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

Natural wine has a Georgian address. This private day trip pairs Andro Barnovi’s small-scale winemaking with a generous lunch, mountain views, and a look inside an unusual two-level underground cellar. I like the personal setting and the chance to taste both fresh and vintage wines directly from the winemaker. The main consideration is the price, $155 per person, which makes the tour best for serious wine fans or small groups who value private transport and a full day out.

The route also gives you more than a winery visit. You’ll see the sixth-century Jvari Monastery near Mtskheta, hear clear, passionate commentary on Georgian history and politics, and possibly add Stalin’s Museum or the Uplistsikhe caves. The optional stops can make the day feel full, so ask about the exact plan before setting off.

Key points about this Kartli wine day

• Andro Barnovi leads the wine portion: You taste his wines and spirits at his home and cellar in Tsedisi.
• The winery is underground: Two levels offer a close look at the working side of natural wine production.
• Lunch changes with the season: In summer, you eat in an outdoor hut; in winter, lunch is served by the fireplace.
• Jvari Monastery comes first: The sixth-century UNESCO site near Mtskheta adds an important cultural stop before the wine.
• Optional Gori-area sights are available: Stalin’s Museum and Uplistsikhe caves can be added if time and interest allow.
• It is a private eight-hour outing: Your group has private, air-conditioned transport, lunch, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks included.

From Tbilisi to Jvari Monastery near Mtskheta

The day begins with pickup in Tbilisi and private transport toward the Kartli region. An air-conditioned vehicle matters here because the tour lasts about eight hours, and the road trip is part of the day rather than a short transfer between city sights.

The first scheduled stop is Jvari Monastery, a sixth-century UNESCO site near Mtskheta. Its setting gives you a strong opening to the day, with broad views and a sense of the older Georgia that sits beyond the capital.

Jvari is not just a quick photo stop. It places the later wine visit in a wider setting. Georgia’s wine traditions are ancient, and a stone monastery above Mtskheta helps you see the country as more than a collection of tasting rooms. You have architecture, religion, and scenery before lunch even enters the picture.

The stop may be especially useful if this is your first outing beyond Tbilisi. You get a taste of the country’s past without committing an entire day to an archaeological tour. Still, time at Jvari is part of a packed route, so visitors who want a slow, detailed monument visit should ask how long the group will stay.

The drive toward Gori and Tsedisi

From the Mtskheta area, the route continues toward Gori and then on to Tsedisi. Andro Barnovi’s chateau is about 20 minutes from Gori, surrounded by mountains and open scenery.

The drive is one of the tour’s pleasures. You are not being rushed from one urban tasting bar to another. Instead, the road takes you into the countryside, where the winery visit feels connected to the place that produces the wine.

That connection is part of the value of a private tour. You can ask the guide about the route, Georgia’s recent political life, or the events that shaped the region. The guide has been praised for speaking clearly and passionately about Georgian life, from antiquity through the 2008 war. That kind of commentary gives the drive purpose, especially if you enjoy learning how present-day Georgia fits together.

The distance also creates a practical tradeoff. You spend a meaningful part of the day in the vehicle, even though the drive provides attractive views. If your main goal is to taste wine with little sightseeing, a Tbilisi tasting may be more efficient. If you want a countryside outing with context, this route makes sense.

Inside Andro Barnovi’s two-level cellar

The centerpiece is Wine Artisans, founded and led by Andro Barnovi. At his home and chateau in Tsedisi, you go underground into a distinctive two-level winery.

This is not a polished showroom built only for visitors. The appeal is the direct connection with the winemaker and the working cellar. Andro explains the wines himself, giving you a chance to ask questions at the place where the bottles are made and stored.

The tasting covers the full range of his production. You can expect freshly made wines as well as vintage bottles, with all major wine styles represented. The exact lineup can vary, but the offering is intended to show the breadth of Andro’s work rather than one narrow style.

The natural wine focus is important. Natural wine is not simply a fashionable label here. In this setting, you are tasting a personal approach to Georgian winemaking, explained by the person responsible for it. Andro’s enthusiasm is a major part of the visit. The strongest praise for this outing centers on his warmth, passion, and ability to make the cellar feel like an invitation into his world.

You also taste numerous strong spirits. That broadens the visit beyond wine, but it calls for sensible pacing. Eight hours of tasting, lunch, and sightseeing can become a lot, so you do not need to sample every glass fully if you want to remain comfortable for the drive back.

Lunch in the outdoor hut or by the fire

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

That seasonal change gives the meal a real sense of place. Warm-weather dining lets you take in the surrounding views, while a winter fire suits the slower, homelike character of the winery. The setting is part of the meal, not just decoration around it.

Lunch is included in the $155 price, along with bottled water and alcoholic beverages. The food is described as delicious local fare, paired with the wines. Because the meal takes place at Andro’s chateau, it feels more personal than a standard restaurant stop.

I would treat lunch as a central part of the visit rather than a break between tastings. It is where the wine, food, setting, and conversation come together. The private format also makes it easier for your group to settle into the meal without sharing the table with strangers.

One practical point: the information does not specify a fixed menu or dietary arrangements. If you have food restrictions, ask about them before booking. The meal is included, but the exact dishes are not guaranteed in advance.

Adding Stalin’s Museum or Uplistsikhe caves

Two optional additions are available around Gori: Stalin’s Museum and the Uplistsikhe caves.

Stalin’s Museum offers a difficult but important look at one of Georgia’s most controversial historical figures. The tone of the tour information is openly critical of Stalin, calling him a source of shame for Georgia. That tells you this is not presented as simple hero worship or a glossy tribute.

Uplistsikhe offers a different kind of stop. The cave complex adds ancient carved spaces and archaeological interest to a day already built around old monuments and wine. It can be a good choice if you want more history and physical exploration.

The key word is optional. The standard day already includes Jvari, the drive, the winery, tasting, and lunch. Adding one or both Gori sights may create a fuller itinerary, but it may also reduce the time available at Andro’s home. I would decide based on your priority: choose the museum or caves if you want a broader Gori day, and protect the winery time if Andro and the wine are your main reason for booking.

Ask about the order and timing before departure. The provided details do not state how long each optional stop lasts or whether admission fees for them are included.

Why the private format matters

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. That makes a difference at the cellar, where questions and conversation are a large part of the value.

A private vehicle also gives you more control than a fixed coach tour. You have pickup offered in Tbilisi, air conditioning, and private transportation throughout the day. All fees and taxes are included, which makes the listed price easier to assess.

The guide is another key part of the day. The guide’s clear explanations about Georgian politics and recent life have received strong praise, as has the historical range from antiquity to the 2008 war. You are not limited to tasting notes. You can use the road time to understand the country you are seeing.

The private setup suits couples, families with adult children, and company groups. One company offsite used the tour on short notice and found the format worked well. It also suits anyone who prefers conversation and flexibility over a large group with a fixed script.

Is $155 per person a fair price?

At $155 per person, this is not a budget wine outing. The price becomes easier to justify when you count what is included: private transport from Tbilisi, an air-conditioned vehicle, all listed fees and taxes, lunch, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks.

You are also paying for access to a winemaker’s home and cellar, not only a flight of wines poured by a staff member. Andro’s direct involvement is the part that gives the tour its character. The long drive, Jvari visit, possible Gori additions, meal, and extensive tasting make this a full-day purchase.

For a single visitor on a tight budget, the price may be hard to defend. For a private group splitting the cost of transport and guide service, it offers stronger value. Wine drinkers who want a personal introduction to natural Georgian wine will likely get more from this than from several quick tastings in Tbilisi.

The price is also easier to accept if you want cultural sightseeing included. If you only want one or two glasses and a short cellar visit, this is more tour than you need.

What the day feels like in practice

The day has three distinct moods. It begins with a major religious and historic site at Jvari, shifts into a scenic drive through the Kartli region, and ends at Andro’s chateau with wine, food, and conversation.

That variety keeps the eight-hour schedule from feeling like one long tasting. It also means the tour asks you to change gears. You need interest in monuments, countryside, Georgian history, natural wine, and local food.

The strongest part is the human contact. Andro is not an anonymous host. His personality, explanations, and enthusiasm shape the tasting. The cellar tour and meal give you time to understand his work rather than simply collect another winery stop.

The possible weakness is that the day may feel too broad for a specialist. If you want a technical masterclass focused only on fermentation, grape varieties, or cellar methods, the available information does not promise that level of detail. You should ask the operator what Andro will cover during your visit.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to wine lovers who want to meet a Georgian winemaker in his own setting. It is also a good choice for first-time visitors who want a day outside Tbilisi with a monument, countryside drive, local meal, and wine tasting in one package.

It suits small private groups particularly well. The experience works for a company outing, a couple willing to spend for a special day, or friends who want the freedom of private transport.

I would think twice if you dislike long drives, do not drink alcohol, or prefer a tightly timed list of famous sights. You can still enjoy Jvari and the scenery, but the heart of the day is clearly Andro’s wines, spirits, cellar, and table.

Book this tour if personal contact matters more to you than checking off many attractions. The most useful tip is to decide before the morning begins how much time you want at Jvari, Andro’s winery, and the optional Gori stops. That will help protect the part of the day you care about most.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is offered in Tbilisi.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Who leads the wine tasting?

The wine portion is hosted by Andro Barnovi, founder and spirit of Wine Artisans.

Where is Andro Barnovi’s winery?

The winery is in the village of Tsedisi, about 20 minutes from the town of Gori.

What is included in the price?

Private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, all fees and taxes, lunch, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages are included.

Is Jvari Monastery included?

Yes. The morning itinerary includes a visit to the sixth-century Jvari Monastery near Mtskheta.

Can I visit Stalin’s Museum or Uplistsikhe caves?

Yes. Both are listed as optional additions to the tour.

What wines and drinks will I taste?

The tasting includes Andro’s freshly made and vintage wines, all types of wine, and numerous varieties of strong spirits.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.