Private Organic Wine Tour from Kutaisi, 2 Tastings and Lunch

Georgia pours its story into clay. This seven-hour private outing gives you a close look at western Georgian winemaking, with qvevri cellar visits and tastings of small-batch organic and natural wines. I like the personal scale, especially the chance to meet winemakers Giorgi Mshvenieradze and Aidan Raftery. I also like that lunch is part of the experience rather than an afterthought, with a gourmet meal at Oda House in Martvili.

The main consideration is the price: $180 per person is a serious spend, even with private transport, wine, lunch, and a full day included. The detailed schedule names two main winery stops, while the inclusions refer to tastings at three locations, so I would confirm the exact tasting plan before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• Meet Giorgi Mshvenieradze in his own cellar: Taste limited-production organic wines, sparkling wine when available, and Georgian chacha.
• See qvevri winemaking in practice: Both featured winemakers use traditional clay vessels rather than relying only on modern winery methods.
• Visit Vintners & Vagabonds in Zeindari: Aidan Raftery’s small operation focuses on restoring old Georgian methods and producing wines for export.
• Expect a substantial lunch: The meal at organic winery Oda House in Martvili is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour.
• Enjoy a private day from Kutaisi: Pickup is available anywhere in town, and only your group takes part.
• Allow about seven hours: The listed tastings take about three hours, with the remaining time used for driving between Kutaisi and the wineries.

Why this Kutaisi wine tour is different

Many wine outings reduce Georgia to a few pours and a quick explanation. This one gives you time with the people making the wine. That matters in Georgia, where the method is not just a production choice but a central part of the country’s wine culture.

The key word is qvevri, a large clay vessel traditionally used for fermentation and storage. The wine develops in the vessel rather than in the stainless steel tanks or wooden barrels common elsewhere. At both wineries, you hear directly about this process and the decisions behind the wines.

I like the fact that the wineries are small and their production is limited. At Mshvenieradze winery, only a small amount is made. At Vintners & Vagabonds, also known as Igavi Wines, only a couple of thousand bottles are produced, with much of the output sent to European Union countries and Australia. That gives the tasting a sense of place that a large commercial cellar may not provide.

This is also a good choice if you want more than wine. The combination of private transportation, two winery visits, a meal, and conversation with the winemakers makes the day feel like a cultural outing, not simply a drinking stop.

Starting from Kutaisi at 10 a.m.

The tour begins at 10:00 a.m., with pickup from any location within Kutaisi. That is useful if you are staying in the city and do not want to arrange a taxi to a separate meeting point.

Private transport is particularly valuable here. The wineries are outside Kutaisi, and the tour requires driving through western Georgia rather than staying within the city. You avoid planning the route yourself, and you can taste the wines without worrying about driving afterward.

The schedule lasts about seven hours. The exact drive times are not provided, so I would treat the day as a full outing rather than a tightly timed transfer. You should keep your evening plans flexible, especially if you want to linger over lunch or if the road time takes longer than expected.

Because the activity requires good weather, poor conditions can lead to a change of date or a full refund. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. A late cancellation or late change is not refundable.

Meeting Giorgi at Mshvenieradze winery

The first stop introduces you to Mr. Giorgi Mshvenieradze, described as one of Georgia’s exceptional organic and natural winemakers. His approach centers on making 100 percent organic products from his own vineyards in western Georgia.

The appeal here is the direct contact. Instead of receiving a general lecture from a guide, you meet the person responsible for the wine and hear how he works. His cellar is the setting for the explanation, which should make the process easier to understand than a polished tasting-room presentation.

Giorgi uses the traditional qvevri method. These clay vessels are part of the old Georgian approach to fermentation, and the tour gives you a chance to connect the vessel with the wine in your glass. If you are curious about natural wine, this is likely the most informative stop of the day.

You taste three or four wines, depending on availability. The selection may include sparkling wine, and the tasting finishes with chacha, Georgia’s grape vodka. The number of samples is modest, but that is not a weakness here. Since the production is very limited, the focus is on learning what makes each bottle different rather than moving through a long commercial list.

Availability matters. You should not book this stop expecting a fixed lineup of named wines. The selection changes, and the tour description makes that clear. For some people, that uncertainty is part of the charm. If you need a particular grape or vintage, ask before booking.

The chacha is worth noting for practical reasons. It is strong, and it comes at the end of the tasting. Pace yourself with the wine and take advantage of the bottled water provided for each person.

A small producer in Zeindari

The second major stop takes you to the village of Zeindari and Vintners & Vagabonds, also called Igavi Wines. The winery is run by Aidan Raftery, a winemaker from the United Kingdom who moved to Georgia with his wife and settled in the Imereti region.

Aidan’s story adds a personal layer to the visit. You hear why he chose Georgia and why he wanted to restore older winemaking practices using qvevris. That background helps explain why a foreign-born winemaker would build a small operation in a Georgian village rather than follow a more conventional commercial route.

The tasting includes two or three western Georgian wines, again depending on availability. The production line is very limited, with only a couple of thousand bottles made. Much of the wine goes to export markets in the European Union and Australia, so the visit may be one of the easier ways to taste bottles that are not widely available in every Georgian shop.

I appreciate the scale of this stop. You are not simply sampling a regional wine and moving on. You are hearing about a working project, its methods, and its place in the local wine scene. The experience should appeal to anyone interested in natural wine, independent producers, and the practical work involved in keeping older methods alive.

The possible drawback is the same one found at Mshvenieradze winery: the tasting is subject to availability. You get two or three wines, not a guaranteed list. The tour suits curious drinkers who enjoy surprise more than those looking for a formal comparative tasting.

Lunch at Oda House in Martvili

Lunch is served at Oda House, described as an organic winery in Martvili. It is included in the price and is presented as a gourmet meal built around local cuisine.

This is more than a convenient break between tastings. Food helps make sense of Georgian wine, particularly when you are sampling regional bottles and local grape varieties. A full meal also keeps the day from becoming an alcohol-only outing.

The strongest praise attached to this experience concerns the lunch. It has been described as possibly the best meal of a Georgia visit, which sets a high bar but also tells you where much of the tour’s value may lie. I would not treat that as a guarantee, since menus and preparation can change, but it is a useful reason to choose this tour over a simple winery transfer.

The schedule lists two hours for the Zeindari stop, including the tasting and lunch. That is a sensible amount of time for a meal with wine. You should expect a relaxed middle section rather than a quick plate served between photographs.

The tour description does not provide a menu, so you should not book with expectations about specific dishes. It does promise local cuisine and a gourmet lunch at Oda House. If you have dietary restrictions, ask the operator before booking, since no special menu information is provided.

What the private format adds

The tour is private, meaning only your group participates. That changes the pace and the feel of the day.

You can ask more questions without waiting for a large group to finish. If you are new to Georgian wine, you can ask for a basic explanation of qvevri, organic production, or chacha without feeling out of place. If you already know wine, you can focus on production methods and regional styles.

The private format also helps at lunch and in the cellar. A small group can usually listen more easily when the winemaker is speaking. The experience is built around conversation, and a large bus group would work against that.

Still, private does not mean every part of the day is flexible. The start time is set at 10:00 a.m., the route includes named producers, and the tasting quantities depend on availability. You are paying for a focused group experience, not a completely custom day.

Is $180 per person a fair value?

At $180 per person, this is not a budget wine excursion. The value depends on how much you care about private transport, direct access to small producers, and the included meal.

You are paying for approximately seven hours, pickup in Kutaisi, private transportation, wine tastings, bottled water, and gourmet lunch. You also get access to two named winemakers and their own cellars or wineries. For a couple or small group, those combined costs can make the rate reasonable, particularly if arranging transport and winery appointments separately would be difficult.

The price is harder to justify if your main goal is simply to drink Georgian wine. Kutaisi has other ways to sample local bottles, and a shorter tasting would cost less. This tour makes more sense if you want the countryside, the stories behind the producers, a proper meal, and a private vehicle for the day.

The limited production is another part of the value. You are not tasting wines selected only because they are easy to supply in large quantities. The wineries make small amounts, and some bottles are exported. That does not automatically make the wine better, but it makes the visit more distinctive.

I would also check the third-location wording before booking. The inclusions mention wine tastings at three different locations, while the schedule explains Mshvenieradze winery and Vintners & Vagabonds, with lunch at Oda House. Ask Traffic Travel LLC what the third tasting involves and whether it is a separate winery visit or part of the meal stop.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this tour to you if you:

• Want a private day rather than a group bus outing
• Care about natural, organic, or small-production wine
• Enjoy meeting producers and hearing personal stories
• Want a substantial Georgian meal included
• Are staying in Kutaisi and prefer hotel pickup
• Have about seven hours available for a countryside excursion

It is also a good fit for couples, families with adult children, and small groups of friends. Most people can participate, according to the operator, and the private structure lets your group set the tone.

I would hesitate if you dislike strong spirits, since chacha is part of the first tasting. I would also think twice if you need a fixed wine list, exact meal details, or a short activity that ends within a few hours.

Practical tips for a better day

Start with a light breakfast. You will taste several wines at the first stop, more at the second, and then have lunch with wine. The meal should help, but it is still wise to pace yourself.

Use the bottled water provided. It is a small inclusion, but useful during a day that combines driving, wine, and a substantial meal.

Ask about the third tasting location before departure. This is the one point where the published details do not line up perfectly, and a quick confirmation will help you understand the schedule.

Keep your evening open. The tour is listed as approximately seven hours, but the exact drive times and availability of wines are not specified.

Bring questions. The best part of this experience is not the number of pours. It is the chance to ask Giorgi and Aidan how they work, why they use qvevris, and what makes their production small and distinctive.

Should you book the private wine tour from Kutaisi?

Book it if you want a full Georgian food and wine day built around small producers, personal stories, and traditional qvevri methods. The private vehicle, direct meetings with Giorgi Mshvenieradze and Aidan Raftery, and gourmet lunch at Oda House give the outing more substance than a basic tasting trip.

Skip it if $180 feels too high for wine and lunch, or if you prefer a fixed tasting menu and a shorter schedule. Before confirming, ask Traffic Travel LLC to clarify the third tasting location and the expected pickup-to-return timing. If those details suit you, this is a strong choice for an authentic, well-fed day outside Kutaisi.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered from any location within the town of Kutaisi.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 10:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation is included in the tour price.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

How many wineries are included?

The detailed schedule includes a visit to Mshvenieradze winery and a second tasting at Vintners & Vagabonds, also called Igavi Wines. The inclusions mention tastings at three different locations, so confirm the exact third location with the operator.

How many wines will be served?

At Mshvenieradze winery, you taste three or four wines, depending on availability. At Vintners & Vagabonds, you taste two or three western Georgian wines, also depending on availability.

Is chacha included?

Yes. The first tasting ends with a sample of Georgian grape vodka called chacha.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A gourmet lunch at the organic winery Oda House in Martvili is included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund.