The New Wine Festival (May 9th 2026) in Mtatsminda park is the biggest single day public wine festival in Tbilisi. Over 200 producers were represented. I managed to taste 115 wines from 31 producers.
This article is a multi-round-up because there are a lot of wine festivals this time of year! So as well as New Wine Festival Tbilisi, in this article we also have:
National Wine Day Gudiashvili Square Tbilisi 2026 – National Wine Day is a new initiative by the Georgian government to promote and celebrate Georgian wine culture. This year it was held on Friday, May 8th, 2026. It’s not 100% clear if the day is fixed to a certain date every year or a certain day of the week. And season every year. I guess we’ll find out at National Wine Day 2027! This was a nicely presented festival in the beautifully renovated central Gudiashvili Square, but with a smaller overall representation, maybe about 30 wineries total. I tasted 27 wines from 8 producers.
Yoram Tarkhnishvili Wine Festival @ Mephis Kalaki 4-star hotel and 300 year old wine cellar in the village of Upper Chocheti / Kaprishiani in Shida Kartli (en route to Gori on the old road). The old Wine Cellar (Marani) and the internal area around where they’ve renovated has been done incredibly well, it’s architecturally very nice. The festival itself featured about 30 producers but a highly curated selection so the quality was relatively high throughout.
Also a significant amount of local entertainment from dancers and singers in the Georgian tradition including very large dance troops from the local schools. This was definitely a family orientated day. Barely any foreigners there at all. Definitely a local event and something that if you want to go a bit off track whilst still only being 1-hour from Tbilisi this was a great option and we really loved the day. I tasted 61 wines from 12 producers.
So, total wines tasted over 3 wine festivals: 201 Wines from 51 Producers.
I should be clear, that “good” really is pretty decent. These are wines you’d enjoy drinking. Getting a higher rating than “good” means producing a wine that stands out against all other wines tasted, with better balance and relevant characteristics. “Acceptable” being an everyday wine that is fine but you won’t be getting excited about.
Not too many wines were rated “poor” or “faulty”. These are wines that would not be recommended at all (poor wines) or had suffered from wine faults such as volatile acidity, TCA (cork taint), volatile sulfur compounds, etc. at a level to make the wines unpalatable.
Though we try to be as objective as possible in these assessments, some things should be taken into account:
- Blind tasting was not possible, so small biases may exist inadvertently.
- I do often tell producers to “show me the best 2 wines” or something similar, so I am probably getting a better experience than someone who just says “saperavi, please”.
- The tasting environment of a busy outdoor festival is not ideal and some factors affect the tasting:
- Environmental odors – from people walking around with coffee to strong perfume etc. In addition, surrounded by trees, BBQ (mtsvadi) smoke often billowing past (a lot this year, pork everywhere!). It is more challenging than most festivals.
- Full rinsing of glasses between every tasting was impractical, though we tried as best as possible.
We only tasted a fraction of what was on offer – there are well over 200 producers at this festival, its one of the biggest in Georgia each year. It’s a lot of producers for a single day all in one area! A few winemakers were at both festivals.
We did not taste every wine from each vendor we tried.
So, we definitely will have missed some excellent wines. But from what we did taste, we hope you will enjoy discovering some of the below which we gave upper category ratings.
Ratings are based on Balance / Length / Intensity / Complexity and Style (ie. how they fit within the category of the style/intention of the wine). A “very good” rating would be made when 3 to 4 of these criteria have been met successfully. Some consideration is given to young wines that have the potential to arrive at this level in an expected timeframe of aging.
There are many more wine festivals coming soon, and we intend to publish our favorites for those too. Check out reviews from Top Wines: 2026 Zero Compromise Tbilisi (Natural Wine Association) Review, May 1st/2nd which happened the previous week, as well as Wine Ambassadors (Sunday 3rd May) and The Women in Wine event (Late April). With 3 days of wine expo coming up June 2026, there will be lots more wines to discover! As well as Bolnisi PDO wine festival on Sunday May 31st.
New Wine Festival, Mtatsminda Park, Tbilisi (Sat 9th May, 2026)
115 wines from 31 wineries tasted.
In order of which i did the tastings, not in order of preference.
The weather was perfect this year! The focus of this festival is “new wine”. Georgia has had quite the focus on wines that are young and ready to drink, for decades. But that focus, nationally, is starting to change a little. With this in mind, a lot of wines tasted during my visit were under-developed.
Most wines below achieved “very good” or better. But I’ve also Included a few that were on the cusp from good to very good and also deserved a mention. My “personal top picks” are wines I felt were the best, but also wines I personally liked to my preferred taste.
- Bolnisi Old Marani
- Asuretuli Shala Rosé 2024
- Chinuri 2025
- Dzmebis (Brothers) Marani Bolnisi – Rkatsiteli 2025
- Akido (CGW) – Mtsvane (Skin contact & 12m Oak) 2023
- Kapito – Goruli Mtsvane Euro 2024
- Vino Ponto
- Chinuri 2018 Qvevri (US Oak 10m)
- Saperavi / Cabernet Sauvignon (18, Oak)
- Mukuzani (18m Oak)
- Bu & Khari – Tsitska 2021
- Giorgitsminda
- Manavi Mtsvane 2024
- Kisi Semi-Dry 2025
- Saperavi Rosé Semi-Dry 2026
- Saperavi 2024
- Narashvili – Tavkveri / Shavkapito 2025
- Agidela
- Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Chinuri Pet-Nat 2024
- Tavkveri Rosé 2024
- Tavkvevri Semi-dry – Personal Top Pick
- Shertuli
- Goruli Mtsvane Qvevri 2022
- “39 Grapes” Blend Qvevri 2022
- Togonidze (Often featured on our Telavi tour)
- Rkatsiteli / Mtsvane Qvevri 2022
- Rkatsiteli Qvevri 2023
- Tredispeka “Bird’s Feet” Semi-Dry 2023 (rare grape)
- Jakeli
- Kisi Qvevri 2025
- Rkatsiteli Qvevri 2025
- Konch & Co (Kindzmaruli Corp)
- “Amber” Blend 2020
- Alexandrouli 2022 (Oak)
- Saperavi Premium 20222 (Oak)
- Kardenakhi 1888 (Ampelo)
- Tsarapi Qvevri 2021
- Kisi Qvevri 2022
- Saperavi “Zakara” 2019
- Zangaura
- Chinur / Goruli Mtsvane 2024
- Tavkvevri Rosé 2024
- Ojaleshi Pet Nat 2024 (This was perfect one year ago, it’s still good but end of it’s life)
- Saperavi (Euro) 2024
- Mujeretuli Semi-dry 2025
- Ikalto Winery
- Rkatsiteli qvevri 2024
- Kisi (Euro) 2023
- Khikhvi Qvevri 2024
- Saperavi (Oak) 2019
- Satsnikheli
- Manavi Mtsvane 2024
- Rkatsiteli Mtsvane Qvevri 2022
- Racha Estate
- Rachuli Tetra 2025
- Saperavi / Alexandrouli / Mujeretuli Rosé 2025
- Amitié – Kisi Qvevri (Oak) 2023
46 wines, from 19 wineries in the upper category! We’ll be back with a longer list at Wine Expo Tbilisi in early June.
National Wine Day Gudiashvili Square Tbilisi (Fri 8th May, 2026)
27 wines from 8 wineries tasted.
- Periani
- Khikhvi Qvevri 2022
- Saperavi Qvevri 2022 – Personal Top Pick
- Saperavi (Euro) 2021
- Chiora
- Tsolikouri 2023 (Lechkumi)
- Goruli Mtsvane 2024
- Shavkapito 2024
- Geveli
- Krakhuna Qvevri 2022
- Kisi 2024 – Personal Top Pick
- Chakhaveri Rosé 2023
- Mukhguli (Bolnisi) – Rkatsiteli (Oak) 2023
10 wines, from 4 wineries in the upper category!
Yoram Tarkhnishvili Wine Festival @ Mephis Kalaki, Shida Kartli (Sat 16th May, 2026)
61 wines from 12 wineries tasted.
- 39 Qvevri
- Chinuri Qvevri 2022
- Goruli Mtsvane Qvevri 2024
- Rkatsiteli Qvevri 2022
- Shavkapito Qvevri 2023
- Saperavi Qvevri (Shilda) 2022
- Awino
- Rkatsiteli Vardisperi Qvevri 2024
- Saperavi Qvevri 2024
- Lento
- Kisi 2024
- Mtsvane 2023
- Kisi Mtsvane 2024 – Personal Top Pick
- Kisi Qvevri 2023 – Personal Top Pick
- Rkatsiteli Qvevri 2022 – Personal Top Pick
- Rkatsiteli Euro 2022
- Kalaki Wines – Shavkapito 2024
- Marabda Valley – Pinot Noir 2024
- Peradze
- Krakhuna (Obcha) 2023
- Rkatsiteli 2024.
- Tsolikouri (Obcha) 2023
- Chinuri (Mukhrani) 2022
- Chinuri (Mukhrani. Lees+Oak) 2022 – Personal Top Pick
- Kisi (Akhmeta) Semi-dry (Oak) 2022 – Personal Top Pick
- Rkatsiteli Qvevri 2019
- Kisi qvevri 2021
- Shavkapito 2024
- Tavkvevri 2022
- Saperavi Semi-Dry 2024
- Sherikilebis
- Chinuri / Goruli Mtsvane Pet-Nat 2025
- Kisi Qvevri 2023
- Budeshuri Saperavi 2025
- KisiKisi (Nabareuli) – Kvanchkara 2023 (from their budget range, good for the price point)
30 wines, from 8 wineries in the upper category!
Thanks to The Amazing Winemakers!
Congratulations to all the amazing wineries that made it into our upper category ratings. As well as all the other amazing winemakers who continue to make the Georgian wines scene one of the most interesting in the world!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the New Wine Festival in Tbilisi?
The New Wine Festival is the biggest single day public wine festival in Tbilisi, held in Mtatsminda Park. Over 200 producers are typically represented, making it one of the largest wine events in Georgia each year. As the name suggests, its focus is on young, new wines ready to drink.
When and where is the New Wine Festival held?
In 2026 the New Wine Festival took place on Saturday May 9th in Mtatsminda Park, Tbilisi. It is an annual event, so anyone hoping to attend should check the confirmed date for the coming year. With well over 200 producers in one place for a single day, it is a lot to take in.
What is National Wine Day in Georgia?
National Wine Day is a newer initiative by the Georgian government to promote and celebrate Georgian wine culture. In 2026 it was held on Friday May 8th in the renovated Gudiashvili Square in central Tbilisi, with around 30 wineries. It is not yet clear whether the date is fixed each year, so it is worth checking ahead of any planned visit.
How big is the New Wine Festival compared with National Wine Day?
The New Wine Festival is much larger, with over 200 producers spread across Mtatsminda Park. National Wine Day in Gudiashvili Square is a smaller, more curated affair with roughly 30 wineries. Both are held in Tbilisi and fell on consecutive days in 2026, making them easy to combine.
What kind of wines should I expect at the New Wine Festival?
The festival’s focus is on new wine, reflecting Georgia’s long tradition of young wines that are ready to drink, so many of the wines poured are quite youthful and still developing. That said, older wines are normally featured too, just in smaller quantity than the new releases. National taste is also gradually shifting, and it remains a great place to discover up and coming producers across many regions and styles.
