8 hidden gems worth the trip across Georgia, editor-ranked by Cork & Curve. All Georgia guides.
Teleda Orgo ★ 4.4 · Kakheti
Telavi · Village Kisiskhevi, Telavi 2200, Kakheti, Georgia
A Kisiskhevi cellar bottling under the Orgo and Dilao labels, with Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Mtsvane and Saperavi in qvevri plus a reserve Saperavi and a qvevri-fermented sparkling.
Chateau Zegaani ★ 4.3 · Kakheti
Gurjaani · Zegaani, Gurjaani 1500, Kakheti, Georgia
A Gurjaani estate working Saperavi alone on the northern slope of the Tsiv-Gombori ridge at 465 m, on limestone and clay, with the fruit farmed organically across 17 hectares.
Tip: Ask which vintages were declared before you plan the tasting; the estate skips years rather than bottling through them.
Akhmeta Wine House ★ 4.3 · Kakheti
Akhmeta · Rustaveli Street, Akhmeta 0900, Kakheti, Georgia
A natural qvevri producer founded in 2014 at Akhmeta, a member of the Natural Wine Association Georgia, working skin-contact whites macerated for six months and bottled unfiltered.
Tip: Their amber range is small and sells through, so check stock on the online shop before making the drive up to Akhmeta.
Chateau Buera ★ 4.2 · Kakheti
Napareuli · Lopota, Napareuli 2200, Kakheti, Georgia
An organic winery founded by Goga Maisuradze at Lopota in the Napareuli microzone, now run by his family, with certified bio vineyards, limited production and a sommelier-led tasting.
Tip: Book the tasting rather than the restaurant table if the wine is the point; the two are sold separately at Lopota.
Ibero Winery ★ 4.2 · Kakheti
Gurjaani · Babiseuli, Vachnadziani 1502, Gurjaani, Kakheti, Georgia
A Vachnadziani cellar working five dry qvevri wines by the Kakhetian method, with two fortified wines and three chachas, one of them eight years in oak.
Tip: Tastings are priced and published: a five-variety qvevri flight, a choose-your-own and a full estate flight, with lunch and a Georgian table booked separately.
Winiveria ★ 4.1 · Kakheti
Telavi · Vardisubani, Telavi 2200, Kakheti, Georgia
A small Vardisubani producer outside Telavi with a short list built on Khikhvi, bottled fresh and in qvevri, alongside Goruli Mtsvane, a Kindzmarauli and a white chacha.
Sesikeli Winery ★ 4.1 · Kakheti
Telavi · 42 Giorgi Leonidze Street, Telavi 2200, Kakheti, Georgia
A small Telavi winery on Giorgi Leonidze Street bottling Saperavi, Kisi, Mtsvane and Rkatsiteli, with tastings and a cellar tour by arrangement.
Tip: The cellar is on a residential street in Telavi itself, so it is walkable from the central square rather than a drive out into the vineyards.
Qvevri Wine Cellar ★ 4.0 · Kakheti
Gurjaani · Ekvtime Takaishvili Street 1, Gurjaani 1500, Kakheti, Georgia
A Gurjaani marani working in buried qvevri on Ekvtime Takaishvili Street, with awards from the Georgian wine association competitions listed on its own site.
Tip: Nine of Georgia's appellations sit in Gurjaani municipality, so pair this cellar with the October festival in Akhtala Park if the dates line up.