Natural Wine Tour to Kartli region, lunch & wine tasting at Andro Barnovi

Georgia’s natural-wine story comes alive at Andro Barnovi’s Wine Artisans cellar, where the winemaker himself presents fresh and vintage bottles in a two-level underground winery. I like that this is not a quick tasting-room stop: you get time with the maker, a proper meal, and a look at how the wine is made. The second strong point is the setting, with mountain views around Tsedisi and a visit to sixth-century Jvari Monastery before lunch.

The main consideration is the price, $155 per person, which is a serious spend for a day outside Tbilisi. It makes the most sense if you care about wine, want a private outing, and value a long meal with a winemaker rather than a fast series of sightseeing stops.

Key points at a glance

• Andro Barnovi leads the tasting: Meet the founder and spirit of Wine Artisans at his chateau in Tsedisi.
• A two-level underground winery: See a distinctive cellar before tasting fresh and vintage wines.
• Lunch changes with the season: Eat in an outdoor hut in summer or by a fireplace in winter.
• Jvari Monastery comes first: Visit this sixth-century UNESCO site near Mtskheta.
• Private eight-hour outing: Your group has private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• Optional history stops: Add Stalin’s Museum and the Uplistsikhe caves if time and plans allow.

Why this Kartli wine day feels different

Many wine trips near Tbilisi are built around several short tastings. This one has a different rhythm. The center of the day is a long visit with Andro Barnovi, an individual winemaker whose work focuses on natural wine and Wine Artisans.

That personal connection matters. You are not simply handed a glass and given a list of grape names. Andro presents the wines, explains his methods, and guides you through the full range of bottles available at the chateau. The tasting includes freshly made wines, older vintages, and several types of strong spirits.

I like this approach because Georgian wine can be hard to understand from a single pour. A full tasting lets you compare styles and ages. You can also ask questions as you go, instead of trying to absorb a rushed explanation before the next stop.

The setting adds to the experience. The chateau is in Tsedisi, about 20 minutes from Gori, with mountains and open views around it. This is a rural visit, not a polished urban tasting room. If you want a formal wine bar with a quick, tidy presentation, this may feel unstructured. If you want to see how a small producer lives and works, that informality is part of the appeal.

Starting with Jvari Monastery near Mtskheta

The day begins with Jvari Monastery, a sixth-century site near Mtskheta. It is also identified as a UNESCO sight, making it a worthwhile cultural opening before the wine portion of the day.

Jvari gives the outing a useful sense of place. You begin with Georgia’s early Christian architecture and then continue into Kartli’s living wine culture. That pairing is one of the best reasons to choose this trip over a tasting alone.

The order also works well. A morning monastery visit gives you a cultural stop before lunch and alcohol. After that, the day can settle into the slower pace of the winery.

The supplied plan does not state how long you spend at Jvari or give detailed transport times from Tbilisi. Keep that in mind if you are trying to fit in several extra sights. The visit is included, but the day’s exact timing can depend on road conditions, the pace of your group, and the optional stops you choose.

The drive through Kartli to Tsedisi

Private transportation is included, along with an air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water. Pickup is offered, which removes one of the more tiresome parts of arranging a countryside wine day from Tbilisi.

The drive is part of the experience. The route moves toward Gori and then on to Tsedisi, where the winery is about 20 minutes from town. The scenery includes mountain views and broad rural surroundings, giving you a clear change from Tbilisi’s city streets.

A private vehicle also gives you more control than a shared outing. You are not moving with a large group or waiting for unrelated pickups. The tour is private, so only your party participates.

That privacy is especially useful for a wine day. You can ask questions, linger over lunch, or discuss a bottle without worrying about a busload of people. The tradeoff is that the $155 price is per person, so the value improves when you can share the day with family or friends who are equally interested in wine and Georgian culture.

Entering Andro Barnovi’s two-level cellar

At the winery, the visit moves underground. The cellar has two levels, a memorable feature that gives the tasting more character than a standard table in a restaurant.

Andro Barnovi presents the wines and explains the work behind them. The experience covers the full assortment of his fresh and vintage wines, so you should expect variety rather than one signature pour.

The focus is natural wine. That term can mean different things from producer to producer, so this is a good setting to ask Andro what it means in his own cellar. The value here is direct access to the person making the wine, not just a general lecture about Georgian production.

You will also taste numerous strong spirits. That broadens the day beyond wine, but it also means you should pace yourself. Lunch follows the cellar visit, and the full outing lasts about eight hours. The tasting is not a quick prelude to sightseeing. It is the main event.

The description does not list each grape, bottle, or spirit. That is a benefit if you prefer a tasting that changes with the cellar’s current selection, but a limitation if you want a fixed menu in advance. The available range may depend on what Andro has ready to pour.

Lunch at the chateau, with the seasons setting the table

After the cellar, lunch moves upstairs. In summer, you eat in an outdoor hut. In winter, the meal is served in front of a fireplace.

That seasonal change is more than decoration. It gives the visit a strong sense of place and keeps the meal connected to the house and its surroundings. You are not being sent to a separate restaurant after the tasting. Lunch is part of the chateau experience.

Local food is included, as are alcoholic beverages. The supplied information does not specify the menu, so do not book this expecting a named dish list or a choice of courses. Instead, think of lunch as a Georgian meal paired with the wines and spirits presented during the visit.

I like that the food is included in the price. A private drive, monastery visit, cellar tour, full wine tasting, spirits, and lunch would otherwise become a series of separate costs. At $155, the value depends on how much you enjoy the meal and the long tasting, but the package covers the core expenses clearly.

Bottled water is also included. That is a small but useful detail on a full day that includes alcohol, driving, and time outdoors.

Optional stops at Stalin’s Museum and Uplistsikhe

Two extra stops are offered as options: Stalin’s Museum in Gori and the Uplistsikhe caves.

Stalin’s Museum addresses one of the most difficult parts of Georgian and Soviet history. The tour description takes a strongly critical view of Stalin, calling him Georgia’s greatest shame. If you choose this stop, expect a site connected to a troubling and politically charged figure, not a light cultural attraction.

Uplistsikhe offers a different kind of historical visit. The caves add an ancient settlement to a day already anchored by Jvari’s early Christian site and Kartli’s wine tradition.

The important practical point is that both are optional. The base experience already includes Jvari and the winery, and the day is about eight hours. Adding one or both sights could make the outing feel full, especially if you prefer a relaxed lunch and tasting.

Ask about the timing before committing to the extras. The information provided does not state the additional cost, exact stop length, or whether both can fit comfortably into the same schedule. Treat them as possible additions, not guaranteed parts of the standard day.

What the guide style adds to the day

Andro is the key figure at the winery, but the wider day also depends on the main tour guide. The available feedback describes a guide who speaks clearly and with passion about Georgian life, politics, and major events, including the 2008 war.

That detail matters because the road from Tbilisi to Kartli is not just a transfer between attractions. A good guide can explain why the region matters and help connect Jvari, Gori, the countryside, and the wine cellar.

You should expect more than wine facts. The commentary may touch on Georgia’s recent political life and difficult chapters. That can add depth, though it may not suit someone who wants a purely relaxed food-and-drink day.

The strongest praise centers on Andro’s enthusiasm, good nature, and ability to explain his wines. For me, that is the clearest reason to book. The cellar would still be interesting as a place, but meeting the winemaker gives the visit its purpose.

Is $155 a fair price?

At $155 per person, this is not a budget wine excursion. The price includes private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, all fees and taxes, lunch, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages.

You are also paying for an eight-hour private day, the Jvari visit, the drive into Kartli, a cellar visit, a broad tasting, spirits, and a meal at the producer’s home base. Compared with a simple tasting near Tbilisi, the cost is high. Compared with arranging private transport, a guide, lunch, and multiple visits separately, it can be reasonable.

The best value goes to a small group with a genuine interest in Georgian wine. You receive more personal attention than you would on a large group tour, and the private format lets the day focus on your pace.

The value is weaker if you dislike alcohol, want a tightly timed sightseeing circuit, or mainly want to see Gori’s famous sights. In that case, the tasting and long lunch may take up too much of your day.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this for wine drinkers who want to meet a producer rather than simply sample a few Georgian bottles. It also suits couples, families with adult members, and private groups looking for a day that mixes culture, countryside, food, and conversation.

It is a good match if you appreciate small-scale production and do not need every detail fixed in advance. The atmosphere sounds personal and home-based, with the outdoor hut or fireplace setting adding to the sense that you are visiting a working chateau.

You should think twice if you want a short excursion, a fixed tasting list, or a day built mainly around museums and archaeological sites. Jvari is included, but the cellar and meal take center stage.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity states that most people can participate. Confirmation is provided at booking. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Final call: book it for the winemaker

Book this tour if Andro Barnovi and natural wine are the main reasons you are visiting Georgia. The private transport, Jvari Monastery, mountain scenery, underground cellar, local lunch, and spirits make a full day, but the real draw is the chance to spend time with the person behind the wines.

Skip it if your priority is a quick, low-cost outing or a detailed circuit of every Gori attraction. The optional Stalin’s Museum and Uplistsikhe caves may help fill that need, but they are not the heart of the experience.

For the right visitor, $155 buys more than bottles and a meal. It buys a personal look at Kartli wine culture, presented by the winemaker in his own place.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting take place?

The tasting takes place at Andro Barnovi’s Wine Artisans chateau in Tsedisi, about 20 minutes from Gori.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included, and pickup is offered.

Is Jvari Monastery part of the standard tour?

Yes. The morning visit to sixth-century Jvari Monastery near Mtskheta is included.

What is included at the winery?

The experience includes lunch, bottled water, alcoholic beverages, and all fees and taxes. The tasting covers Andro’s fresh and vintage wines as well as strong spirits.

Can I visit Stalin’s Museum or Uplistsikhe?

Yes, both are offered as optional visits. The supplied information does not state their additional cost or exact timing.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.