

Do not miss
If you only have one day
If it rains
Chateau Mukhrani (indoor tour), National Museum in Tbilisi, or Mtskheta churches
Skip if time is short

Mistakes to avoid

  • Don't skip Iago's Wine for easier bookings - it's the definitive Kartli experience
  • Don't try to rush Uplistsikhe - allow 2-3 hours to explore properly
  • Don't confuse Kartli style with Kakheti - expect lighter, more delicate amber wines
  • Don't drive to Mtskheta - parking is chaotic, take a taxi or marshrutka
  • Don't skip the museum context - Stalin Museum is controversial but informative

Worth stopping for

  • Jvari Monastery overlooking Mtskheta - sunrise or sunset, iconic view
  • Svetitskhoveli Cathedral interior - morning light through windows
  • Uplistsikhe caves - late afternoon golden hour on the cliffs
  • Chateau Mukhrani palace gardens - any time, beautiful formal gardens
  • Iago's Wine cellar - rustic, authentic, needs flash or natural window light