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Rtveli 2023 Wine Harvest Georgia: Rtveli (Georgian: რთველი) is Georgia’s wine harvest festival. It encompasses the whole process, from picking the grapes, through processing them into the wine vessels (qvevri) and the supra (feast) that follows a successful harvest.
Every family that makes their own wine will have a Rtveli of their own. Each can happen in one day, multiple times, or spread over many days, depending on the size of the harvest for each family and the chosen harvest dates.
The Rtveli happens when the sugar content of the grapes have reached their ideal amount, based on the winemaker’s preference, which varies depending on where in the country they are grown. The peak season is between early September and mid October, but we have options that most seasons allow us to operate harvest tours from late August to early November.
We have Rtveli 2024 harvest wine tours in Kakheti, Kartli, Imereti and Racha – Georgia.
Some provisional Rtveli 2024 harvest dates are NOW LISTED BELOW. Nov 2023, limited options still available, join the waitlist.
As a tourist, the best harvest experience depends on your preferences and availability. There are 3 versions that are typically possible, 2 are the common ones that get offered to tourists (simulations and events), and then there is the most authentic and least commonly offered option – The Real Family Rtveli – which we offer on a very limited schedule as one of the only tour companies in Georgia to do this with any level of organization.
Read our article that explains Rtveli and the experience, step by step and in pictures. Or choose your tour style below.
Vineyards large and small offer a simulation of some of the main activities of the Rtveli. Such as picking, stomping with feet, maybe a meal or even supra (feast) with a tamada (toastmaster).
We join winemaking families, on days where their real harvest is happening. The grapes you pick will be used to make the wines for the family that they will drink and sell the following year. This is a truly grass-roots experience and fully immersive.
Go to the booking page and use the booking calendar to make your booking.
Want a private Rtveli or date that is not listed? Book an on-demand new date – click the button to start.
Minimum of 7 people.
We join various winemaking families, on the actual days where the real harvest is happening. The grapes you pick will be used to make the wines for the family that they will drink and sell the following year.
This is a truly grass-roots experience and fully immersive. Follow every step of the Rtveli, with the family and their friends, from picking grapes through to enjoying a supra (feast) with the tamada (toastmaster).
We run a very limited number of these, and they are highly weather dependent, which is why very few tour companies offer this types of experience. We do it because we believe authenticity is a priority for our guests – and because we just love doing these tours. Read our article that explains Rtveli and the experience, step by step and in pictures.
We expect to no more than 14 Real Family Rtveli tours in 2023. Less than 150 spaces total.
Last years trips mostly sold out. We expect this year to be much busier.
OPEN/Confirmed dates are listed on the booking page – book now.
More info, waitlist, and other provisional dates for 2023 are listed below.
Weather dependent.
Our scheduled wine harvest tours provide a fun and easy simulation of the harvest, visiting an independent winery to pick grapes, stomp them. If you have no flexibility in your visit dates, and need a trip that is not weather dependent, this is the closest to the real Rtveli we can provide.
Even though this is a simulation harvest, our focus is on taking you to independent vineyards where you can meet the winemaker and get more of a family feel, rather than just stomping grapes at a corporate vineyard.
Personal, small group experiences with bags of authenticity, even if the actual grapes will not be made into wine.
See a date you want to join? Go to the booking page and use the booking calendar to make your booking.
None of these dates work for you? Book an on-demand new date – click the button to start.
Minimum of 2 people.
Weather in August is hot. All picking must finish by midday.
Depart Tbilisi 8am. Pick from 10am to 12pm.
Why this tour?
Very enthusiastic winemaker! Expect a lively supra.
Very small family home producer.
RARE GRAPE: Okroula. Assist harvesting one of Kakheti’s rarest grapes.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
Female Winemaker.
Incredible panoramic views from the dining space for the supra (feast). Hosted by the winemaker.
Large family vineyard, but the winemaker sells most grapes and only makes small-batch wines herself.
NOTE: This Rtveli can also be booked by private groups to run on any date from 1st to 25th Sept (minimum 7 persons).
Unlike all the other Rtvelis on this list, wine is not always made from the grapes you pick. It will depend on the sugar content of the grapes on the day. The primary reason to attend is to see real picking operations at a large vineyard, which differ from all the other tiny family places on this list.
The vineyard is within the Mukuzani appellation but Mukazani wine is not going to be made.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
There will be polyphonic singing at the supra.
English speaking toastmaster.
Optional short excursion to Signagi is possible during the afternoon.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
Very enthusiastic winemaker! Expect a lively supra.
Very small family home producer.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
There will be polyphonic singing at the supra.
English speaking toastmaster.
In the Kardenakhi microzone.
Optional short excursion to Signagi is possible during the afternoon.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
English speaking winemaker.
Vineyards with great views of the Caucasus mountains.
Very fine artisan wines. Smaller group.
Day 1 visits culture and wine sites around Telavi, instead of Signagi.
This may run as a 2-day or 1-day tour, depending on demand.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 7
Why this tour?
Lively/crazy winemaker who will keep you entertained – antics are expected.
Vines are walking distance from the marani (wine cellar).
Expect a very fun Supra (feast)!
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
Female winemaker.
Remote family home located in the Bolnisi Microzone region (south of Tbilisi) with a lovely garden.
Opportunity to visit the old German buildings of Asureti before the Rtveli.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
English speaking winemaker & tamada (toastmaster).
Family are all singers and there will be polyphonic singing at the supra.
Closer to Tbilisi.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
Closest Rtveli to Tbilisi
Discover wines of the Shida Kartli region
Visit Mtskheta / Javari (UNESCO)
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
*Female winemaker.
*Remote rural farmstead.
*Farm to table (ingredients from the farmstead) supra in the garden.
*ONLY Rtveli departing from Kutaisi in 2023.
*Can operate as a 2-day tour from Tbilisi, if enough demand.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 12
Why this tour?
Higher altitude winery, close to Signagi.
Very small artisan production.
As with ALL our real Rtveli tours: picking grapes, helping winemaker fill the qvevri, helping make dishes for supra (feast) and having supra with the family after harvest.
Spaces: 7
Why this tour?
Off-track locations.
From Tbilisi to West Georgia.
Small artisan production.
Attend a non-touristy, local wine festival.
Attend a late season harvest – we don’t have locations long in advance, but most likely Racha (Ambrolauri) or Imereti, or possibly Kartli region. Help a family with their harvest and enjoy local harvest activities. It’s quite late in the season, so the harvest is hard to confirm in advance.
We’ll also attend the Terjola wine festival on October 23rd, the date for which is currently confirmed but also may change outside our control. The general dates are based on making it to the festival.
Spaces: 12
We have more possible dates in other wine regions.
Kartli Region (just north of Tbilisi): Early October
Racha Region (North of Kutaisi): Some from 10th September until 25th October
Imereti Region (Kutaisi): Early October.
If you are interested in these. mention it in the waitlist form and I can see if we have enough people to run trips to the less visited wine regions.
Want us to organize a large harvest event for you?
From 10 to 50+ guests is possible. This will include all of the Rtveli activities (based on what you select):
Fill out our On Demand / Private quote form and let us know your requirements. A minimum of 10 Guests is required. Options and prices vary widely depending on your requirements, group size and dates.
We specialize in small group, food & wine itineraries (with a good dose of history, sightseeing and culture thrown in). But we can provide anything from fully custom, multi day itineraries that will take to across of of Georgia, down to private walking tours in Tbilisi.
From personal two person honeymoon wine adventures, to 30+ guest wine country parties/festivals. We have wine, food and fun waiting for you!
Submit a custom quote request and we can build you an itinerary and get you a quote.