Where to Stay in Kakheti: Best Kakheti Hotels & Wine Chateaux (original) (raw)
Looking for the perfect place to stay in Georgia’s wine region? My guide to the best areas and accommodations in Kakheti – wine cellars and mountain views included – has you covered.
Kakheti is Georgia’s biggest region by area and is very spread out. Choosing the right place to base yourself when visiting the Alazani Valley wine region is critical to getting the most out of your visit.
I’ve stayed in all different parts of Kakheti on my multiple trips, and although I have my personal preferences, every location has its merits.
This Kakheti accommodation guide is organised by geography. It covers the two biggest hubs in Kakheti – Sighnaghi and Telavi – plus the villages of Tsinandali and Akhasheni (both on the southern side of the valley) and Kvareli and Napareuli on the opposite side of the Alazani Valley.
I’ll discuss the pros and cons of each location, whether or not you need your own car to get there, and the best accommodation options for every type of traveller – from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxe wine chateaux.
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Quick links: Best overall hotels in Kakheti
In a rush? Here is a quick look at my top overall recommendations:
Radisson Collection Tsinandali Estate.
LUXURY HOTEL: Radisson Collection Tsinandali Estate (⭐ 9.3). Probably my favourite hotel in all of Georgia, the Radisson Tsinandali is set on the historic Chavchavadze Estate outside Telavi. As well as gorgeous rooms and the country’s best buffet breakfast, guests get unfettered access to the estate gardens.
Chateau Artwine. Photo courtesy of the property.
ON THE VINEYARD: Chateau Artwine (⭐ 9.4). Located in Artana, 30 minutes’ drive from Telavi, this immersive hotel is set amongst the vines and boasts an outdoor pool, modern rooms, and a terrific restaurant-cellar. A great choice for families.
Hotel Qvevrebi.
QUIRKY STAY: Hotel Qvevrebi (⭐ 9.6). Sleep inside a bungalow shaped like a giant clay qvevri at this hotel overlooking the Shalauri vineyards just outside Telavi city. Rooms are very comfortable, and there is a pool and onsite restaurant.
Lost Ridge Inn, Brewery & Ranch.
NATURE & QUIET: Lost Ridge Inn, Brewery & Ranch (⭐ 9.3). Located just outside Sighnaghi, this unique property offers craft beer tastings, horse riding, and stellar meals featuring all-local ingredients. Views of the valley are priceless – a great place to chill out for a weekend.
Communal Hotel Telavi. Photo courtesy of the property.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL: Communal Hotel Telavi (⭐ 9.2). The finest hotel in Telavi city, Communal sits on a historic street and features on-point designer rooms, an outdoor pool, and an intimate Kakhetian restaurant called Doli.
Dzveli Galavani.
MID-RANGE HOTEL: Dzveli Galavani (⭐ 9.6). Also in the heart of Telavi city, Dzveli Galavani (‘Old Wall’) is set inside a historic balconied home and boasts gorgeous heritage furnishings. My top choice for history and atmosphere.
Neli and Zaal. Photo courtesy of the property.
TOP CHOICE FOR FAMILIES: Neli and Zaal Guest House (⭐ 9.8). This family guesthouse in Telavi epitomises Georgian hospitality and welcomes groups and kids. Rooms are tidy, and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor common spaces for relaxing and socialising.
Kakheti accommodation essentials
Before I run through my accommodation recommendations, here are a few important things to consider when deciding where to stay in Kakheti.
How long should you spend in Kakheti?
Many people choose to visit Kakheti as a day trip from Tbilisi. If you have room in your itinerary, I urge you to spend at least a night or two in the area. Wine is life in Georgia, and allowing yourself enough time to soak up Kakheti’s history and Qvevri culture will enrich your experience of the country overall.
You could easily while away a full day in the walled town of Sighnaghi or the regional capital of Telavi alone. Both have interesting architecture, museums and lots of restaurants where you can taste local wines.
In the surrounding countryside there are almost too many vineyards, monasteries, churches and forts to count. It’s a lot easier to get around Kakheti with your own car (more on that in a moment), but you can just as easily hire a driver for the day through GoTrip or your accommodation.
Sighnaghi.
Which part of Kakheti should you stay in?
The Alazani Valley, the main grape-growing region, sits within Kakheti and is a vast area itself. Where you choose to stay depends on your interests, budget, and most importantly how you plan on getting around.
If you only have a couple of nights and you’re travelling to Kakheti by marshrutka van, then Telavi or Sighnaghi are your best options. Both have lots of accommodation and restaurant offerings, and it’s easy to organise a driver from there to take you around. Telavi, the larger of the two, is slightly more convenient because it has a big bus station and better connections.
If you have more than one night in Kakheti, I suggest you pick a couple of different locations and move between them. For example, you might choose to spend your first night in Sighnaghi, a night in Telavi, and a night at a winery halfway between the two in Gurjaani (this is what I usually do when I visit Kakheti).
If you bring your own car (or a driver), it will open up more options for you beyond just Sighnaghi and Telavi. Kakheti is sprinkled with beautiful wine estates, chateaux and an increasing number of cool hotels – but in most cases you’ll need a car to reach them.
Telavi.
What kind of accommodations are available in Kakheti?
Guesthouses: The typical guesthouse in Georgia is a family home with several guest bedrooms and private bathrooms attached. Guesthouses are usually very budget friendly – more so than hostels. Some are quite basic, but in my experience they’re always clean, warm and comfortable. If you opt for a guesthouse you have the added benefit of meeting a local family who will probably shower you with travel tips (and wine). Most offer home-cooked meals (breakfast and dinner at a minimum) and can organise drivers, transport and other logistics. Very handy if you’re travelling on the fly.
Hotels: Kakheti has a wide range of mid-range, boutique and higher-end hotels. There are a couple of chains (e.g. Holiday Inn) in Telavi and a few 5-star hotels (most notably the Radisson in Tsinandali).
Airbnbs: Note that most Airbnb listings in Kakheti are for rooms within guesthouses, but there are a handful of self-contained apartments and houses available too. This might be a good option if you’re looking for something more private or if you’re planning a longer stay.
Wineries, estates & chateaux: One of the best things you can do in Kakheti is stay on a working vineyard or historic wine estate. Many mid-sized and larger wineries offer guest accommodation onsite. You’ll also find heritage estates and chateaux that have been converted into hotels. Some are resort-style and suitable for families while others are geared more towards luxury travellers.
How far in advance should you book your Kakheti hotel?
Advance reservations are recommended for most of these properties – at least 2-3 weeks out if you can manage it. If you’re travelling in summer or fall peak season (or on the weekend), you’ll want to book as far in advance as possible as some places do fill up.
Abundance mentally applies in Kakheti – there are more rooms than tourists, so it’s always possible to find something at the last minute if you get caught out or if plans change.
I personally use Booking.com to reserve accommodations throughout Georgia. Even the smallest family guesthouses are listed. Most require cash payment on arrival. As mentioned, a lot of guesthouses are also on Airbnb so it’s worth comparing prices and conditions.
Where to stay in Kakheti: Suggested areas & best hotels in Kakheti for any budget
There are literally hundreds of accommodation options in Kakheti. I’ve sorted through them all to find the best of the best, organised here by location.
This guide covers six areas:
- Sighnaghi: Good area for general sightseeing (including monasteries); ideal if you don’t have a car.
- Telavi: Best area for sightseeing across the whole valley, wineries & restaurants; ideal if you don’t have a car.
- Tsinandali/Kisiskhevi/Shalauri: Beautiful wine chateaux; still close to Telavi; ideal if you don’t have a car.
- Gurjaani/Vazisubani: Ideal compromise for sightseeing; halfway between Telavi and Sighnaghi; ideal if you have your own car.
- Kvareli: Small town convenient to popular wineries & monasteries; ideal if you have your own car.
- Napareuli/Babaneuri: Best for immersive vineyard accommodation; ideal if you have your own car.
Sighnaghi
Sighnaghi takes the title of most charming town in Kakheti. Marketed as the heart of the wine region and the ‘city of love’, it’s an extremely popular day trip destination and also the place where most first-time visitors base themselves.
Guarded by old walls and towers, Sighnaghi is extremely pretty. There are a handful of churches and a nice local museum to visit. From the upper part of town, you get those iconic views of the patchwork Alazani Valley and Greater Caucasus peeking out over a sea of red rooftops. One of my favourite monasteries in Georgia, Bodbe Convent, is walking distance from town.
Because Sighnaghi is located on a hill, you have to travel a fair way down into the valley before you reach any wineries. The closest vineyards are in Kardenakhi and Jugaani.
Sighnaghi has a good selection of restaurants and cafes for a town of its size – but all are geared towards tourists so prices are higher than average. Sighnaghi attracts a huge number of day trippers and visitors from Tbilisi (a lot of couples come here to get married), so it can feel overcrowded and ‘too touristy’ at times, especially on weekends. It’s much more pleasant to stay the night and wake up early to wander around before the coaches arrive.
Pros: Great atmosphere; beautiful views; plenty of things to see & do; lots of accommodation & food options.
Cons: Can be overcrowded (especially on weekends); more ‘touristy’, commercialised feel; difficult to find a car park in summer; limited transport connections compared to Telavi; prices can be higher; few wineries in the immediate vicinity.
Best hotels in Sighnaghi
Top choice: Lost Ridge Inn, Brewery & Ranch (⭐ 9.3)
A boutique inn, horse ranch and microbrewery rolled into one, Lost Ridge is a nature escape in Qedeli village, 5 minutes’ drive from Sighnaghi. Alongside modern guesthouse rooms, there’s a more rustic self-contained suite set in a converted farmhouse.
A generous breakfast of farm-fresh produce and locally made dairy is included in the nightly rate, and lunch and dinner is available from the zero-waste kitchen or outdoor Fire Kitchen. Beer tastings and horse trekking around the hills can be organised, and both Sighnaghi and Bodbe Convent are within easy reach of the property.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
→ Read my review of Lost Ridge
Gourmet breakfast at Lost Ridge Inn, Brewery & Ranch.
Top choice: Zandarashvili Guest House (⭐ 9.3)
One of the best examples of a family-run guesthouse anywhere in Georgia. Choose from shared dorms or private rooms with en suite bathrooms, all comfortably furnished. Home-cooked meals are served in the dining room or out on the balcony overlooking the valley. The Zandarishvili family are very experienced hosts and can help with all logistics, including tours. Lavish Supra feasts are a nightly occurrence.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
4 Rooms Boutique Hotel (⭐ 9.7): Smart, modern rooms with wood floors and new bathrooms. Mountain views from the terrace and free parking onsite. The location on Sighnaghi’s prettiest street is convenient to both the centre of town and Bodbe Convent. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Villa Kursa (⭐ 10): Set in a classic Kakhetian balconied house in Anaga, 7km downhill from Sighnaghi, this boutique hotel is kitted out with beautiful kilims and textiles. A generous breakfast is served daily and dinner is available on request. The rose garden is particularly nice. Because of the location, it’s ideal if you have your own car to get around. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Guest House Eka & Gio (⭐ 9.1): Three simple, cosy guest rooms plus a gorgeous common terrace and basement Marani (wine cellar) on the property. Home-cooked meals are available for 10-25 GEL and cooking master classes with the host can be organised. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Hotel Traveler (⭐ 8.8): This popular hotel-restaurant is right in the heart of Sighnaghi, footsteps from Pheasant’s Tears and the museum. Each room has a private bathroom and garden terrace. Breakfast is served daily and other meals are available at the adjoining restaurant. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Telavi
Telavi is Kakheti’s regional capital and has a ‘bigger city feel’ compared to Sighnaghi (although it’s still very compact). Telavi doesn’t have the same kind of charm, but in many ways I prefer it – the architecture is very interesting, there’s a great local market and a fortress.
In my assessment, Sighnaghi is better for day trippers while Telavi is a place where you can settle in for a couple of nights. It has a less-touristy, more-local feel overall.
Telavi also has excellent restaurants and a number of wine cellars right in town. In my experience, eating out in Telavi is definitely more affordable compared to Sighnaghi. The range of accommodation options here is also slightly better as you can find more mid-range and up-scale hotels alongside guesthouses.
Located in the upper part of the valley, Telavi is slightly better positioned for visiting Alaverdi, Ikalto and other monasteries – which means less time in the car if you’re travelling around. Telavi has a large bus station which makes it very easy to get in/out from Tbilisi and elsewhere in Kakheti. This is the departure point for Pankisi Valley and Tusheti, so it’s a convenient place to leave from if you’re headed to the mountains next.
Pros: Excellent restaurants & cellars in the centre; good transport connections; better-positioned for exploring Kakheti; plenty of things to see & do; local feel.
Cons: Less atmospheric than Sighnaghi.
Best hotels in Telavi
Top choice: Communal Hotel Telavi (⭐ 9.2)
Created by the same team behind Communal Plekhanovi and Sololaki, two of Tbilisi’s finest boutique hotels, Communal Telavi has the same attention to detail and elegant design but with a distinctly Kakhetian twist. The hotel has an unbeatable location in the heart of Telavi on heritage Cholokashvili Street. As well as exquisite rooms, there is a large outdoor pool, a complimentary breakfast, and a very good onsite restaurant called Doli.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Communal Hotel Telavi. Photo courtesy of the property.
Top choice: Dzveli Galavani (⭐ 9.6)
This quaint little guest house on the same street as Communal offers beautiful heritage-style rooms for a very reasonable rate. The wooden house is a heritage monument and a beautiful example of traditional Kakhetian architecture. Suites have ensuites and are very comfortable and warm. There is a shared kitchen downstairs, and a lovely terrace on the side of the property.
This is where I stay whenever I visit Telavi. I recently brought my dad here and he loved it too!
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
My room at Dzveli Galavani hotel in Telavi.
Top choice: Hestia Hotel, Wine & View (⭐ 9.3)
Located on one of Telavi’s hilly streets a short walk from the centre, this hotel boasts amazing mountain views from the rooftop terrace. The onsite bar and restaurant are both terrific, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner on request, the latter accompanied by organic wine from the family’s cellar. Rooms are spacious and beautifully finished with bright colours and graphic posters. Free street parking is available.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Top choice: Seventeen Rooms (⭐ 9.4)
This boutique hotel in the centre of Telavi offers stylish suites with private balconies, an outdoor pool and an onsite restaurant/bar. Common spaces are delightfully decorated. The location 1km from the fortress is ideal for getting around on foot. Free parking is available onsite.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Seventeen Rooms in Telavi. Photo courtesy of the property.
Top choice: Hotel & Wine Cellar ARGE (⭐ 9.1)
This hotel is a bit further out – 3km from Telavi on the way to Ikalto Monastery – but easy to reach from the centre by car or taxi. If you want to sink your teeth into wine culture, this is a great place to do it: The property is set amongst private vineyards and offers wine tours, tastings and qvevri-making workshops as well as traditional cooking classes.
Rooms are bright, spacious and modern, all with private bathrooms and some with balconies. Guests also have access to an outdoor pool and daily buffet breakfast made with local produce.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Hotel & Wine Cellar ARGE. Photo courtesy of the property.
Guest House Lilia & Wine Cellar (⭐ 9.6): Comfortable rooms sleep 2-5 guests each with shared bathrooms and access to a common kitchen. Host Lilia is extremely hospitable. Wine from the family cellar is served in the garden and meals can be arranged. The location in the lower part of Telavi is ideal for exploring the city on foot, while Lilia can organise a driver for the day to show you around the area. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Tinikos Guest House (⭐ 9.9): Ideally located adjacent to the fortress, the balcony at this guesthouse overlooks Telavi. Three rooms sleep up to three people each, all with en suite bathrooms. Furnishings are humble but the hospitality is overflowing. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Bucha’s Guest House & Wine Cellar (⭐ 9.3): This property has a huge range of rooms with either shared or private bathrooms starting from just 20/night.Roomsareabitplainbutthecharacterofthecommonareasandgardenmakesupforit.Breakfastisavailablefor20/night. Rooms are a bit plain but the character of the common areas and garden makes up for it. Breakfast is available for 20/night.Roomsareabitplainbutthecharacterofthecommonareasandgardenmakesupforit.Breakfastisavailablefor5 and served either in the brick Marani or in the yard. Tastings of the family’s Qvevri wine, Kalmakheli, can be organised and bottles are available for purchase. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Guest House Top Floor (⭐ 9.3): This gorgeous heritage home in the centre of Telavi is filled with antiques and original architectural details. Double, twin and family rooms have parquet floors and cosy furnishings. Free onsite parking is available and breakfast can be arranged for $5. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Esquisse Design Hotel (⭐ 8.8): Back in the centre of Telavi, 2km from the fortress, Esquisse offers deluxe doubles and suites, some with mountain views. The design is exceptional – especially the outdoor pool area – while the use of traditional textiles throughout gives the hotel an unmistakably Kakhetian edge. Breakfast is included in the nightly rate, and there’s also a traditional Qvevri cellar on the property for wine tastings. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Tsinandali/Kisiskhevi/Shalauri
The villages of Tsinandali, Kisishevi and Shalauri are located just outside Telavi, giving you access to all the conveniences of Kakheti’s biggest hub while still feeling like you’re somewhere more rural. Every accommodation here is wine-centric so you can really immerse yourself in the wine culture.
Tsinandali is associated with the Chavchavadze Estate and museum (pictured at the top). The historic property has two very good hotels onsite. Kisiskhevi is a little closer to Telavi and has some excellent wineries nearby. Both are easily accessible by car or taxi from Telavi in under 20 minutes.
Shalauri is just 10 minutes from the centre of Telavi and is super convenient as a base for exploring the city and surrounding wine country.
Pros: Wine-centric; nice scenery; accessible by taxi/marshrutka from Telavi.
Cons: Fewer food/drink options if you don’t have a car (best to eat at your accommodation).
Best hotels in Tsinandali/Kisiskhevi/Shalauri
Top choice: Radisson Collection Tsinandali Estate (⭐ 9.3)
Luxury in every sense of the word, the Radisson combines modern, stylish suites with gorgeous common spaces that reflect the history of the property. The hotel occupies a new building and several heritage spaces, with the Chavchavadze House Museum a short stroll away via garden paths.
A magnificent buffet breakfast is included in the tariff, Tsinandali wine and cocktails are served in the atmospheric Library Bar, and a rooftop infinity pool completes the picture. This is my top choice in Kakheti for a 5-star treat.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
→ Read my review of the Radisson Collection Tsinandali
Radisson Collection Tsinandali.
Top choice: Chateau Mosmieri (⭐ 8.9)
A fine option if you want to sleep amongst the vines, this classic wine chateau had an outdoor pool and a huge veranda that directly overlooks the estate. The onsite restaurant is terrific and worth stopping off at for lunch even if you’re not a guest.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Chateau Mosmieri.
Top choice: Marani Elizbar1918 (⭐ 9.5)
Located in Kisiskhevi village just outside Telavi, this wine estate is part English rose garden charm (think high tea and floral bedspreads) and part Moroccan riad dream, mostly thanks to the rooftop terrace spread with antique rugs.
Downstairs in the property’s cellar – overlooked by a rather incredible Soviet-era frieze – it’s all Georgian. The family make their own award-winning Qvevri Saperavi which you can taste on a tour of the property. As well as a winemaker the owner is a renowned chef, so you can count on the food being great as well. Rooms are spacious and comfortably decorated, with private en suites.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Marani Elizbar1918. Photo courtesy of the property.
Top choice: Hotel Qvevrebi (⭐ 9.6)
Definitely one of the quirkiest hotels in Kakheti, Qvevrebi is just that – a set of giant ‘clay’ qvevri arranged over a gentle slope overlooking the vineyards in Shalauri village just outside Telavi city.
Each private qvevri bungalow is fitted with a king-size bed, a private ensuite, a mini kitchen, and a little terrace. I stayed here last spring and thought that the layout was surprisingly well designed. The property also has a pool and a restaurant.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Hotel Qvevrebi.
Villa Tsinandali (⭐ 9.3): Bright, Scandi-style rooms with parquet floors and a huge outdoor garden and terrace. The location in Tsinandali is convenient to a number of wineries and the Chavchavadze Estate, but a car is required to explore further afield. Meals are served on the property and showcase village produce. The perfect place to immerse yourself in the vineyards and mountain views without breaking the budget. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Park Hotel Tsinandali Estate (⭐ 8.8): Also located on the Tsinandali Estate, this hotel has the same mountain views as at the Radisson, but with an edgier, more contemporary style (think subway tiles in the bathrooms and graffiti-inspired murals on the walls). The price tag is a little more modest, too. Rates include a spectacular buffet breakfast. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Brothers Khutsishvili Wine Cellar (⭐ 9.4): The heart of this award-winning winery in Kisiskhevi is a classic Marani cellar where the two brothers behind the label host wine tastings and demonstrations. Rooms are sparse and very simple but with all the necessities. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Gurjaani/Vazisubani
If you’re going to stay outside the major centres of Sighnaghi or Telavi, the Vazisubani/Gurjaani area is a great choice. There are small villages all along the main road that connects Sighnaghi and Telavi, and this trio is located roughly halfway between the two in the lower part of the valley – making it easy to access from either end or the perfect place to stop in between.
The Soviet-built city of Gurjaani is a place that photographers and urbexers will love. If you’re looking to do something offbeat in Kakheti, like scout for mosaics and quirky sculptures, this area will suit you to a T.
There are limited accommodations here but the chateaux and resorts that are available are all highly rated. Nearby in Velistsikhe, you can find some great restaurants and wineries.
Pros: Well positioned for visiting both ends of the valley; estates with cellars onsite.
Cons: Fewer accommodation options; better to have your own car.
Best hotels in Gurjaani/Vazisubani
Top choice: Vazisubani Estate (⭐ 9.4)
Established in 1869 by another member of the Chavchavadze clan, this restored manor house is set on a 35-hectare vineyard 30 minutes’ outside of Telavi in the heart of the valley. Nineteen boutique rooms are thoughtfully decorated and feature garden views and clawfoot bathtubs.
I stayed here in spring 2024 and was very impressed. After Tsinandali, this is definitely my favourite chateau. I love the contrast between heritage and modern. The contemporary restaurant (the buffet breakfast is great), the cellar and the pool overlooking the Greater Caucasus are all sublime.
The Estate also has a lovely forest walk that you can follow into the vineyards. Oh, and a couple of golf buggies that will chauffeur you to reception from the carpark!
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Top choice: Horizons of Bakurtsikhe (⭐ 9.5)
Horizons of Bakurtsikhe is a new cabin accommodation at the Tbilisi-end of Gurjaani, around 90 minutes by road from the capital via the Kakheti Highway. Cabins are modern, with underfloor heating and electric blinds, and there is a pool and garden that overlooks a panorama of the Greater Caucasus.
The real highlight is the barrel sauna! The property also has an onsite restaurant serving delicious breakfast daily plus optional dinners of Kakhetian BBQ and other local specialties.
I was invited to try Horizons last spring and enjoyed every moment of my stay. This is a real flop-and-drop hotel where you can truly unwind and enjoy the facilities without feeling the urge to venture too far from your cabin.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Kvareli
Kvareli is a small town located on the opposite side of the Alazani Valley in the foothills of the Caucasus. I personally find this side of the valley more scenic – maybe just because you’re closer to the mountains. It’s also a little quieter.
Kvareli has two large commercial wineries (Khareba and Kindzmarauli) and a higher concentration of accommodation and food options to cater to visitors as a result. I was pleasantly surprised when I last visited Kvareli and spent some time walking around town – it has a fortress, two small museums and a very intriguing mix of architecture, including more Soviet-era gems.
Nekresi and Gremi, two of Kakheti’s most important historical sites, are located close to Kvareli, as are the popular Kvaerli and Ilia lakes and the departure point for hot air ballooning and paragliding in Kakheti.
By road, Kvareli is 45 minutes from Telavi or an hour from Sighnaghi. If you’re not driving, there are van connections available from Telavi or you can take a taxi.
Pros: Quieter atmosphere; epic views; great wineries nearby; accessible by van.
Cons: Fewer food & accommodation options; better to have your own car.
Best hotels in Kvareli
Top choice: Isev Kvareli (⭐ 8.9)
This family run property in Kvareli offers guests several options including two detached cottages and several private rooms inside the main house.
The Mansard Room is newly renovated and very spacious, with a double bed, separate seating area and an adjoining modern bathroom. A spectacular private terrace overlooks the vineyards and mountains. Downstairs, the cosy basement cellar has a wood-burning fireplace.
The owners live onsite and can help with logistics, but I recommend brining your own car for convenience sake. Breakfast is available for $5.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Isev Kvareli. Photo courtesy of the property.
Kvareli Lake Resort (⭐ 8.9): Set on the edge of Chala Reservoir just outside Kvareli, this contemporary hotel has a striking profile with multiple outdoor terraces. Rooms have a chic design and are fully decked out. You’ll also find a pool, gym and multiple restaurants onsite, while free bicycles are available to guests who want to explore the lake’s edge and surrounding area. Bring your own car to visit the many excellent wineries and churches in the vicinity. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Napareuli/Babaneuri
On the same side of the Alazani Valley to Kvareli, Napareuli and Babaneuri are two villages a little further north along the highway, almost directly opposite Telavi which is just 20-30 minutes by van or car.
Another esteemed grape-growing microclimate, there are lots of small and mid-sized maranis rather than commercial vineyards in this area, making it quieter and less touristy than Kvareli. A number of historical landmarks, including the churches of Pshaveli village, Tali Fortress and Alaverdi Monastery, are in close proximity.
Wine estate accommodations are the top choice in this area, as there aren’t really any hotels (there are a few Airbnbs). Babaneuri is the smaller of the two and is located on the edge of a nature reserve with hiking trails. Popular Lopota Lake is located just behind Napareuli.
While you’re in the area, I highly recommend visiting TEMI-Community, a social enterprise winery/organic farm that employs disadvantaged people from the local community. Wine tastings, tours and meals can be prearranged.
Pros: Less touristy; plenty of smaller vineyards & wine estates; close to Alaverdi Monastery & other churches/fortresses.
Cons: More remote; fewer restaurant options (best to eat at your accommodation); requires a car.
Best hotels in Napareuli/Babaneuri
Top choice: Chateau Artwine (⭐ 9.4)
Located in Artana village, this 32-room hotel is set right in the middle of the vineyards and mountains – so you truly feel immersed in the scenery. Rooms are tasteful and polished, and the onsite restaurant is highly recommended. The property also has an outdoor swimming pool and spa – and quite naturally, a wine cellar!
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Top choice: Babaneuris Marani (⭐ 9.7)
Close to Alaverdi Monastery, this cellar-hotel is set on a beautiful property with vineyards and an outdoor pool. Efficient double and triple suites have modern bathrooms attached. Guests have access to a beautiful terrace, leafy grounds and the family Marani, where tastings and pairings are offered. The property has a restaurant.
Wander the vineyards or go horse riding or hiking in the Babaneuri Protected Area that opens up at the back of the property.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Babaneuris Marani. Photo courtesy of the property.
Top choice: Chateau Napareuli (⭐ 8.2)
This boutique hotel offers several bright, simple rooms inside a family home that was built in 1917. Organic wine from the family’s Marani is served on the terrace at dusk, while the all-inclusive breakfast brings Shotis bread fresh from the in-house oven. Dinner is highly recommend as well.
Family sized rooms, doubles and triples have mountain or garden views and smart private bathrooms. While a car is required to get around, this is a great flop-and-drop option if you want to kick back and relax for a couple of days.
→ Check rates & availability here on Booking.com
Chateau Eniseli (⭐ 8.9): Located in Eniseli village behind Gremi, this property offers tastefully designed, rustic-farmhouse style suites alongside their spectacular old stone Marani. The grounds of the vineyard are beyond idyllic. Breakfast is prepared with local honey and preserves, and dinner can also be arranged. Don’t miss the winery tour, which should be pre-arranged. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.
Twins Wine House (⭐ 8.2): This mid-sized commercial winery in Napareuli has less character than Eniseli, but is still worth considering. Simple, modern rooms overlook the vineyards. On the grounds of the hotel there’s an outdoor pool, a small wine museum and a restaurant. Wine tastings and tours are also available. → Check rates & availability here on Booking.com.