Festival weekend planner
Rtveli — Georgian Grape Harvest Festival — a 3-day weekend in Kakheti
September. Various (Kakheti), Georgia. 100 min from the airport.
The weekend, day by day
- Day 1
Arrive in Various (Kakheti)
Land at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.
- Day 2
Rtveli — Georgian Grape Harvest Festival
Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Pace yourself across the tastings and break for a long lunch mid-afternoon.
- Day 3
Wine country day in Kakheti
Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch before heading home.
Where to stay
- Hotels in Various (Kakheti)
Live availability around the festival dates. Festival hotels book out 6+ months ahead, so check early.
We may earn a commission on hotel links.
One winery worth a detour
Pheasant's Tears
WTG pickAn American artist and Georgian winemaker reviving 8,000-year-old qvevri traditions, with a restaurant in one of the Caucasus's most beautiful hilltop towns.
- Address
- Baratashvili St 18, Sighnaghi, Kakheti, Georgia
- Appointment
- walk-in
- Tasting price
- USD 15 · Tasting of 5 wines with food pairing
- Website
- Visit
Where to eat
Pheasant's Tears — Sighnaghi
€€Natural wine pioneer John Wurdeman's restaurant in the hilltop town of Sighnaghi, Georgian-Mediterranean fusion
Must try: Khinkali (soup dumplings)
More dining picks in Kakheti →Practical
- Nearest airport
- Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
- Festival site
- Visit official site
Insider tip
Arrange a private rtveli experience through smaller family wineries in Sighnaghi or Telavi rather than tour operators—you'll participate in actual grape-treading in qvevri and be invited to family supra dinners with natural orange wines aged underground. Visit Alaverdi Monastery's ancient cellars during the harvest for a sacred-space tasting experience unavailable any other season.
Want a longer trip than the festival weekend?
The milestone-trip planner builds a 3–10 day Kakheti itinerary with accommodation, tours, and pacing options.
Plan a Kakheti trip →