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REAL Family Rtveli 2024: 1-Day Wine Harvest Tours (Limited Dates)

REAL Harvest: Sep/Oct
From₾340 GEL
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$1 USD = ~₾2.75 GEL

Want to make this a 2-day tour? Leave a note in the booking message. We’ll get back to you with options.

If the above dates don’t work for you:


Why Book With Us?

  • Premium Authentic, All-Inclusive Tours
  • Meet Winemakers In-Person On Every Tour
  • Expat (British) Managed Georgian Team
  • Flexible Cancellation & Refund Policy


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REAL FAMILY RTVELI 2024, 1-Day Tours (some 2-day tours available). 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 to enjoying a supra (feast) with the tamada (toastmaster).

Real Rtveli is over for 2023 – join the 2024 waitlist here.

We run a very limited number of these, and they are highly weather-dependent, which is why very few tour companies offer this type 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.

The format for each date is similar, but we visit different families in different locations so the itinerary and timing can vary a little bit. Read the full details for each date BEFORE BOOKING. See more info below.

Want to make this a 2-day tour?

We are assessing interest in 2-day versions of this tour. The day BEFORE the harvest date you book would be the option for an additional day – which would include a guaranteed visit to Signagi and a multi-course wine pairing lunch at a higher-end vineyard. If you’d like to request the additional day, please note that in the message field of the booking request. We’ll let you know if it is possible. If the 2-day option is essential and you won’t consider the 1-day option, then email us first [email protected] before booking a date.

  • 8:30 am to 9:30 pm (1 Day)
  • Max: 14 | Min: 6
  • Wines: Free Flowing, Small Batch!
  • One-Off Dates (Sept + Oct)
  • Pickup: Rose Revolution Square (Bicycle monument)
  • Min Age : 18+

  • Visit a family winery to experience the traditional wine harvest festival (Rtveli): picking grapes, and processing them into the qvevri (very occasionally to steel tanks). (NOTE: Crushing by foot only happens rarely at real rtveli, if you want to do foot pressing please book a simulation tour)
  • A homemade traditional "supra" large feast - a lot of food! And free-flowing wine - with the winemaker and/or family members. Lunch AND Dinner is included.
  • Meet the winemaker and taste his wines at a micro-producing (<15,000 bottles per year) artisan home winery. Learn about Georgia's 8000 year history of winemaking - the oldest on Earth.
  • Get lessons from mother on making khinkali (soup dumplings) and/or khachapuri and/or Mtsvadi, national foods of Georgia.
  • Visit a cultural stop in the morning before the harvest, or in the afternoon before the supra (depends on the location of the winery, most, not all, Rtveli trips will include at least one historic / culture stop.)

All our Real Family Rtveli tours are weather dependent and subject to last-minute changes and substitutions. 

Please set your expectations that you will have a really fun harvest experience, but that it may not be the exact one you booked. If you want a fixed itinerary with specific stops that are not subject to change on the day, please book one of our fixed tours or harvest simulations (not weather dependent).
 

Tour Booking Summary/Conditions:

Please note in 2022 we did not have to cancel any real Rtveli dates or substitute with simulation rtveli. We hope for good weather again, but to protect our business and your expectations, we have the following rules in place. If it doesn’t work for you, please do not book :-) We honestly don’t want to change anything, it’s more work for us! But the weather is out of our control…

  • 1-Day Real Family Rtveli – real wine harvest at a small artisan winery with the family – unless weather issues (then we normally provide a simulation family Rtveli or sometimes date change at no extra fee – or we refund if the price has to be more and is not acceptable).
  • Consider this a harvest mystery tour. You will have an amazing harvest experience, but we cannot always guarantee the exact itinerary, family or final harvest location. If you want guaranteed timings and locations, please book a harvest simulation instead.
  • CONFIRMED & EXPECTED DATES can be booked from the booking calendar immediately. A deposit is required to hold the dates.
  • PROVISIONAL DATES will become listed in the calendar once winemakers confirm and depending on demand. If NONE of the current available dates work for you, please join the waitlist instead. The more people that join, the more new dates we can release.
  • If we cancel, or cannot place you on an agreed date, we’ll refund your deposit. If the winemaker/weather prevents real Rtveli we will provide a family Rtveli simulation tour on the same date, or move you to a different real Rtveli date (depending on availability). The final balance is paid on the day when you join the tour. If you cancel, no refund. See detailed refund conditions in the FAQs at the bottom of this page.

The basic list of information for each date is below – PLEASE CHECK THE LIST BEFORE booking a date with the booking calendar.

All our Real Family Rtveli tours are weather dependent and subject to last-minute changes and substitutions. 

Please set your expectations that you will have a really fun harvest experience, but that it may not be the exact one you booked. If you want a fixed itinerary with specific stops that are not subject to change on the day, please book one of our fixed tours or harvest simulations (not weather dependent).
 

Tour Booking Summary/Conditions:

Please note in 2022 we did not have to cancel any real Rtveli dates or substitute with simulation rtveli. We hope for good weather again, but to protect our business and your expectations, we have the following rules in place. If it doesn’t work for you, please do not book :-) We honestly don’t want to change anything, it’s more work for us! But the weather is out of our control…

  • 1-Day Real Family Rtveli – real wine harvest at a small artisan winery with the family – unless weather issues (then we normally provide a simulation family Rtveli or sometimes date change at no extra fee – or we refund if the price has to be more and is not acceptable).
  • Consider this a harvest mystery tour. You will have an amazing harvest experience, but we cannot always guarantee the exact itinerary, family or final harvest location. If you want guaranteed timings and locations, please book a harvest simulation instead.
  • CONFIRMED & EXPECTED DATES can be booked from the booking calendar immediately. A deposit is required to hold the dates.
  • PROVISIONAL DATES will become listed in the calendar once winemakers confirm and depending on demand. If NONE of the current available dates work for you, please join the waitlist instead. The more people that join, the more new dates we can release.
  • If we cancel, or cannot place you on an agreed date, we’ll refund your deposit. If the winemaker/weather prevents real Rtveli we will provide a family Rtveli simulation tour on the same date, or move you to a different real Rtveli date (depending on availability). The final balance is paid on the day when you join the tour. If you cancel, no refund. See detailed refund conditions in the FAQs at the bottom of this page.

The basic list of information for each date is below – PLEASE CHECK THE LIST BEFORE booking a date with the booking calendar.

Expected Harvest Locations & Dates

This list is for information only AND may be subject to change at any time.

The expected dates and approximate locations are listed below. We cannot guarantee if you book a specific date that it will be at the named location, but there is a good chance it would be for most.

CONFIRMED = Date Finalized UNLESS too much rain. We will request a deposit immediately.
 
EXPECTED = Waiting on the winemaker to confirm sugar levels. The date is likely but not 100%. We will request a deposit immediately.
 
PROVISIONAL = Date may change, the winemaker is not sure yet. please join the waitlist here as this is not on the bookable calendar yet. The more people requesting a date, the more likely we’ll add it.

Departure times are from central Tbilisi. Departures from alternative locations vary.

  • CONFIRMED: Sat 11th November: “Zaodoba and Tataraoba” Sagarejo, Kakheti – THIS IS NOT A WINE HARVEST. This is the traditional family day for making Georgia’s national dessert: churchkhela (a lot of them!) made from grape juice that was not used to make wine. As well as the spirit Chacha (Georgian grappa) which is distilled from the leftover must from the winemaking. DEPART 11 AM. Ninotsminda Cathedral visit. Followed by, wine tasting and snacks, assisting with big production of churchkhela (see photo below), with Chacha distillation, followed by traditional supra (feast) and polyphonic singing by the family at the table.

Tataraoba: Festival of making churchkhela, Georgia's national dessert.
Tataraoba: Festival of making churchkhela, Georgia’s national dessert.

We may add more dates if demand is high enough. For provisional OR alternative dates please join the waitlist here– as the more people requesting a date, the more likely we’ll add it.

All dates are weather dependent. But light rain is often not an issue! Read the full weather guidelines and info on what happens if it rains or the date changes in the FAQ below.
 
  • COMPLETED: August 25th – Velistsikhe (35 mins from Telavi, 45 mins from Signagi). Early start time – departure by 8am latest.
  • COMPLETED: September 9th – Vakiri (15 mins from Signagi). Signagi excursion likely. Departure by 8:30 am. Possible as 2 Day tour (8th + 9th)
  • COMPLETED: September 10th – Vakiri (15 mins from Signagi). Signagi excursion likely. Departure by 8:30 am. We will open this date WHEN 9th sells out.
  • COMPLETED: September 15th– Velistsikhe (35 mins from Telavi, 45 mins from Signagi). Departure by 8:30 am. Possible as 2 Day tour (14th + 15th)
  • COMPLETED: September 16th – Telavi. (Telavi pickup possible) Departure by 8:30 am. Telavi plane tree/fortress excursion likely. This date may be changed or held in Kardenakhi instead of Telavi.
  • COMPLETED: September 17th – Telavi Departure by 8:30 am from Tbilisi, pickup in Telavi possible. Two harvests are possible at different locations on this date. Possible as 2 Day tour (17th + 18th).
    PROVISIONAL 17th: 2nd Location: Tsarapi/Kardenakhi (15 mins from Signagi). Signagi excursion likely.
  • COMPLETED: September 20th – Velistsikhe Kakheti (35 mins from Telavi, 45 mins from Signagi). Departure by 8:30 am. Possible as 2 Day tour (19th + 20th)
  • COMPLETED: September 23rd – Bolnisi (Tbilisi departure only). Departure by 8:30 am. Visit to Bolnisisoba (the Bolnisi annual city festival that is held this day) and explore the local German history is expected.
  • COMPLETED: September 24th – Sagarejo. Departure by 9:30 am. Ninotsminda cathedral excursion likely. This date may be changed or held in Telavi, but 90% sure it will be Sagarejo.
  • COMPLETED: September 27th – Tsinandali. (Telavi pickup possible) Departure by 8:30 am. Possible as a 2 day trip 26th+27th.
  • COMPLETED: October 1st – Sagarejo Kakheti (Tbilisi departure only). Departure by 9:30 am. Ninotsminda cathedral excursion.
  • COMPLETED: October 3rd + 4th – Bolnisi (Tbilisi departure only). Harvest on the 3rd. Explore the historic site of Dmanisi (1.85M year old Homo Erectus) and Asureti (19th-century german village) on the 4th. The 340 GEL price only applies to the 3rd Oct. To join the 4th, please note in your booking request. Specialist trip for wine enthusiasts and experts, preferably with a little knowledge already of winemaking. Price for the 4th Oct trip is not more than 470 GEL pp (3 wineries, lunch and dinner and historic sites) Hosted by Tommo, we already have 4 experts on this trip and we’ll be doing a slightly more advanced version of the tour. Better for those with wine knowledge and not beginners. Option to join only on the 3rd is possible.
  • COMPLETED: October 7th – Sagarejo Kakheti (Tbilisi departure only). Departure by 9:30 am. Ninotsminda cathedral excursion. Possible as 2 Day tour (6th + 7th)
  • COMPLETED: October 8th – Sagarejo Kakheti (Tbilisi departure only). Departure by 9:30 am. Ninotsminda cathedral excursion.
  • COMPLETED: 14th +15th October (2 Day Tour From Tbilisi and back). PRICE DIFFERS FROM THE CALENDAR OPTIONS as this is a 2-day tour. On the 14th (10 AM departure), you will stop at Jvari monastery, a family winery for lunch near Gori, the qvevri builders workshop in Imereti, and the Zestafoni wine festival in the late afternoon, and dinner/wine at the wine hotel is included. Please contact [email protected] for more info and accommodation options. 770 GEL per person, excl accommodation. The 3.5 star boutique wine hotel we will stay at is ~200 GEL per room.
  • COMPLETED: 15th October Kutaisi area harvest. Bookable as a 1-day tour departing Kutaisi – book 15th Oct on the calendar. Visit Katskhi Pillar (photo stop) and Mgvemvi Convent, then attend the Rtveli. 8:30 AM departure. Pickup from your central Kutaisi accommodation, or central meeting point.
  • COMPLETED: 21st October (1-Day) – Velistsikhe Kakheti (35 mins from Telavi, 45 mins from Signagi). Departure by 8:30 am. Possible as 2 Day tour (19th+20th) NEW DATE. This will be the very last Kakheti harvest trip of 2023. We may have some other regions for later harvest, maybe.
  •  

What is guaranteed?

  • *REAL Harvest at a family winery somewhere (unless bad weather, then we provide a simulation – see weather info below)
  • *Cooking class: khinkali and/or khachapuri and/or mtsvadi (pork bbq). But dishes may vary.
  • *Supra (feast) with the winemaker and/or their family (the winemaker is sometimes busy but will almost always attend some of the supra).
  • *Authentic experience with free-flowing wine and a lot of fun!

What is not guaranteed?

  • *The weather.
  • *The exact winery you will harvest at. Only that it will be a family-owned, small winery, unless otherwise listed or if weather conditions mean we have to substitute last minute.
  • *The morning and/or afternoon cultural/historic activity. The one you will visit depends on the final winery you will visit and the driving distance and the timing of the grape picking.
  • *Stomping grapes by foot (please book a harvest simulation if you want this).
  • *The exact duration of picking grapes – if it’s getting too long, take a break, you will not be forced to work! But it is rarely more than 1.5 hours, and normally less.

Location

We have Rtveli in many locations – most are within 1 to 2 hours drive from Tbilisi.
Most depart from Tbilisi. Some select dates depart from Kutaisi. Some can pick up in Telavi on the way.
Pickup in Signagi is not possible (its on a mountain, and there are basically no vineyards at that altitude). Taxi options are possible. See notes below.

Tour Time

8:30am to 9:30pm (13 Hours). If you have a group of 7 or more persons, book a private version of this tour – limited dates available (surcharge may apply in some cases).

Pickup / Drop off

Yes, from all central Tbilisi accommodation.
Pickup from Telavi is possible on certain dates. See the date list above.
Signagi pickup is never possible, but a taxi to the winery is sometimes possible, at your own expense.
NOTE: Pickup outside Tbilisi OR Taxi OR self-drive arrival does not include any discount. Our fixed costs for providing transport for the whole group are the same, whether you arrive separately or not. Taxi pickup normally incurs a fee, we can help you book one. Given the amount of alcohol available, self-drive is very discouraged.

We expect to operate 1 real Rtveli tour from Kutaisi.

Price Includes

  • All food (light lunch, larger early dinner, snacks and tastings), alcohol and soft drink as listed in the itinerary below. Typically more than listed.
  • Safe driver, with modern, well maintained vehicle, working seatbelts and aircon.
  • Diet: Includes pork or veal, dairy / walnuts / gluten | Alternatives & vegetarian options by advanced request.
  • Entry fees to all locations.
  • Bottled water
  • Taxes.

Price Excludes

  • Purchase of products to take home (Wine, food, souvenirs etc.)
  • Additional food and premium wine beyond the inclusions (but really, there will be plenty already, and we do buy extra in almost all cases where requested).
  • Insurance (liability & travel/health). You should travel with your own insurance.
  • Tips – non-compulsory. Suggested for guides: 90 GEL (30USD) per day per tour group. This is optional, or you can tip more or less.

Private Tour Options (subject to availability and surcharge)

If you need customizations or a different date when this tour is not scheduled to run, book a private or custom tour instead of using the booking calendar.

  • Vehicle choice: sedan, 4x4 / SUV, minivan, minibus.
  • Custom itinerary / pickup location.
  • Specialist trained sommelier guide or social host.
  • Choose your start and end time.
  • Any group size (1 to 28 persons, but more on request) or age (under 18s are welcome on private tours).
  • Done this tour before? Book an entirely unique variation with different wineries.
What to Expect: Wine Harvest (Rtveli 2024) Tour
  • You are ready to explore Georgian natural wine but don't want to push your boundaries too far.
  • Moderate level of physical activity. The only active part of the day is picking grapes and stomping them, but you can take this at your own pace.
  • Moderately relaxed pace. You only visit one winery and all the food & wine activities will be connected to them and their vineyard.
  • Focused on amber & red wine. Mostly qvevri wines, but it depends which vineyard you visit for the Rtveli.

Taste Georgia’s 8,000-Year Wine History & experience the traditions of the Rtveli (wine harvest festival).

The harvest experience will take place at a home family winery, you will help the family start the winemaking process. All dates are weather dependent and please read our substitution/cancellation policy below for full details of what happens if it rains or if the sugar level of grapes is not enough for the winemaker to harvest.

REMINDER:

  • You may end up at a different winery than planned if conditions change.
  • Substitution with a harvest simulation or rebooking is possible if conditions are not right for harvest.
  • Foot pressing of grapes is not typical in modern times. Normally a mobile motorized de-stemming and pressing machine is used. Occasionally a hand-cranked press, and rarely foot pressing (with gumboots on, provided). We cannot guarantee in advance which method you will get to experience.
  • There may be some waiting time between activities while the winemaker focuses on making the wine. You can watch, help, relax, drink wine (typically!) etc. Your guide can keep you entertained. Just chill and enjoy the day, not everything needs to be hectic!
Pricing: Wine Harvest (Real Rtveli 2024) Tour

The pricing listed in the booking form is the maximum price you will pay. We anticipate ALL tours having at least 7 persons join, but in the event that any date has less than 7 there may be an option to still go ahead, if you are happy to pay extra. It depends on the winery though.

4 to 6 Adults 7 to 14 Adults
400 GEL pp 340 GEL pp

—

If traveling with children under 14, you must book a private tour – group size 6 minimum.

Photos: Wine Harvest (Rtveli) Tour Georgia
Rtveli Harvest - Tourists joining in the fun of grape picking
Georgia Wine History - Georgian Winery
Making Organic Orange Wine in Georgia During Rtveli Harvest

NOTE: Photos from various Real Family Rtveli events. The exact location and winery can vary compared to the photos, but the general feel is the same – authentic, family hosts.

APPROXIMATE Itinerary: Wine Harvest (Rtveli 2024) Tour

The format of each trip is always approximately the same, but the timings and the optional activities vary depending on the winery location and the preferences of the winemaker.

~8:30amPickup & depart Tbilisi. EXACT TIME VARIES.

Pickup between 7:45 AM and 9:30 AM depending on the location of the winery and how hot the weather is. We will inform you in advance of your exact pickup time & location.

For groups of 8 to 14 persons, pickup is central at Rose Revolution Square Bicycle monument.

For groups of 7 or less, we can normally (not always) offer hotel pickup for each guest.

10:00 AMOptional cultural / historic stop

Cultural Stop Time & location varies depending on the winery for the harvest:

* Ninotsminda Cathedral OR
* Artisan honey tasting OR
* Jvari Monastery OR
* Dzveli Shuamta OR
* Telavi Municipal Market OR
* Asureti German Village OR
* No stop, if longer driving distance to the winery OR
* Arrive earlier to harvest (when required)

We cannot guarantee which of these options would be included, if any.

11:00amPick grapes in the vineyard

Join the winemaker and family/community members in picking grapes.

Total time picking depends on group size and the amount of grapes they need to pick that day. 30 minutes to 1.5 hours is typical. Occasionally longer. But you can take breaks and rest as needed, you are not on the payroll ;-)

12:30 PMVine-side BBQ OR snacks & wine at the family home

There will be food and drink after picking! It’s down to the winemaker to decide if they want to get the grapes back fast to the marani (wine cellar) or celebrate the successful harvest in the vineyard. We can’t guarantee which they’ll do.

1:15 PMProcess the grapes

Help unload the grapes at the wine cellar. See the processing of the grapes and assist as needed. Learn more about how wine is made and natural fermentation begins.
Most winemakers use a mobile motorized wine press. A few still use a manual system like foot pressing or hand crank press. We cannot guarantee which will be used. If you want the stomping grapes by foot experience, please book our harvest simulation tour instead.

2 pmAfternoon activity / excursion

Afternoon excursions are subject to location and time. We cannot guarantee which will happen, if any. Example excursions:

* Telavi plane tree/fortress/market OR
* Signagi City Walls OR
* Bolnisi Zedashe (panoramic views)

OR
* Stay and help at the marani OR
* Relax with wine and snacks OR
* Cooking class

If you want a fixed itinerary with specific stops that is not subject to change on the day, please book one of our fixed tours or harvest simulations (not weather dependent).

4 PMCooking Class

Assist the family in making traditional dishes of the Rtveli. Khinkali and/or Khachapuri and/or Mtsvadi (pork bbq). Dishes may vary and may include others not listed here.

5.00pmSupra (feast)

Experience the Rtveli Supra (harvest feast). Enjoy a plethora of homemade traditional food – too much to possibly eat it all! Free-flowing wine from the family cellar. Traditional toasts from the toastmaster “tamada”.

NOTE: Spontaneous dancing or singing happens sometimes. It depends on the family, not every Georgian can sing! We cannot guarantee this, but it’s great when it happens. If you want a guaranteed experience with professional singers, please book a private tour – a minimum of 10 persons, surcharges apply.

7:30 PMDepart for Tbilisi

Exact departure time may vary.

~9 PMArrive to Tbilisi. Between 8:30 PM and 10 PM

The exact arrival time depends on how much fun you were having at the last winery! As well as the location of the winery and if there were any delays during the harvest. Normally by 10 PM, but please assume it could be as late as 11 PM on rare occasions.

FAQ

Is this tour weather dependent?

YES. And we have backup options, in 2022 we did not have to cancel any groups! But we can never guarantee.
 
The winemaker gets the final say on if they will harvest or not. This depends not only on if it rains a lot (wet grapes can be problematic in the winemaking process) but also on uncharacteristically hot weather (hot grapes ferment faster, among other issues) and also grape sugar level (not enough sugar – ripening – equals poor quality wine, depending on the winemaker’s preference).
 
Our tour company does not make the final call. We obey the winemaker on this topic. BUT for rain – it’s not all bad, and light or intermittent rain is not always an issue (full info below). For heat, starting earlier can be an option. For sugar level, the winemaker normally knows 3 to 10 days in advance if it looks like grapes will not be ripe enough. So, we can shift dates or switch to an alternate winery in most cases. If all these issues persist, we can provide a simulation harvest in most cases.
 
Is NOT a Problem:
 
  • When Google weather says “80% chance of rain” and then you actually look at the stats and it’s 80% chance of 0.3mm of rain. Or 80% chance of some rain at 4pm (picking will be done by 1pm). So, please don’t panic if the weather forecast says rain, look at the exact estimates.
  • When the forecast 5 days in advance says rain… As we find every year it can change. We’ll monitor it. If we get to the night before and switch to the fallback harvest simulation option if we have no choice.
  • Any type of rain after 1pm on the day of the harvest (grapes will already be picked, so not an issue).
  • Light or intermittent drizzle in the morning or during the harvest. Normally not a problem.
  • Moderate rain the day before or light rain overnight. Normally not a problem.
 
IS a Problem:
 
  • Prolonged overnight thunderstorms just before the harvest morning.
  • Moderate or light rain in the morning or during picking.
 
Please note that in 2022, 100% of our Real Rtveli dates ran on the exact date they were scheduled. We had to change winery on one date (we have multiple home wineries so a switch of itinerary is sometimes possible – different regions have different weather!) and we had one which looked like rain, but not until the afternoon, and the group completed grape picking before the rain came.
 
So, in general, we make it all work! But, we can never guarantee. See our refund conditions below.

What is your cancellation policy?

Deposit & Refund Conditions:
 
We can’t control the weather and we can’t take on all the financial risk in case of poor weather conditions. But we have developed a very fair system to account for unpredictable conditions, and you can choose for yourself at each stage of the booking process if you will move to the next stage. NOTE: REAL RTVELI CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY DIFFERS FROM OUR REGULAR TOURS.
  • Initial booking. We only take a 100 GEL per person deposit. If you choose to cancel, the deposit is lost. Full, final payment is made on the day of the tour. Please don’t just cancel because it “looks like rain” the winemaker has the final say on the weather conditions, and if they decide to harvest and you canceled, there is no refund. Deposit can be returned if canceling at least 14 days prior to the expected departure date.
  • If the harvest date changes due to weather, or because the winemaker is not happy with the grape sugar level (also affected by weather), then the real harvest date may change. There are 3 options:
    • 1. Same date: We may switch to a winey in another area that is harvesting on the same day you booked. The length of the trip will remain approximately the same, if not, we’ll inform you and you can choose from the other 2 options. If this operates and you choose not to attend, you lose your deposit.
    • 2. OR Same Date: We will place you on a harvest simulation tour (if 4 or more people want the simulation rather than changing dates). See more information above. If the simulation cannot run, we will provide a full refund. If this simulation operates and you choose not to attend, you lose your deposit.
    • 3. NEW Date: You can switch to whichever new date the winemaker selects (it may be the next day! We never know) or you can transfer to a different harvest tour on a different date (if space is available). If we move to a new date and that Real Rtveli also does not operate again due to weather, the above 3 options will apply again.
  • If you cancel due to illness, flight cancelation etc. Please recoup lost payments via your traveli insurance.
  • If the harvest date is canceled by Eat This! Tours, and not by the winery / weather then you have two options:
    • 1. Switch to an alternate harvest tour date or simulation date or any other tour (prices may be higher than Rtveli for our non-Rtveli tours, and you’d need to pay the difference).
    • 2. Full refund.

Please note that these Real Rtveli tours are incredibly complex to coordinate compared to regular tours. Our small team puts a lot of time into making these work but we cannot guarantee weather and grape sugar levels. Our commitment is for everyone to leave happy and to have had a harvest experience, even if it is not the exact one they had hoped for. Please set your expectations that you will have a really fun harvest experience, but that it may not be the exact one you booked.

Considering this, please be as flexible as possible and try to take the alternate tour options rather than insist on a refund. We’d appreciate it! If your dates are very inflexible you should consider booking a scheduled and fixed date Rtveli simulation that is not weather dependent.

Information on our GENERAL cancellation and refund policy is here: https://eatthistours.com/terms-conditions-of-service/

What do I need to wear/bring?

  • Sunscreen.
  • Sunhat.
  • Clothes that protect your skin are always sensible.
  • Comfortable shoes with ankle support. Vineyard ground will be uneven.
  • We provide water, but bring your own reusable flask if you want to reduce plastic waste.

What currency do I need to bring?

The only currency accepted by vendors for buying wine/gifts etc. to take home, is the national currency GEL. You can get this from any ATM and your driver will be happy to stop at one.

Purchase of our tours is normally in GEL based on the current exchange rate for the USD pricing of the tours. We’ll advise you of the exchange rate by email shortly before the tour date.

Some vendors take credit card, but certainly not all of them.

How are your tours priced?

The core difference between our tours and cheap trips is that we take you to exclusive, authentic, private and high quality places, rather than cheap mass tourism wineries and restaurants that offer kickbacks to tour companies that bring tourists. Small groups (max 14) rather than a big bus (15 to 30 people). All-inclusive, free-flowing wine and indulgent amounts of food, rather than hidden costs and pay as you go extras at budget venues.

The price you pay is the exact price it costs us to run the service (paying guides and vendors for what they provide etc.) plus a margin of 10% to 30% to cover marketing costs, office staff, and so we run at a profit (otherwise we’ll go out of business!). The margin depends on the amount of people, and type of tour.

We always try to price transparently and as fairly as possible and to pay guides and vendors above average in order to retain the best people.

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