Gotsa Wines — Wine in Tbilisi, Georgia

In short

Gotsa Wines is a small family winery and farmhouse in the village of Kiketi, in the hills above Tbilisi. The winery says it belongs to the Gotsadze family, whose winemaking history goes back to the late nineteenth century, and that its wines are made in qvevri (large buried earthenware vessels) following traditional Georgian methods, without additives. The winery’s vineyard lies some distance away, near Asureti, and is farmed to organic and biodynamic standards. Visits are by appointment, and the family also offers food, accommodation and guided walks from the property.

The estate and its history

According to the winery, the Gotsadze family wine tradition dates back to Konstantin Gotsadze (1860–1940), the great-grandfather of the current winemaker, who began making wine in his cellars in the village of Tskhratskharo, in the Zestafoni district of western Georgia. In the early twentieth century the family moved to Tbilisi and continued making wine there in the traditional way. The present-day cellars are in Kiketi, at 1,300 metres above sea level, a location which, the winery says, local tradition holds was once used to vinify wine for the Georgian kings, with grapes brought up from lower vineyards into the cooler mountain air for a more controlled fermentation and ageing.

• 1860–1940: Konstantin Gotsadze, great-grandfather of the current winemaker, makes wine in Tskhratskharo, Zestafoni district, western Georgia.
• Early 20th century: the family relocates to Tbilisi and continues its winemaking tradition.
• Present day: cellars established in Kiketi, at 1,300 metres, run by the current generation of the Gotsadze family.
• 2018: the Asureti vineyard is certified biodynamic by Demeter and organic by Kiwa BCS (GE-BIO-141), according to the winery.

Vineyards, grapes and method

The winery’s vineyard is at Asureti, between the villages of Marabda and Asureti, within the territory of Algeti National Park, at about 550 metres above sea level, roughly 10 kilometres from the winery in Kiketi. The site covers 4 hectares, planted with around 22,000 vines across 14 Georgian grape varieties, on clay loam soil with basalt stones, the winery says. The vineyard and winery are farmed to the Demeter biodynamic standard, with certification obtained from the 2018 harvest, and the estate also holds organic certification from Kiwa BCS (GE-BIO-141) since 2018.

Winemaking follows the ancient qvevri method: grapes are fermented spontaneously in buried earthenware vessels, with skin and stem contact for around seven months and further ageing in qvevri for about sixteen months before bottling, which the winery says typically takes place in spring, roughly two years after harvest. The wines are left unfined and unfiltered, and the winery states that no sulfur powder is added, only burned sulfur used to clean the qvevri, so that only naturally occurring sulfites are present in the finished wine. According to background information on the winery’s site, Rkatsiteli is Georgia’s leading white grape variety, accounting for 43 percent of the country’s roughly 20,000 hectares of vineyard and native to the Kakheti region, while Mtsvane Kakhuri (“green from Kakheti”) is thought to be an older variety with five-lobed dark green leaves, and Khikhvi, also originating in Kakheti, is described as a versatile grape capable of light dry, semi-sweet and sweet styles with floral and apricot aromas.

The wines

• Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane 2018 – amber qvevri wine, 70% Rkatsiteli, 20% Mtsvane Kakhuri, 10% Khikhvi; the winery describes a light amber colour, aromas of dried apricot, melon and oriental spices, a full body and a firm tannin structure typical of Georgian amber wines; up to 3,200 bottles produced; about 13–14% alcohol.
• Mtsvane – 100% Mtsvane Kakhuri, amber qvevri wine; the winery describes a deep buckwheat-honey colour, aromas of dried apricot, honeydew and sweet spices, fully dry on the palate despite its sweet-leaning nose, with firm tannins; up to 1,200 bottles produced; about 13–14% alcohol.
• Khikhvi – 100% Khikhvi, amber qvevri wine; harvested earlier, at higher sugar levels, giving a deep buckwheat-honey colour and aromas of dried apricot, honeydew and sweet spices, with a small amount of residual sugar on an otherwise dry palate and firm tannins; up to 1,200 bottles produced; about 15–17% alcohol.
• Kisi – 100% Kisi, amber qvevri wine from the same Asureti vineyard and clay-loam, basalt-stone soil; further technical detail is not given on the winery’s site.

All four wines are fermented spontaneously in qvevri, aged in qvevri for around sixteen months, bottled roughly two years after harvest, and are unfined, unfiltered and free of added sulfites, according to the winery.

Visiting

The winery says visits are by appointment, arranged by email or via its Facebook Messenger page. A visit is described as including an explanation of Georgian winemaking history and of the technical side of qvevri winemaking, a tasting of the family’s wines, and Georgian food. No standard opening hours, tour prices or tasting fees are stated on the website.

Food and stays

The winery operates from the family’s farmhouse in Kiketi and describes itself as welcoming guests to stay. It offers Georgian home cooking alongside the wines, and says visitors can, on request, learn how to prepare Georgian dishes themselves. The property keeps pets, including ducks and hens, which guests are free to feed, and sits beside an oak forest with an extensive network of footpaths. The winery has mapped out walks ranging from a 40-minute stroll to full-day outings, and offers horse riding from the property, with maps lent to guests who wish to explore independently. Suggested destinations include the rock fortresses of Birtvisi, the medieval ruins of Kerogli fortress overlooking Tbilisi, the late twelfth-century Betania monastery known for its frescoes of Queen Tamar, the family’s own vineyard in the old Schwabian (German) settlement of Asureti, and the wider Algeti National Park, along with seasonal mushroom and flower foraging.

Location and getting there

Gotsa Wines is at Village Kiketi, G. Tabidze str., III impasse, house N6. The winery describes the site as being 25 kilometres from central Tbilisi, in oak forests at 1,300 metres above sea level, and says the drive from the capital takes around 30 minutes. The Asureti vineyard lies a further 10 kilometres away, near the Algeti National Park, which could be combined with a visit to the winery itself.

Good to know

• Visits are by appointment only, arranged by email or Facebook Messenger.
• The winery is in Kiketi, about 25 km (a 30-minute drive) from central Tbilisi.
• The vineyard is a separate 4-hectare site near Asureti, within Algeti National Park, about 10 km from the winery.
• Wines are made in qvevri, fermented spontaneously, and left unfined and unfiltered.
• No sulfur powder is added; only burned sulfur is used to clean the qvevri.
• Certified organic (Kiwa BCS GE-BIO-141) and biodynamic (Demeter) from the 2018 harvest.
• Production is small, with individual wines limited to between 1,200 and 3,200 bottles.
• The farmhouse offers accommodation, home-cooked meals and guided or self-guided walks and horse riding.

Questions travellers ask

Is Gotsa Wines organic and biodynamic?

The winery says its Asureti vineyard and winery operate to the Demeter biodynamic standard, with certification from the 2018 harvest, and hold organic certification from Kiwa BCS (GE-BIO-141) from the same year. The wines are also described as fermented spontaneously and free of added sulfites.

How far is Gotsa Wines from Tbilisi, and how do I get there?

The winery states that Kiketi is about 25 kilometres from central Tbilisi, a drive of roughly 30 minutes. The separate vineyard near Asureti is around 10 kilometres further, close to Algeti National Park.

Do I need to book a visit in advance?

Yes. The winery’s contact page states that visits are by appointment, to be arranged by email or via its Facebook Messenger page.

Can I stay overnight at Gotsa Wines?

The winery describes its property as a working farmhouse that welcomes overnight guests, offering Georgian home cooking, optional cooking demonstrations, and access to walking and horse-riding routes directly from the house.

What wines does Gotsa Wines produce?

The winery makes amber qvevri wines from Georgian white grape varieties grown at its Asureti vineyard, including a Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane blend, a varietal Mtsvane, a varietal Khikhvi and a varietal Kisi, all fermented spontaneously in qvevri and left unfined and unfiltered.

Sources

• Gotsa Wines — official website (gotsawines.com)
• Gotsa Wines: History
• Gotsa Wines: Vineyard
• Gotsa Wines: Winery
• Gotsa Wines: About Wine
• Gotsa Wines: Contact
• Gotsa Wines: Read More

Profiled in depth by the GTour desk on 28 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.