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Georgia
Harvest Time in the Cradle of Wine
Sep 02 - 09, 2027
Sep 23 - 30, 2027
Where
Georgia
Group Size
6 - 12 Travelers
Duration
8 Days, 8 Nights
When
Sep 02 - 09, 2027
Sep 23 - 30, 2027
Price
4,500 USD / person
On this mouthwatering eight-day trip we’ll explore the birthplace of wine, Georgia, and its unique feasting tradition. We’ll enjoy home visits, rural excursions, exclusive performances, historic and cultural tours, cooking workshops and much more.
Tucked between the Black and Caspian Seas and in the shadow of Europe’s highest mountains you’ll find Georgia – a tiny country with an astounding culinary heritage and a winemaking tradition tracing back eight millennia. We’ll be delving into this gastronomic wonderland during rtveli, the annual grape harvest, Georgia’s most inspiring time of year. Depending on the season, we’ll find vines heavy with grapes, or tables laden with plums. A truly wondrous bounty of fruit and vegetables.
This week-long culinary adventure takes place in and around the capital of Tbilisi before moving into the Alazani Valley. We’ll also spend two days in the Alazani Valley, perhaps the most beautiful wine region in the world. Here, we’ll experience the deep reverence for winemaking that defines this land moving from feast table to feast table in homes of celebrated winemakers. Along the way, we’ll take in unique performances, and get to know some of the passionate, talented Georgians upholding culinary tradition and, at the same time, challenging traditions to evolve with contemporary urban life.
LEARN
TASTE
STEP
MEET
DINE
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrival & Welcome
In the late afternoon, we’ll meet in the hotel for welcome drinks in the garden. Georgia’s capital, a collision of ancient and modern, is neither European nor Asian. It is, and has always been, a crossroads of the old Silk Road and a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities that continue to define the city’s character and its inimitable cuisine. We’ll make our way to Shavi Lomi, a house-turned-restaurant featuring chef Meriko Gubeladze’s twist on traditional Georgian dishes as well as classic renditions of some of her favorites. Over dinner, we’ll properly introduce ourselves and get an overview of the exciting—and delicious—week ahead.
Day 2
Unraveling the Secrets of the Georgian Feast
Today we’ll explore the roots of Georgian cuisine and the building blocks of the supra, Georgia’s traditional belt-popping feast table. On a walking tour of Tbilisi’s historic center we will see, smell and taste the diverse influences over this city’s gastronomy. We will eat loaves of oven-baked bread, still warm from the tone (a traditional clay oven), and sample delicious churchkhela, strings of walnuts dipped in a thick grape molasses roux. We’ll feast on khinkali, Georgia’s iconic dumplings, and also taste the latest kvevri (amphora-aged) wines at the city’s pioneering wine bar.
If you have energy left after our full day, feel free to wander the streets of the old city, where you’ll find no shortage of bars and cafes.
Day 3
Shida Kartli, the Heart of Georgia
Day 4
Onward to Kakheti
Spread beneath the majestic Caucasus Mountains like an enormous grape basket is the Alazani Valley. Located in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia, this could very well be the most breathtaking wine region in the world, and from Tbilisi an epic road trip. Kakheti’s landscapes are as ancient as they are diverse: full of lush vineyards and greenery, rocky mountains and thick forests. On our road trip to Kakheti, our first destination is a small town famous for its traditional tone bread ovens and local cheeses. We‘ll stretch our legs and have our second breakfast of these specialties. After arriving in Kakheti and getting settled, our journey continues to the home-workshop of a local kvevri maker, where we will learn how clay vessels the size of a VW Beetle are hand-crafted and maybe the master will break out his homemade brandy. Our final stop for the day is the cozy home of a family-run winery where husband and wife will treat us to a home-style supra, or Georgian feast.
Day 5
A Walk in the Woods
After breakfast, we will head into the forest with an environmental conservationist to learn more about what this unique environment provides and how local communities live off it in a sustainable way. On a leisurely trek, we’ll make our way through stunning landscapes, stopping by a tiny village to meet producers of local specialties, including prized Kakheti honey. We will lunch al fresco, picnic style. In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive at a village winery where we’ll take part in the making of churchkhela, the traditional Georgian sweet made of walnuts and grape juice, and then visit the cellar for a tasting led by the winemaker himself. In the evening, we’ll cap it all off with another classic Georgian supra.
Day 6
Markets & Cellars
Day 7
Best in Show: Fine Arts & Performance
After breakfast, we will make our way to an exclusive visit at the National Ballet and witness a private rehearsal of its acrobatic dancers, accompanied by traditional musicians. We’ll then visit other creative spaces, including a ceramics studio and the laboratory of a man aiming to perfect the ancient art of kvevri-making, aided by high technology. After so many traditional supras, on our final evening together we will dine at one of the most celebrated of Tbilisi’s new wave of restaurants, where contemporary style and atmosphere meet traditional cooking techniques and ingredients, giving us a taste of the exciting direction in which Georgian cuisine is headed.
Day 8
Farewell & Departure
Meet the Crew
We are firm believers in the power of local knowledge. Our guides and the culinary masters and other artisans who are part of our trips all deeply reflect that. Meet some of Georgia’s finest:
Kristo
Maka
Andro
Meriko
Irakli
Zaza
Kakhaber
Gia
Where you'll stay
Rooms Tbilisi
This week’s focus on deeply local experiences and places is also well reflected in our choice of accommodation. We always select boutique and independent places, ones inspired by international standards while staying loyal to the area’s local heritage – that’s the balance we seek for more than a good night’s rest.
Rooms Tbilisi exemplifies the adaptive reuse of Soviet-era architecture, transforming a 20th-century publishing house into a contemporary hotel. Its interiors balance raw, industrial elements with warm wooden accents and plush furnishings, creating a dialogue between past and present. The hotel is a testament to Tbilisi’s evolving design identity, harmonizing history and innovation.
Vazisubani Estate Hotel
While we are in Kahketi, our group will stay at Vazisubani Boutique Hotel, located on a stunning wine estate at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. The hotel is situated inside a stately 19th century manor which has been lovingly redecorated by a team of Georgian and British designers, using antique Victorian furniture. Located on a huge vineyard, with lines of vines, and a swimming pool, it makes a perfect place to relax after late nights of feasting with wine makers.
Hear what travelers are saying
One of the most magical trips I have been on. A fantastic way to discover Georgia.
Charles N.
Having so much access due to the well-planned excursions and connections of Kristo and Maka made me fall in love with Georgia almost immediately.
Sarah B.
Beyond anything I could have imagined. The people were warm, the food amazing and copious. It will change your life!
Catherine S.
Know before you go
Pricing and Accommodation
<p>The total cost of this trip is $4,500. For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, an additional $1,000 will be due at the time of the final payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip.</p>
Activity Level
<p>Travelers should feel comfortable walking three to five miles each day and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. </p>
Arrival and Departure
For flights in and out of Tbilisi International Airport (TBS), we suggest you arrive anytime before 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime on Day 8. Note that most inbound and outbound flights at TBS are scheduled for very early in the morning; we include the night before it starts so you have time to rest prior to the trip. We’ll provide the option of booking extra nights at our Tbilisi hotel before and/or after the tour, and are more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in the city on your own.
Inclusions
<p>• All accommodation throughout the trip in stylish, boutique hotels.</p><p>• Professional guides throughout the entire experience.</p><p>• A belt-popping experience, with all meals and drinks included in planned activities.</p><p><span style="color: #070707">• Airport transfer from the airport to the hotel upon arrival.</span></p><p>• All activities and events as mentioned in the itinerary.</p><p>• A hungry group of Culinary Backstreets travelers, excited to explore all that Georgia has to offer!</p>
Exclusions
<p>• Transportation and flights to and from Tbilisi.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(22, 17, 17)">• Airport transfer to the airport on departure.</span></p><p>• Food and drink outside of Culinary Backstreets Trip offerings.</p><p>• If applicable, applying for a Georgian visa.</p><p>• Travel insurance (required).</p>
Insurance Requirement
<p><span style="color: rgb(10, 49, 77)">Starting January 1, 2026, all tourists entering Georgia must provide proof in physical or electronic form of valid health and accident insurance coverage. The coverage amount must be no less than 30,000 GEL and cover the full period of stay in Georgia. The policy may be issued by a Georgian or foreign insurance company. For more information visit </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#781e2a] underline" href="https://ge.usembassy.gov/georgia-to-require-insurance-for-all-tourists-starting-1-1-2026/"><span style="color: rgb(10, 49, 77)">here</span></a><span style="color: rgb(10, 49, 77)">.</span></p>
Dietary Restrictions
We encourage an adventurous palate! However, if you’d like to avoid meat, the Georgian diet is vegetarian-friendly, so we can almost always supplement a non-meat dish. Avoiding gluten, on the other hand, will be challenging. If you’d like to join but are gluten-intolerant, you’ll need to bring and/or buy a steady stash of snacks to supplement your meals. The trip is centered around wine and includes a copious amount of alcohol consumption.
Notes on Itinerary
Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.
Safety and Sustainability
<p>We have reinforced our commitment to sustainability and safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our trips while maintaining the quality of the experience. All of our experiences are designed to have minimal impact on the community and environment. For more details on our precautions, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#781e2a] underline" href="/safety-and-sustainability">read here</a>.</p><p></p>
Cancellation Policy
<p><span style="color: black">You may cancel 91 days before the start of the trip and receive a full refund minus a $500 per-person service fee. If you cancel your participation 45 to 90 days prior to the group arrival date, a fee of 50% of the trip cost will apply.</span></p><p><span style="color: black">If you cancel your participation 31 to 44 days prior to the group arrival date, a fee of 75% of the trip cost will apply. If you cancel your participation 30 or fewer days prior to the group arrival date, a fee of 100% of the trip cost will apply. (see our </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#781e2a] underline" href="https://culinarybackstreets.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/culinarybackstreets/images_imported/For+CB+Trips_+Terms+%26+Conditions_updated2022.pdf"><span style="color: black"><u>Terms and Conditions</u></span></a><span style="color: black"> for full details).</span></p>
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