Where to Go For the 2024 Rtveli Wine Harvest in Georgia (original) (raw)

Taking place every year in September/October, the wine harvest or Rtveli is a joyous time of year in Georgia – particularly in the country’s biggest wine region, Kakheti.

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Georgia in autumn, I strongly recommend heading out to Kakheti to see the country’s UNESCO-Listed winemaking tradition in action and experience one of Georgia’s best festivals for yourself.

Not every vineyard is open to visitors so you need to do your research. This quick guide to Rtveli 2024 shows you what to expect, and includes a list of wineries and tour companies that are offering harvest experiences this year.

If you know of any other Rtveli celebrations or tours that I’ve missed, please share the details in the comments so I can add them to the list. Thank you!

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

When is Rtveli 2024?

This year’s harvest got underway on the last weekend of August in parts of Kakheti. Most vineyards will be plucking grapes from September 1 onwards. Some will harvest all their vines over a few days, while others will space it out over several weeks.

In Kakheti, the harvest will continue throughout the month of September and potentially into the first weeks of October. Other wine regions such as Kartli and Imereti normally start the harvest later, between mid-September and mid-October. Some regions around the Black Sea including Guria might go as late as November.

Every winery works to a different schedule depending on the weather conditions, their elevation, the types of grapes they grow, the sugar content of the grapes, and the winemaker’s preferences. So there’s a good chance you can see grapes being picked all throughout the autumn months.

A group of people harvest grapes as part of the annual Rtveli festival in Georgia.

Rtveli 2020 at Wine Yard N1. A big thanks to Tika for the photo!

What happens during Rtveli?

While Rtveli is a lot of hard work, it’s also a time of celebration. There’s a great sense of community as everyone pitches in to get the job done. After long days in the fields, there is much feasting, toasting and merry making in the evenings.

Rtveli has huge cultural significance in Georgia and is also associated with music, dance, singing, and the preparation of special autumn foods.

Typical Rtveli activities include:

While many of these activities are a traditional part of Rtveli, some places will ‘augment’ the experience for tourists. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide what kind of Rtveli you want to have.

A set of clay qvevris on a field in Kakheti, Georgia.

Qvevri in Kakheti.

How can I participate in Rtveli?

There are many different ways to experience Rtveli. You could spend an hour at a well-established commercial winery observing the process, spend a day or two at a smaller vineyard for a hands-on experience – or you might get a personal invitation to a family winery where everything is done at a much more intimate scale.

It’s important to note that not every winery is open to visitors during Rtveli. This is their busiest time of year, and many winemakers (understandably) prefer to focus on the actual winemaking rather than accommodating guests.

I don’t recommend showing up at any old winery and expecting to be hosted. Instead, I suggest you either:

  1. Organise to visit a winery with special Rtveli events. Offerings range from a few hours to full-day festivities and overnight programs. Places are usually limited, so it’s essential to book in advance. See the list in the next section for ideas.
  2. Book a tour from Tbilisi. My preferred company, Eat This! Food & Wine Tours, is hosting a range of Rtveli tours this year. See here for details and use the coupon code wanderlush to get a 5% discount.
  3. Book a guesthouse in Kakheti and ask your host. It’s more than likely they will know someone who needs a helping hand – but you’d better be prepared to roll up your sleeves and pull your weight!

Confirmed Rtveli tours from Tbilisi for 2024

This list is a work in progress – if you know of any other Rtveli events, please share the details in the comments so I can add them. Thank you!

🍇 Real Rtveli experience with Eat This! Tours

My preferred wine tour operator in Kakheti, Eat This! Tours, is once again running a huge number of Rtveli events all over Georgia throughout the 2024 harvest period. Choose from full-day or overnight itineraries that include grape picking and stomping, a supra, and all the wine you can drink.

Eat This! work with small family wineries to craft intimate, authentic tours – so you can be sure their Rtveli experience is the real deal. The grapes you pick will be used for this year’s wine, guaranteed!

Groups are limited to a max of 14 people. Prices vary depending on the length of the tour and the size of the group. Private custom tours are also available.

Advance reservations are essential and tours do sell out. Book via the website, and use the coupon code wanderlush to receive a 5% discount.

🍇 Simulation Rtveli experience with Eat This! Tours

Those grapes don’t wait for anyone! If the actual harvest doesn’t line up with your travel dates or work schedule, then a Simulation Rtveli Experience is the next best thing.

With guaranteed departures every week throughout September and October, this tour recreates the Rtveli experience in a non-cheesy way. You’ll first head to an independent winery to pick and stomp grapes, then visit a qvevri workshop, participate in a cooking masterclass, and eat a supra feast at a wine estate.

Advance reservations are essential and tours do sell out. Book via the website, and use the coupon code wanderlush to receive a 5% discount.

🍇 Grape Harvest Day Tour with Weekend Travelers Georgia

Weekend Travelers Georgia organises day hikes around Tbilisi and alternative excursions to southern Georgia, Armenia and beyond. In autumn, they host special harvest trips to a small family vineyard in Kakheti with transfers to and from Tbilisi included.

Weekend Travelers’ itineraries are always fun and focused on social exchange. This is a great option for solo travellers and expats living in Tbilisi.

Bookings via the website are essential.

🍇 Traditional Wine Harvest with Keti’s House

This popular family guesthouse in Kvareli is once again hosting Rtveli excursions to a nearby vineyard every weekend throughout the harvest season.

The full long-weekend program (midday Friday to Sunday afternoon) includes a khinkali cooking glass, churchkhela-making, grape harvesting and crushing. Folk musicians are available on request for an extra fee. Accommodation and board are also offered, and the hosts can organise transfers to and from Tbilisi.

If you prefer just to visit for the day, there’s also the option to join them on Saturday for the harvest and a five-wine degustation only.

Places are limited and bookings are essential.

Tentative Rtveli tours for 2024

Here is a list of events from last year’s Rtveli. I anticipate that most of these venues will be repeating their activities this year. I will return to add dates for 2024 once they are announced.

🍇 Rtveli 2024 with Wine Not? x Isev Kvareli

Organised by Wine Not!, a popular wine bar in Tbilisi, this wine weekend runs you through the whole process from vineyard to Qvevri. Bread-baking and khinkali-making are also part of the program.

If you opt for the full weekend experience, a supra dinner and accommodation at Isev Kvareli is included in the price.

🍇 Rtveli 2024 with Salt Buro

Salt Buro is organising three Tbilisi Kakheti day trips this autumn, all featuring grape picking and crushing plus a gala lunch in the vineyard. Based on previous tours and teaser images, I’d say this Rtveli experience is going to be particularly Instagram-friendly.

Note that Salt Buro mainly offers tours for Russian speakers so activities will likely be conducted in Russian language.

Reservations via the website are essential.

Confirmed Rtveli venues for 2024

If you prefer to travel to Kakheti independently, the following vineyards hosted tourists last autumn and should be welcoming guests again this year. I will return to update the details for 2024 as they become available.

🍇 Wine Yard N1

Run by my friend Tika and her family, this fourth-generation wine cellar produces Qvevri wines from grapes grown in the Kindzmarauli microzone.

This year they are hosting guests every day throughout the harvest period from 3pm sharp to pick and crush grapes, enjoy a supra, listen to live folk music and participate in dance workshops.

This is truly one of the most beautiful venues in Kakheti for lunch and a wine tasting. A great choice for families or groups of friends looking for a full-day experience.

Bookings are essential.

🍇 Schuchmann Wines Chateau

This upscale hotel-vineyard is known for its wine spa. Their full-day Rtveli package this year includes a Rtveli picking and crushing, a tour of the property, bread-baking and churchkhela-making workshops, a chacha distilling demonstration, plus a supra meal with Shuchmann wines.

Bookings are essential.

🍇 Kakhetian House Vakirelebi

This one-day-only organic harvest experience at Kakhetian House Vakirelebi includes harvesting, pressing grapes, churchkhela-making, and a farm-to-table feast with live music. Transportation from Tbilisi is included for groups of 7 or more people.

Tamara Ninidze, the founder of the winery, will act as your guide.

A basket of purple Saperavi grapes balanced on creates of grapes at a vineyard in Kakheti, Georgia.

Buckets of grapes and clay jars arranged in front of grape vines at harvest time in Georgia the country.

🍇 TEMI Community

TEMI Community is a social enterprise that employs more than 70 people of different abilities to work on a range of agricultural projects, including a vineyard.

They host events throughout the year, including grape picking during September. Churchkhela making, khinkali masterclasses, meals, wine tastings, bike rental and other activities are also available on request.

Grape picking and crushing requires a minimum of 10 or 12 people, so it’s best to contact them in advance and plan your visit at the same time as others. Or else get a group of friends together – it’s a beautiful venue and the proceeds go to a great cause.

Bookings are essential.

🍇 Berika Winery

If you want to get your hands dirty, Berika family winery is offering guests the chance to join them in the vineyard throughout September, with tours available on request. Prices depend on the size of your group; discounts are available if you organise your own transport from Tbilisi.

As well as grape picking, you will tour the vineyard, do a wine tasting, eat a supra lunch, taste four wines, make churchkhela, and even view a collection of Soviet-era cars.

Bookings are essential.

🍇 Chateau Mosmieri

This is a beautiful hotel-winery with a huge outdoor pool and views of the Greater Caucasus. Harvest festivities will take place every day during September, and include grape picking and culinary workshops.

Meals and accommodation are also available. Expect a very polished experience.

Bookings are essential.

More resources for wine lovers