Giuaani Winery in Kakheti: Sip, Savor, and Stay Near Tbilisi

Giuaani Winery, situated in Kakheti, is where passion, tradition, and exquisite flavors come together in a symphony of taste and elegance. Offering a restaurant, a hotel, and wine tasting, Giuaani Winery is an excellent spot for a weekend getaway from Tbilisi or a relaxing lunch spot when driving to Sighnagi, for instance. 

From the moment you step onto the grounds of Giuaani Winery, you are transported into a world where time slows down, and the worries of everyday life seem to fade away. The lush garden with various flowers and plants creates a cozy ambiance. 

But Giuaani Winery is more than just a place to savor exceptional wines. It is a destination that invites you to immerse yourself in a world of tranquility and flavorful meals.

Whether you are a seasoned wine connoisseur or a curious enthusiast eager to embark on a journey of discovery, Giuaani Winery promises a great experience during your stay here. From the first sip to the last lingering note, their wines embody the region’s essence with flavorful aroma and taste. 

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The story of Giuaani Winery

Giuaani Winery is a beloved family-owned venue that embodies the pursuit of wine production excellence. Here, a harmonious blend of traditional and modern methods, combined with local grape varieties, culminates in creating exceptional wines. 

The rich history of Giuaani Winery finds its roots in the idyllic Manavi village, aptly named after the local white grape variety known as Manavi Mtsvane, or Manavi Green. 

The winery’s name, Giuaani, profoundly connects to the Giuaant District. People with the surname Giuashvili resided in this area and crafted wine near the Manavi Castle.

In the late 19th century, the Giuashvili family constructed their first humble house and filled their inaugural qvevri, a traditional Georgian clay vessel used for winemaking, with the juice of pressed grapes. Little did they know that this marked the inception of a cherished winemaking tradition that would span generations. 

In the family cellar at Giuaani Winery, you can still marvel at five ancient qvevri vessels hailing from 1894. 

Despite over a century of honing their expertise, it was not until 2010 that the family decided to share their remarkable wines with the world, officially establishing Giuaani Winery. Four years later, they got the first harvest by combining the existing family traditions and modern winemaking technology. 

Currently, the winery proudly produces approximately 400,000 bottles annually.

Giuaani Winery wines

Giuaani Winery expertly crafts a diverse range of exceptional wines by harmonizing ancient winemaking traditions with modern technology. 

They craft their wines using a selection of indigenous Georgian grape varieties, renowned for their distinct and captivating flavors and aromas.

Utilizing a combination of French and Caucasian oak barrels, Georgian clay qvevri vessels, a traditional wine cellar, stainless steel tanks, and an impressive array of grape varieties, the winery offers a delightful spectrum of flavors in its wines. 

Giuaani Winery makes red, white, and rose Georgian wines, both qvevri and classic types:

• Red wines: Saperavi, Ojaleshi, Cabernet
• White wines: Manavi Mtsvane, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi
• Rose wines: Cabernet – Tavkveri and Saperavi Cabernet Sauvignon

With an impressive track record, nearly 20 distinct Giuaani wine varieties have earned over 60 awards at prestigious wine fairs worldwide.

Giuaani Winery garden

During your visit, you’ll discover a multitude of spaces within the premises of the venue. Take a leisurely stroll to explore the grounds.

One notable feature is a delightful small Japanese garden boasting a charming bonsai tree that adds an element of tranquility to the surroundings.

As you wander, you’ll come across an outdoor fireplace with a brick oven and a cozy seating area located close to the family house. It offers a nostalgic ambiance and, I assume, serves as a gathering spot for outdoor barbeque dinners for the family. 

Adjacent to an outdoor terrace restaurant is a small vineyard of local grapes. 

For those seeking refreshment, a seasonal swimming pool invites you to take a dip and unwind under the sun. 

Moreover, the Giuaani Duqani building stands as a testament to the rich heritage of Georgian culture. Inside its two-story stone structure, you’ll encounter various rooms adorned with traditional ethnographic items and vintage artifacts. 

Activities at Guiaani Winery

The company offers various activities, whether you come here for lunch or stay overnight. 

Wine tour and tasting at the winery

During your visit to Giuaani, you can learn various aspects of their winemaking process and tour their factory. Accompanied by a sommelier, you’ll walk through the production facilities, laboratory, bottling, chacha distillation facility, and the traditional wine cellar, where you’ll encounter an impressive collection of oak barrels and qvevri vessels. 

The sommelier will explain each facility’sfacility’s function and gladly address any inquiries you may have.

The wine tasting happens in one of their cozy restaurants. You’ll sample the wines and indulge in the perfect pairing with snacks included in the tour. They offer four and six wine tastings with chacha (strong local spirit). 

Georgian food masterclasses

Ideal for those who want to get their hands experience and learn how to grill mtsvadi on a skewer, how to bake bread in tone clay oven, how to make churchkhela (grape juice Georgian snack), and even partake in distilling chacha. 

Most of these masterclasses require at least five participants, so if you are traveling to Georgia with friends or family, this could be a great way to learn about Georgian cuisine and have a more memorable shared experience. 

Restaurant at Winery

The vast garden of Giuaani Winery enables them to have several seating areas for their guests. They have both indoor and outdoor options to choose from. While a cozy indoor restaurant with a fireplace is ideal for winter and cold days, their terrace is perfect for warm weather days. 

No matter where you sit, I am sure you’ll have a great culinary experience here with their delicious and well-balanced Georgian meals with their own take.

The menu is quite diverse, offering a wide choice of appetizers, salads, barbeque, and main courses. Since I have visited Giuaani Winery several times, I have tried several different meals from their menu. 

I especially love their cucumber and tomato salad with homemade cheese chips, adding a different flavor to this somewhat simple salad. Pkhali plate has different plant-based appetizers in walnut paste, such as beetroot, spinach, pumpkin, and ramson. 

Softened chicken salad with berries and Georgian spices dressing was also quite unique in flavor. 

From the barbeque section of the menu, we’ve tried chicken and pork mtsvadi. While pork was very tender and juicy, I found the chicken to be very dry, and I didn’t quite like the taste of the badagi (grape juice) sauce it came with. 

However, if you want something unique, I recommend trying veal kalia (a meat-based meal in Georgian cuisine) with onion chips and onion jam. 

Their Khachapuri with puffed dough has more string cheese on top! And remember to leave space for the dessert – the buffalo matsoni (yogurt) with berries is something that should be savored! 

Giuaani Boutique hotel

Perched atop the Giuashvili family house, Hotel Giuaani has warmly welcomed guests since 2022. With six rooms, each offers breathtaking views of the garden, mountains, or valleys. 

The elegant yet minimalist rooms have AC and are thoughtfully equipped with a desk, kettle, fridge, minibar, safety deposit box, flat-screen TV with Netflix, and a private bathroom. 

The rooms are small but spacious, with plenty of room to unpack for a comfortable stay. The massive wardrobe in our room was ideal for storing our bags and clothes. 

We also had a balcony to enjoy a beautiful sunset while nice tunes played in the garden. 

Among other facilities, you can also enjoy a seasonal swimming pool and a bar right next to the pool. 

→ Book your stay via Booking.com

The breakfast

The buffet breakfast is included in your room price and is served at a different building other than the winery restaurants. It includes vegetables, cheese and charcuterie plates, dairy products, cereals, yogurts, and fresh fruit, to name a few. 

You can also order additional egg-based meals. I tried their eggs benedict on a slice of toast bread with bacon, well-made poached egg, and plenty of Holandese sauce. 

Details to get in touch: 

• Address: pin on Google Maps
• Book: Booking.com
• Rent a car via Local Rent in Tbilisi 
• Hire a private diver via GoTrip.ge