# Chateau Chikovani — Wine in Imereti, Georgia

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- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-chateau-chikovani-1/
- Author: Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze
- Published: 2026-09-14
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/georgia-places/place-chateau-chikovani-1/

### In short

Chateau Chikovani is a family estate and winery in the village of Gordi, in the Khoni municipality of Imereti, western Georgia. The property combines a four-storey manor house, a historic wine cellar (marani), vineyards, and a small guesthouse operation, all built around the centuries-long history of the Chikovani noble family, whose line is linked to the Dadiani princely house of Samegrelo. According to the estate, visitors can tour the cellar, taste qvevri wine and local spirits, walk the vineyard, join an agro-tour of the orchards and a small food workshop, and stay overnight in the manor’s guest rooms.

### The estate and its history

The Chikovani family, according to the estate, originates in Svaneti and migrated over the centuries to Lechkhumi, Imereti and Samegrelo. One branch of the family settled at Gordi and became connected to the Dadiani title, the hereditary princely rulers of Samegrelo. The estate’s own account traces a Gordeli nobleman, Katsia Chikovani, who rose to prominence under Levan III Dadiani in the late seventeenth century and was granted the title of vizier and the governorship of Lechkhumi by the Imeretian king Bagrat IV. His grandson, also named Katsia, was anointed as Dadiani in 1704, founding a new branch of the Dadiani dynasty.

The estate also notes a family connection to Evdomos Chkondideli, archbishop of Martvili, whose monastery played a part in Georgian history, including the education of King David the Builder under Giorgi Chkondideli, according to the website.

The founder of the Gordi estate itself is given as Beko Chikovani, born in 1780, who the website says had four children, ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. One of his descendants, Dimitri Konstantines dze Chikovani (1863–1937), was the last “sakhltukhutsesi” (house steward) of the Dadiani palace at Gordi. The estate states that three of Dimitri’s sons died fighting Soviet rule, and that Dimitri himself was executed by Soviet authorities in 1937 at the age of 74.

The estate’s survival through the Soviet period is credited by the website to Olia (Domna) Gogelia, a woman from Batumi who married into the family and who, it says, kept the estate alive through the repressions of the late 1930s, living to the age of 98 and remaining known for her hospitality and work ethic. The family line continued through only two male descendants for some years, but the website reports that three further heirs were born in 2018, 2021 and 2025, securing the continuation of this branch of the Chikovani name.

- 1661–1689: Katsia Chikovani rises to prominence under Levan III Dadiani; granted vizier title and Lechkhumi by Bagrat IV of Imereti.

- 1704: Katsia’s grandson anointed as Dadiani, founding a new princely dynasty with roots in the Chikovani family.

- 1780: Beko Chikovani, founder of the Gordi estate, is born.

- 1863–1937: Dimitri Konstantines dze Chikovani, last house steward of the Dadiani palace at Gordi; executed by Soviet authorities in 1937.

- Late 1930s: Olia (Domna) Gogelia preserves the estate through the Soviet repressions.

- 2018, 2021, 2025: Birth of three further male heirs to the family line, per the estate.

*Image: Chateau Chikovani — Brick and stone chateau building with tower, surrounded by a landscaped garden. — Brick and stone chateau building with tower, surrounded by a landscaped garden. Photo: Chateau Chikovani, official website (chateauchikovani.com).*

*Image: Chateau Chikovani — Outdoor swimming pool with a wooden gazebo and trees in the background. — Outdoor swimming pool with a wooden gazebo and trees in the background. Photo: Chateau Chikovani, official website (chateauchikovani.com).*

*Image: Chateau Chikovani — Twin bedroom furnished with antique wooden wardrobes and patterned curtains. — Twin bedroom furnished with antique wooden wardrobes and patterned curtains. Photo: Chateau Chikovani, official website (chateauchikovani.com).*

### Vineyards, grapes and method

The estate says its cellar and vineyard showcase several winemaking traditions side by side: Imeretian, Kakhetian and European methods. The website highlights its qvevri (known locally in the Imeretian dialect as “churi”), used for traditional natural wine, alongside an old wine press made of a large stone mortar, lever and screw beam. No specific grape varieties, hectares under vine or annual volumes are given on the website.

### The wines

The estate’s own text does not list individually named or labelled wines; instead it describes categories of production and tasting on offer. Based on what is stated:

- **Natural qvevri wine** — described by the estate as made in the traditional Imeretian style, aged and fermented in qvevri (churi) kept in the historic marani.

- **Wines made by Kakhetian and European methods** — the website states that both techniques are also used and can be seen during a cellar visit, alongside the Imeretian method, without specifying particular grape varieties or labels.

- **Chkunti araki** — a local grape spirit that the estate describes as well known, produced and tasted on site.

### Visiting

The estate offers a guided visit it calls “Excursion in the historic estate,” which includes a tour of the cellar and a tasting. According to the website, the tasting takes place in the marani itself, where guests can see multiple qvevri, watch a qvevri being opened, and taste wine drawn directly with a traditional ladle (orshimo) alongside a small Georgian spread laid out over the vessel. A snack menu can be ordered alongside the tasting. The estate says tasting arrangements and the drinks list should be confirmed in advance with the administrator, and no fixed tasting price is published. Visitors can also walk through the estate’s vineyard, and at certain times of year are invited to take part themselves in the wine or spirit-making process.

A separate agro-tour, bookable in advance, takes visitors through the vineyard and orchards and introduces a small processing workshop on site where plum and tomato sauces and several varieties of adjika are made using old recipes, with wild field plants used as seasoning. Participants taste the estate’s own products and, the website says, receive a gift set of these products at the end of the tour.

### Food and stays

The property operates as a small hotel as well as a winery. The estate describes a four-storey manor house set in a large courtyard with century-old trees, with guest rooms on the second, third and fourth floors finished in brick, wood and warm-toned materials, furnished with restored metal and wood pieces. All rooms are said to have a private bathroom with natural granite finishes, balcony, LED television, minibar fridge and high-speed wifi, with a choice of one large bed or two single beds and the option of an extra bed on request.

Published room rates (the estate’s own figures, currency as listed on the website) are:

- Standard room: 100 (1 person) / 150–155 (2 people)

- Deluxe room: 120 (1 person) / 165 (2 people)

- Suite (Lux): 135 (1 person) / 180 (2 people)

- Suite with mountain view: 145 (1 person) / 195 (2 people)

- Family suite: 190 (2 people) / 250 (3 people) / 300 (4 people)

The estate also lists a swimming pool, sauna, bar, restaurant, sports grounds, billiards and a trout pond, where the website says guests can fish for mountain trout and have their catch prepared on site. The restaurant serves Georgian and European dishes alongside wine made using Imeretian and Kakhetian technology, and its interior includes bas-reliefs depicting the history of the Chikovani family, according to the estate. Full organisation of weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations is offered. Two conference rooms, for 20 and 120 people, are equipped with an LCD projector, screen, lecture boards and a whiteboard, with simultaneous translation equipment, microphones and conference headsets available on request, plus lunch and buffet catering.

### Awards

No awards or competition results are stated on the estate’s website.

### Location and getting there

Chateau Chikovani is in the village of Gordi, in the Khoni municipality of Imereti, in the foothills of the Askhi massif along the valley of the Okatse river. The estate gives its distances as 18 km from Khoni, 38 km from Kutaisi and 250 km from Tbilisi, at an altitude of 800 metres above sea level, with coordinates N42 27.079, E42 33.003. The website describes the local climate as subtropical, with mild winters and warm, moderately humid summers, and an average annual temperature of 17°C. The address given is Georgia, Imereti, Khoni, village Gordi. Given its position near Kutaisi, a visit can realistically be combined with other Imereti sights such as the Okatse and Kinchkha canyons, Sataplia or Kutaisi’s historic centre, which lie along the same general route from Tbilisi.

### Good to know

- The estate is a working manor house, winery and small hotel combined, run by the Chikovani family.

- Cellar tours, tastings and the agro-tour are offered by advance booking through the administrator.

- Rooms range from standard to family suites, with published rates on the official website.

- The property has a restaurant serving Georgian and European food, plus a bar, swimming pool, sauna and trout pond.

- Two conference rooms (20 and 120 capacity) are available for business events, weddings and celebrations.

- Wifi covers the whole estate.

- Distances given by the estate: 18 km from Khoni, 38 km from Kutaisi, 250 km from Tbilisi.

- Contact is by phone (599 51 56 76) or email (gordi@chateauchikovani.com), as listed on the website.

### Questions travellers ask

#### Is Chateau Chikovani a winery, a hotel, or both?

Both, according to the estate. It is a historic family property with a working cellar and vineyard, alongside guest rooms, a restaurant, conference facilities and grounds that include a pool, sauna and trout pond.

#### Do I need to book a tasting or tour in advance?

Yes. The website states that tasting and tour arrangements should be confirmed in advance with the estate’s administrator, and the agro-tour also requires prior booking.

#### What wine-making methods can visitors see?

The estate says visitors can see wine made using Imeretian, Kakhetian and European methods, including qvevri (churi) wine and an old stone wine press, though it does not name specific grape varieties on its website.

#### How far is Chateau Chikovani from Tbilisi and Kutaisi?

The estate gives the distance as 250 km from Tbilisi and 38 km from Kutaisi, with Khoni, the nearest town, 18 km away.

#### Can I stay overnight and combine the visit with other Imereti sights?

Yes, the property operates as a small hotel with rooms of several categories, and its location near Kutaisi makes it straightforward to combine with other Imereti attractions such as the Okatse and Kinchkha canyons.

### Sources

- [Chateau Chikovani — official website (chateauchikovani.com)](https://www.chateauchikovani.com)

- [Chateau Chikovani: გვარის ისტორია](https://www.chateauchikovani.com/ka/chateuachikovani/lastnamehistory/)

- [Chateau Chikovani: ადგილმდებარეობა](https://www.chateauchikovani.com/ka/chateuachikovani/location/)

- [Chateau Chikovani: ნომრები](https://www.chateauchikovani.com/ka/hotel/rooms/)

- [Chateau Chikovani: საკონფერენციო დარბაზი](https://www.chateauchikovani.com/ka/services/conferenceroom/)

- [Chateau Chikovani: მარნის დათვალიერება დეგუსტაცია](https://www.chateauchikovani.com/ka/service/winerytourandtasting/)

- [Chateau Chikovani: აგრო ტური](https://www.chateauchikovani.com/ka/service/agrotour/)

### What to expect

Chateau Chikovani is a wine estate located in the village of Gordi, in the [Khoni](https://gtour.ge/georgia/khoni/) area of [Imereti](https://gtour.ge/georgia/imereti/), Georgia. According to its website, the property is built around a four-story manor house set in a large yard with century-old trees. The site describes the estate as a retreat surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and canyons, with a trout pond on the grounds where guests can fish and have their catch prepared for them.

The hotel says its rooms are described as cozy and well-appointed, with views over the surrounding landscape. According to the website, every room includes a bathroom, a balcony, an LED television and a refrigerator. The site does not specify the number of rooms, room categories, or rates.

For food and drink, the estate operates a restaurant that, according to its website, serves both Georgian and European dishes. The site states that guests can taste natural wines made using Imeretian and Kakhetian winemaking methods, as well as the estate’s own qvevri wine and a chacha it calls Chkhunti arak’i. The restaurant interior is said to include bas-reliefs depicting the history of the Chikovani family. The hotel says the restaurant can organize full events such as celebrations, anniversaries and weddings, and that it offers lunch and buffet service.

On the activities side, the website lists an excursion to the historical estate, a cellar tour with tasting, an agro-tour, and a trip to Askhi mountain among its offerings, though it does not give durations, prices, or how to book each activity individually. For business or group visitors, the site states that the property has two conference halls, with capacities of 20 and 120 people, equipped with an LCD projector, a screen, lecture boards and a whiteboard. It adds that, on request, the hall can be supplied with simultaneous translation equipment, microphones and conference headsets.

- Facilities mentioned on the site: swimming pool, sauna, bar, restaurant, sports grounds, billiards, trout pond, two conference halls (20 and 120 people)

- Room amenities stated: bathroom, balcony, LED TV, refrigerator

- Activities listed: excursion to the historical estate, cellar tour and tasting, agro-tour, trip to Askhi mountain

- Food and wine: Georgian and European cuisine, Imeretian- and Kakhetian-style natural wines, estate qvevri wine, Chkhunti chacha

- Services: event organization for weddings and celebrations, lunch and buffet service, optional simultaneous translation equipment for conferences

- Location: Georgia, Imereti, Khoni district, village of Gordi

- Contact given: phone 599 51 56 76, email gordi@chateauchikovani.com

The website does not state opening hours, seasonal availability, prices in any currency, parking or Wi-Fi provisions, languages spoken by staff, a booking method, or specific driving directions beyond naming the village of Gordi in the Khoni district of Imereti. Prospective visitors would need to contact the estate directly by phone or email, as listed on its site, to confirm these details.

Source: the venue’s own website, [chateauchikovani.com](https://www.chateauchikovani.com), read on 27 October 2026; details change — confirm with the venue before travelling. Listed in the GNTA register; verified by GTour.

*Profiled in depth by the GTour desk on 26 October 2026 from the property’s official website; photographs are the property’s own, from its official website, credited under each image. Not sponsored; tell us if something has changed.*