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

The heart of this day is Andro Barnovi’s winery in Tsedisi, about 20 minutes from Gori. Andro leads you through his unusual two-level underground cellar, pours fresh and vintage wines, and explains the work behind them with real enthusiasm. The tasting then moves upstairs for a generous local lunch, in an outdoor hut during warm weather or beside a fireplace in winter.

I like the mix of wine and place: you get a serious look at natural winemaking, but also a relaxed meal in Andro’s home setting. I also like the opening stop at sixth-century Jvari Monastery, which gives the day a strong cultural anchor before the wine begins. The main consideration is the price, $155 per person, and the long tasting schedule. This is best for people who want a full private day, not a quick winery stop.

Key points

• Andro Barnovi’s cellar: Explore a two-level underground winery and taste both fresh and vintage wines.
• Private eight-hour outing: Your group has private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle from Tbilisi.
• Jvari Monastery first: Visit the sixth-century UNESCO site near Mtskheta before continuing toward Gori.
• Lunch at the chateau: Eat local food in an outdoor hut in summer or by a fireplace in winter.
• Wine and spirits included: The tasting covers different wine styles plus several strong Georgian spirits.
• Optional additions: Stalin’s Museum and the Uplistsikhe cave town can be added if time and interest allow.

Why Andro Barnovi’s winery is the center of the day

This is not a bus ride from one commercial tasting room to another. The main stop is Andro Barnovi’s own chateau in Tsedisi, a village in the Kartli region. Andro is the founder and driving force behind Wine Artisans, and the visit is built around his personal approach to natural wine.

The winery itself gives the day much of its character. You will enter a two-level underground cellar, where Andro explains how the wine is made and pours a broad selection. The program includes freshly made wines as well as older vintages, so you can compare wines at different stages rather than tasting one narrow lineup.

That matters because natural wine can be difficult to understand from a bottle alone. Taste, texture, age, and winemaking choices all play a part. Andro’s explanations help connect what is in your glass with what is happening in the cellar.

The cellar is also a practical advantage during a long day of tasting. It offers a sense of place and a change from the road, rather than making the wine stop feel like a sales visit. Still, you should expect a substantial alcohol-focused experience. If you prefer a short tasting or do not drink spirits, this outing may feel longer than necessary.

The drive from Tbilisi to Kartli wine country

The tour lasts about eight hours and includes private transportation from Tbilisi. That makes the route much easier than arranging separate taxis or trying to combine several regional sights on your own. An air-conditioned vehicle is included, along with bottled water.

The road takes you west toward Mtskheta and then on toward Gori and Tsedisi. The countryside becomes part of the experience, with mountain views and broad rural scenery around the winery. The drive is not just a transfer between tasting rooms. It gives you a look at the setting where this part of Georgia’s wine culture takes place.

A private tour also gives your group more breathing room. You are not tied to the pace of a large coach party, and the day can focus on the winery rather than rushing through many unrelated stops. The trade-off is that the exact timing depends on how much time you spend at lunch, tasting, and any optional sights.

If you are booking for a company outing or a small private group, this format makes particular sense. The vehicle, meal, water, tasting, and entrance fees are bundled together, so you are not constantly adding small costs during the day.

Jvari Monastery near Mtskheta

The first major stop is Jvari Monastery, a sixth-century UNESCO site near Mtskheta. It is a smart choice for the morning because it gives you a cultural and historical setting before the wine portion begins.

Jvari is especially useful for anyone who wants more than a food-and-drink excursion. You are not simply driving to a private cellar and back. The monastery adds a major Georgian landmark to the route and helps place the later meal and tasting within a wider sense of the country.

The tour description does not set out a detailed schedule for the monastery, so you should not assume a long guided visit or a precise amount of free time there. Treat it as an important stop on the way to Tsedisi, with the winery and lunch remaining the day’s main event.

For many people, Jvari will be the most meaningful sightseeing stop. It also breaks up the drive before the tasting starts. If your main goal is to spend every possible minute with Andro and his wines, the monastery does use part of the day. For a first visit to the region, I think that is a fair trade.

A full tasting of natural wines and Georgian spirits

At the cellar, you can expect to taste the full range of Andro’s wines. That includes fresh wines and vintage bottles, along with different styles made under his natural-wine approach. The information provided does not list individual grape varieties or a fixed tasting menu, so the precise lineup may change.

The absence of a fixed list is worth noting. Wine production changes with the season, and older bottles are not always available in the same way. You should approach the tasting as a chance to understand Andro’s work rather than as a guaranteed checklist of specific labels.

The program also includes numerous strong spirits. That broadens the experience beyond wine, but it also makes pacing important. You can ask questions, take your time, and be mindful of how much you want to sample. Bottled water is included, which is useful during a tasting that covers both wine and spirits.

I like this format for people who are curious about Georgian drinks as a whole. You get to see how a winemaker presents different expressions of his work, rather than being handed one glass and sent on your way. If you are only interested in dry wine, or if you prefer a tasting with very small pours and a formal structure, ask about the pace at the start.

Lunch in the hut or beside the fireplace

After the cellar visit, the day moves upstairs for lunch. In warm weather, you eat in an outdoor hut. In winter, the meal takes place in front of a fireplace. That seasonal change gives the visit a personal feel and makes the meal more than a standard restaurant stop.

Lunch is included, and the food is described as local. The exact dishes are not specified, so you should not book expecting a particular menu. What you can count on is that the meal is part of the winery visit, not an unrelated break at a highway restaurant.

This is where the day slows down. You have already seen the cellar and tasted the wines, so lunch gives you time to talk, eat, and continue sampling without the pressure of a quick departure. The setting also makes the experience feel tied to Andro’s home and working world.

The meal is a strong part of the value, especially when paired with private transport and the tasting. It is also one reason the experience takes most of a day. You are paying for time, food, transport, access, and conversation, not just a few glasses of wine.

Optional stops at Stalin’s Museum and Uplistsikhe

Two additional stops are offered as options: Stalin’s Museum in Gori and the Uplistsikhe caves. These are not presented as the core route, so you should treat them as add-ons rather than guaranteed parts of the eight-hour program.

Stalin’s Museum offers a difficult chapter of Georgian and Soviet history. The tour description takes a strongly critical view of Stalin, calling him Georgia’s greatest shame. That gives you a clear sense of the guide’s position, but the subject is still serious and may not appeal to everyone in a food-and-wine day.

Uplistsikhe is a cave settlement that adds another layer of history to the route. Combining it with Jvari and the winery could make the day more varied, but it may also make the schedule feel crowded. Ask about the time available before choosing both optional stops.

If I had to choose one priority, I would keep the winery and lunch first. Add the historical sites only if you want a packed day and are comfortable reducing unhurried time at Andro’s place.

What the $155 price includes

At $155 per person, this is not a budget tasting. The value comes from the fact that it is a private, full-day experience rather than a short stop with one flight of wine.

Included in the price are:

• Private transportation
• An air-conditioned vehicle
• All fees and taxes
• Lunch
• Bottled water
• Alcoholic beverages

That list covers the main costs that can make a regional day expensive. You are not paying separately for the vehicle, the meal, or the wine and spirits. The private format is especially valuable if you are traveling as a small group and want control over the pace.

The price is harder to justify if your only goal is to taste Georgian wine cheaply. Tbilisi has other ways to do that. But if you want Andro Barnovi’s personal presentation, the underground cellar, a substantial meal, and a cultural stop at Jvari, the package offers a more complete day.

The strongest value is the access to Andro himself. The supplied feedback describes him as passionate, good-natured, and generous with explanations. One account also praised the guide for clear discussion of Georgian life, politics, and history, including the 2008 war. That suggests the conversation may go well beyond wine, which can be a major benefit if you enjoy context and discussion.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend this day to you if you:

• Want to meet a Georgian winemaker in his own winery
• Prefer private transport to a large group coach
• Enjoy natural wine and strong spirits
• Want lunch included rather than arranging a separate meal
• Like pairing food and wine with history
• Have about eight hours available from Tbilisi
• Are comfortable with a relaxed, alcohol-centered schedule

It is also a good fit for a company offsite or a small celebration. The private vehicle and shared meal make it easy for a group to spend the day together without splitting up.

You may want a different plan if you want to visit several wineries, focus on traditional commercial wine production, or keep the day short. The itinerary centers on one winemaker, and that is both its strength and its limit.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The activity is private, so only your group takes part. Confirmation is provided when you book. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

My call on this Kartli wine day

Book it if Andro Barnovi’s natural wines, a personal cellar visit, and a long Georgian lunch sound more appealing than checking off several wineries. The combination of Jvari Monastery, countryside driving, underground tasting, local food, and spirits gives you a full picture of the region in one day.

I would not book it for a quick tasting or a tightly timed sightseeing schedule. The best part is the unhurried time at Andro’s chateau, and you should allow that part of the day room to breathe. At $155, it is a considered purchase, but the private transport, included meal, broad tasting, and direct access to the winemaker make it a fair choice for serious wine lovers and curious first-time visitors to Georgia.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is offered in Tbilisi, Georgia. Private transportation is included.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Who leads the winery visit?

The winery visit centers on Andro Barnovi, founder and spirit of Wine Artisans.

What will I taste?

You can taste Andro’s fresh and vintage wines, along with different types of wine and numerous Georgian strong spirits. The exact selection is not specified.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and alcoholic beverages are included in the price. The meal features local food and takes place in an outdoor hut in summer or near a fireplace in winter.

Is Jvari Monastery part of the tour?

Yes. The morning visit to sixth-century Jvari Monastery near Mtskheta is included.

Can I visit Stalin’s Museum or Uplistsikhe?

Yes, both are listed as optional visits. The core tour remains focused on Jvari Monastery, Andro Barnovi’s winery, wine tasting, and lunch.