Rtveli 2026 Wine Harvest Simulation Tour – Pick, Crush & Feast in Georgia’s Vineyards

Experience Georgia’s iconic Rtveli harvest with an immersive food, wine, and culture tour in Kakheti, the country’s most celebrated wine region.

🍇 Harvest Grapes & Crush Them by Foot – Get hands-on in the vineyard, just like generations before you.
🍷 Taste Artisan Qvevri Wines – Sip traditional, handcrafted wines straight from the source.
🏺 Meet a Qvevri Maker – Learn how Georgia’s ancient clay wine vessels are built and used.
🥟 Cook & Feast Like a Local – Learn to make khinkali, enjoy home-cooked Georgian dishes, and raise a toast to the harvest.

🔹Rtveli “Simulation” – A hands-on vineyard experience (grapes not used for winemaking), running in all weather conditions. This is the real deal—not virtual reality!

Also bookable as a private or on-demand experience.

We also have Real Family Rtveli dates available to book now – Last of the season 8th November (and a real chacha day on 23rd Nov). These are slower days, where you actually participate in the winemaking process, rather than a simulated version.

Celebrate Georgia’s winemaking heritage—book your Rtveli tour today!

The feasts blew me away. Fresh, flavourful, unending and the families truly enjoy what they do!

Vanessa R

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8:30 am to 9 pm (1 Day)
Max People : 8*
Wines: 8+
Late Aug to Oct
Pickup: Your Central Tbilisi Accommodation. Or Telavi.**
Min Age : 18+

* Note: The dinner mini-supra may occasionally combine 2 groups – but normally on separate tables. A max of 10 on any single table, and 15 total across 2 tables. Harvest experience would be separate but might be at the same time.
**Note: TELAVI pickup and/or drop-off is included ONLY if we are notified more than 72 hours before tour departure, or at the time of booking. Otherwise, taxi fees may apply.

Visit a small family winery (<15,000 bottles per year) a to experience the traditional wine harvest festival (Rtveli): picking grapes, and crushing by foot. A homemade traditional dinner (small "supra" feast) with the winemaker and/or family members.
Learn about Georgia's 8000 year history of winemaking - the oldest on Earth.
Stop at a home qvevri production workshop, learn how this ancient wine making equipment is made.
Get lessons from mother on making khinkali (soup dumplings), a national food of Georgia.
Visit a high class winer. Compare wines made from Georgian grapes in different styles. Lighter lunch of Georgian specialties.
Taste artisan honey next to the hives on Gombori mountain pass (available to Tbilisi departures only - sometimes they are closed and we taste honey at the market)

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The above summary relates to scheduled Rtveli 2026 tours. For private tour bookings, this itinerary can run on any date year in harvest season (September + October), alternative start time, pickup location, under 18s (with guardian), groups larger than 7 etc. Select private or custom tour below. Prices may vary.

The initial listed price based on 1 adult traveling in a group of 2 to 4 people on a scheduled tour. Groups of 5 or more adults receive discounts, even when not booked as a group. If you booked at full price and your tour ends up with 5 or more people after you booked, we will inform you and refund you any owed savings on the day of the tour. Prices vary for private and custom tours as well as any extras you may book.

Important: Wine tasting servings are big. No budget sip and go tastings with our company. Monitor your own drinking and enjoy a fun wine day!

Location

From Tbilisi to Kakheti (Telavi) and back. Pickup & Drop Off in Telavi / Tsinandali is also possible. Note: This tour does not pass Signagi in the morning – Telavi is more than 1 hour from Signagi. There are taxi options at the start and end of the tour at additional cost.

Pickup / Drop off

Included: Tbilisi central (See Free Pickup Area Map*).
Included: Pickup from central Telavi** (~10:30 am).
Outside these 2 areas? Take a taxi to a meeting point (we’ll confirm where).
Drop-Off: Telavi** or Tbilisi.

Alternative start/end point? Book a private tour (minimum 4 guests required).

*In some cases where we have multiple pickups far apart, we may ask you to take a taxi to a meeting point, but if you are inside the free area we will rebate the taxi price.
**For Telavi/Tsinandali drop off you must notify us 72 hours in advance of the tour, or at time of booking, otherwise taxi fees may apply.

Price Includes

All-inclusive, indulgent amounts of food & wine including lunch and dinner.

See Full List Of Inclusions

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 and expert driver-guide, with modern, well maintained vehicle, working seatbelts and aircon.
Diet: Includes pork or veal, dairy / walnuts / gluten | Alternatives & vegetarian options by advanced request.
Pickup / drop-off at your Tbilisi accommodation. Telavi/Tsinandali pickup/drop off you must notify us 72 hours in advance of the tour, or at time of booking, otherwise taxi fees may apply.
Small group tours (up to 8 guests).
Entry fees to all locations.
Bottled water.
Taxes & fees.

Price Excludes

Tips & insurance are excluded.

See Full List Of Exclusions

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)

Submit a private tour enquiry here.

See Standard Private Tour Options

If you need customizations or a different date when this tour is not scheduled to run, submit a private / on-demand tour inquiry instead of the booking form.

Vehicle choice: sedan, 4×4 / SUV, minivan, minibus.
Custom itinerary / pickup location. (Note: Pickup en route from Tbilisi are sometimes possible for scheduled tours)
Specialist trained sommelier guide or social host.
Choose your start and end time.
Minimum 4 guests required. 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 2026) Tour

Taste Georgia’s 8,000-Year Wine History Surrounded By Vines & Mountains In The Kakheti Wine Region. Experience the traditions of the Rtveli (wine harvest festival).

The harvest experience will take place at an independent family winery, they show you all the activities of the real harvest but they do not always make wine from the grapes you pick, it will depend on the sugar level in the grapes on the day as it if it is worth making wine. If you are looking to experience the real Rtveli and make wine, you need to book one of our Real Rtveli dates – but these are weather dependent and subject to change, so if you do not have flexible dates, it’s better to stick with the scheduled Rtveli.

You are ready to explore Georgian natural wine but don't want to push your boundaries too far.
Moderate / low 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.
Fast paced trip packing lots of wine, fun and activities into 1 day.
Focused on amber & red wines but you will also get to taste a Georgian white wine. Rosé sometimes available. Other options available by special request on a private tour booking.

Pricing: Wine Harvest (Rtveli 2026) Tour

Initial list price is based on 1 adult traveling in a group of 8 people on a scheduled tour.
The pricing listed in the final booking form is the maximum price you will pay.
As the tour fills up, the price reduces.
2 adults minimum to run, but you can also book solo as others will typically book, even if you are the first to book a specific date.

2 to 4 Adults	5 to 6 Adults	7 to 8 Adults
465 GEL pp	425 GEL pp	410 GEL pp

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If traveling with children under 18, you should book a private tour. Occasionally we allow age 12+ on tours with an adult-only group, by agreement of all attending.

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Photos: Wine Harvest (Rtveli) Tour

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Itinerary: Wine Harvest (Rtveli 2026) Tour

8:30amPickup & depart Tbilisi (please be ready 10 minutes before)

9:30amArtisan honey tasting on Gombori mountain pass OR stop for freshly baked Georgian bread

If joining from the Telavi area, this stop is not possible. NOTE: the opening hours have been very inconsistent with the roadside hive operators recently on the Gombori pass. There is a 20% chance none will be open on any given day. This is outside our control.

Road conditions on the pass can sometimes be inconsistent. If we need to take an alternative route, we stop at a local bakery for fresh Georgian bread from the stone “tone” oven instead.

10:45amVisit historic Telavi's local food (produce) market

Take a short tour of the Telavi Central Food Market – the municipal bazaar with farm traders and other locals.

11.30 AMVisit a modern independent winery for tasting & brunch.

Tour the cellar, and discover traditional Georgian winemaking (qvevri). Enjoy a light brunch (as dinner will be early and huge!) and wine tasting with views of the Caucasus mountains.

3 to 4 wines to taste.

1:30 PMAlaverdi Monastery

Alaverdi Monastery with the longest continuous wine production in Georgia, since 1011 AD. Backdropped by the Caucasus mountains in a very scenic spot. Note: The cellar is sadly not open to guests, but the location and history make this an interesting and important stop.

ALT OPTION: Ikalto Monastery

The historic 6th-century Ikalto monastery was also famed as a center of learning the “Academy of Ikalto” in the 11th and 12th centuries this was considered one of the best educational institutions in Georgia.

Ikalto Academy trained pupils in theology, astronomy, philosophy, geography, geometry, metal processing, ceramic production, viticulture and winemaking, pharmacology, and others.

2:15 PMMeet the qvevri builder at his workshop

Learn about the qvevri (clay amphorae) right where they are made, at a family home workshop. Taste 2 bio wines and a special “chacha” (local grappa).

4:00 PMMake a quick photo stop at Telavi's 900 Year Old Plane Tree

On some occasions we visit this in the morning before the market rather than in the afternoon.

4:00 PMHarvest (Rtveli) Experience at a family run independent vineyard

Head to the vines at a small family vineyard to pick grapes, then stomp them by foot. Learn about the traditions of the Rtveli (wine harvest) and the winemaking process.

(Stomping grapes is guaranteed, barefoot is sometimes possible – please ask your guide at the time – gumboots are provided)

5:00 PMContinue your Rtveli with a cooking class and mini supra (feast)

Learn how to make khinkali (traditional dumplings) and eat them! – Vegetarian/vegan option must be pre-ordered. Enjoy a hosted dinner with tamada (toastmaster – Our guide and normally the winemaker will lead toasts).

Meet the winemaker, Taste 3 to 4 wines wines and 1 chacha – and free-flowing wine after that.

6.45pmDepart for Tbilisi

~8.15pm to 9 PMArrive to Tbilisi.

Exact arrival time depends on how much fun you were having at the last winery!

NOTES: Exact wineries may differ from the pictures. We work with a lot of small vendors and have to switch between a selection of regular options. The general vibe and inclusions will be the same at each.
The order of the tour can change depending on guest pickup locations, but all tours include all listed items. Only the honey stop is missing if you do not join from Tbilisi.

FAQ

Is this tour weather dependent?

Mainly not a problem. Only picking of the grapes during heavier rain can be problematic, but it will be down to guests to decide if they want to head out and pick in the rain. September is typically dry, but not always. Bring an umbrella.

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.

If I book at full price then the bus fills up, will I get a rebate? And when?

The initial standard price listed on our tour webpages is based on 1 adult traveling in a group of 2 to 4 people on a scheduled tour. Groups of 5 or more adults receive discounts. If you booked at full price and your tour ends up with 5 or more people after you booked, we will refund you any owed savings. This is done on the morning of the tour to ensure we know the exact number of people who actually took the tour, and can account for last minute sign ups and no-shows when calculating the final price.

The final discount will vary depending on the exact number of guests in the vehicle. We always honor discounts and will normally contact you about the expected final price the day before your tour, if it has changed since you initial booking.

Prices vary for private and custom tours (we’ll give you an exact quote based on what you want to book) as well as any extras you may book in addition to the scheduled tours.

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 7) rather than a big bus (10 to 30 people). All-inclusive, extensive wine and food tastings, 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 actually subsidize tours with only 2 people on, out of our margin, to keep our pricing competitive, and because we’d rather have our guides out and getting paid, than get greedy and penalize small groups.

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.

What is your cancellation policy?

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

Rtveli 2026 Wine Harvest (Simulation): 1 Day Kakheti (Telavi) Food & Wine Tour

$1 USD = ~₾2.75 GEL

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