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

Wine with a winemaker makes this eight-hour trip more personal than a standard tasting stop. From Tbilisi, you ride into the Kartli region, visit sixth-century Jvari Monastery, then spend the main part of the day with Andro Barnovi at his home winery in Tsedisi, about 20 minutes from Gori. I especially like the private format and the chance to taste both fresh and older wines directly from the person who makes them.

I also like the setting: a two-level underground cellar, mountain scenery, and a long Georgian lunch either in an outdoor hut or beside a fireplace, depending on the season. The main consideration is the price, $155 per person. That is fair for private transport, lunch, wine, spirits, and guiding, but it is more than a basic winery outing. Optional visits to Stalin’s Museum or Uplistsikhe can also make the day feel quite full.

Key points to know before booking

• Andro Barnovi is the heart of the day: You meet the winemaker behind Wine Artisans and taste his wines in his own chateau.
• The cellar is unusual: A two-level underground winery gives you a close look at the working side of Georgian wine production.
• The tasting covers a broad range: Expect different wine styles, fresh and vintage bottles, and several strong spirits.
• Jvari adds an important cultural stop: The sixth-century monastery near Mtskheta comes early in the day.
• Lunch changes with the season: In summer, you eat in an outdoor hut. In winter, the meal is served by a fireplace.
• The tour is private: Your group has the vehicle and activity to itself, with pickup available in Tbilisi.

Why this Kartli wine day feels different

Many wine outings give you a cellar, a tasting room, and a quick explanation before moving on. This one puts a person at the center of the experience. Andro Barnovi is not simply presented as a host pouring samples. He is described as the founder and spirit of Wine Artisans, and the day is built around his work, his cellar, and his approach to natural wine.

That matters if you want more than a scenic glass of wine. You can ask questions, taste across his range, and see the place where the wine is made. The setting at his chateau in Tsedisi also gives the day a slower rhythm than a city tasting bar.

I would choose this tour if you care about the connection between the maker and the bottle. You will get more from it if you enjoy conversation, food, and a full tasting rather than a short stop with one or two pours.

The private format is another real advantage. You are not tied to a large group’s pace, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. Pickup is offered, which keeps the morning simple if you are staying in Tbilisi.

Starting with Jvari Monastery near Mtskheta

The day begins with a visit to Jvari Monastery, a sixth-century UNESCO site near Mtskheta. This is a smart first stop because it adds Georgian religious and architectural history before the wine portion begins.

Jvari is also a fine place to get your bearings. The monastery sits above the area around Mtskheta, and the route offers broad views over the meeting of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. The scenery helps explain why this part of Georgia has long mattered as a crossroads and cultural center.

You should think of Jvari as a focused visit rather than a full morning at a major museum. The supplied schedule gives it a place early in the day, before the drive continues toward Gori and Tsedisi. Your guide may provide context about Georgia’s past, and the guiding is one of the strongest parts of the experience. One account praised a guide who explained Georgian life and politics clearly and with feeling, including events connected with the 2008 war.

That political context can add weight to the scenery. Georgia’s past is not presented as a series of old stones with no connection to modern life. If that kind of discussion interests you, pay attention during the drive and ask questions.

The drive from Tbilisi to Tsedisi

The route leaves the capital and heads west toward Gori, then continues to Tsedisi. The winery is about 20 minutes from Gori, so the trip combines countryside views with a clear destination rather than a string of unrelated stops.

Private transportation makes a difference here. You do not need to manage a rental car after wine tasting, and the air-conditioned vehicle is useful during warmer months. Bottled water is included as well, which is welcome on an eight-hour outing with alcohol and a substantial meal.

The drive is described as breathtaking, but keep your expectations practical. This is not a sightseeing drive with a scheduled photo stop at every viewpoint. The main purpose is to reach Andro’s winery, and the road time is part of the day rather than a separate attraction.

If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where you normally feel most comfortable and pace yourself during the tasting. The tour includes alcoholic beverages, and the combination of wine, spirits, food, and road travel can catch up with you.

Inside Andro Barnovi’s two-level underground winery

The winery is the most distinctive physical part of the outing. You explore a two-level underground cellar, where Andro explains his wines and the work behind them.

Natural wine is not just a label to admire on a menu. It raises questions about grapes, fermentation, handling, aging, and the choices a winemaker makes when working with less intervention. The value of this visit is that those ideas are connected to a real producer and a real cellar.

Andro’s role gives the tasting a personal edge. You are not just sampling an anonymous Georgian brand. You are hearing directly from the person described as the force behind Wine Artisans, while standing in the place where his wines are made.

The tasting covers the full range of his production. You can expect freshly made wines alongside vintage wines, plus a selection of stronger spirits. That range is useful because it lets you compare styles and ages rather than judging the winery from a single bottle.

Still, a broad tasting requires restraint. You do not have to treat every sample as a challenge. Take notes if you care about remembering particular bottles, drink water between tastes, and let lunch do its part. The tour includes bottled water and a meal, but responsible pacing remains your job.

Lunch in a hut or beside the fire

After the cellar, the day moves upstairs for food. In summer, lunch is served in an outdoor hut. During winter, the meal takes place in front of a fireplace.

This seasonal change is one of the pleasant details of the experience. It gives the meal a sense of place without turning it into a staged performance. You are eating at the winemaker’s home base, surrounded by the mountain scenery of the Kartli countryside.

Lunch is included, as are the alcoholic drinks. The food is described as delicious local fare, but the exact dishes are not specified, so you should not book this expecting a fixed menu or a particular regional specialty.

For me, the meal is important because Georgian wine is best understood alongside Georgian food. The food gives you a chance to slow down, compare the wines again, and enjoy the social side of the visit. If you prefer a tightly scheduled itinerary with constant movement, this longer lunch may feel leisurely. If you like sitting down and talking, it is likely to be one of the day’s best parts.

The fireplace setting should be especially appealing in winter. In summer, the outdoor hut lets you make more of the fresh air and mountain views. Neither arrangement is described as better, only different.

Optional stops at Stalin’s Museum and Uplistsikhe

Two additional stops are available as options: Stalin’s Museum in Gori and the cave town of Uplistsikhe.

Stalin’s Museum deals with one of Georgia’s most difficult historical figures. The tour description takes a firmly critical view of Stalin, calling him a source of shame for Georgia. That makes the stop potentially useful for visitors who want to examine how the country handles this part of its past, but it may not suit anyone seeking a purely relaxed wine day.

Uplistsikhe offers a different kind of historical experience. The cave complex is one of the region’s most striking archaeological sites, with rock-cut spaces and a sense of an older settlement carved into the terrain. It adds another major sight to a day that already includes Jvari and a full winery visit.

The practical issue is time. The basic experience is about eight hours, and the winery includes a detailed tasting and lunch. Adding both optional sites could make the day more crowded, depending on the final schedule. I would discuss your priorities before setting out.

Choose Jvari and the winery alone if wine is your main reason for booking. Add Uplistsikhe if ancient sites matter as much as the tasting. Choose Stalin’s Museum only if you specifically want that difficult historical perspective.

What the price includes at $155

At $155 per person, this is not a bargain-basement wine excursion. It is a private full-day experience with several costs built into one price:

• Private transportation from Tbilisi
• An air-conditioned vehicle
• Lunch
• Bottled water
• Wine and other alcoholic beverages
• Entrance fees and taxes
• A private group format

The strongest value comes from the combination of a personal winemaker visit and private transport. A simple tasting may cost less, but it will not necessarily include a full day of driving, a meal, a cultural sight, and access to a two-level cellar.

The price makes more sense for couples, families, or small groups who value privacy. If you are alone and mainly want to sample Georgian wine, you may find less expensive options in Tbilisi. If you want a day built around Andro Barnovi and Wine Artisans, the cost is easier to justify.

The experience also received a perfect five-star average from three published ratings, with praise focused on the guide, the countryside drive, Andro’s enthusiasm, and the depth of the presentation. That is a small sample, so I would treat it as encouraging rather than conclusive. Still, the praise points to a clear pattern: the human side of the day is its main strength.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this outing to wine drinkers who want to meet a producer rather than simply visit a tasting room. It is also a good fit if you enjoy Georgian food, countryside drives, religious architecture, and conversations about the country’s past and present.

The tour suits people who like a flexible private day. Since the activity is limited to your group, you can focus more closely on the tasting and discuss whether to add Stalin’s Museum or Uplistsikhe.

It may be less suitable if you want a short, highly structured tasting with little driving. The day takes about eight hours, and the winery portion appears to be detailed rather than rushed. It also may not suit someone who dislikes strong spirits or prefers to avoid alcohol entirely, since alcoholic beverages are a central part of the experience.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. Confirmation is provided at booking. For cancellation, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Andro Barnovi wine tour?

Book it if you want a personal introduction to Georgian natural wine, a private ride from Tbilisi, and a proper meal in the countryside. Andro Barnovi’s cellar, his broad range of wines and spirits, and the seasonal lunch setting give the day more substance than a quick tasting stop.

I would keep the optional visits under control. Jvari and the winery already create a satisfying day, while Uplistsikhe or Stalin’s Museum can be added if you have a strong interest in archaeology or difficult modern history.

At $155, this is best viewed as a private cultural and food experience, not simply a bottle-tasting outing. For someone who values the maker, the meal, and the story behind the wine, it is a strong use of one day in Georgia.

FAQ

Where does the natural wine tour begin?

The tour is based in Tbilisi, and pickup is offered.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Who leads the winery visit?

The main winery experience is with Andro Barnovi, founder and spirit of Wine Artisans.

What is included in the price?

The price includes private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, all fees and taxes, lunch, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours beforehand are not accepted for a refund.