Merebashvili Estate — Wine in Shida Kartli, Georgia

In short

Merebashvili Estate is a family-run winery and small guesthouse in the town of Kaspi, in the Shida Kartli region west of Tbilisi. The estate says its wine and hospitality traditions go back generations, and today it produces qvevri and European-style wines from its own organic vineyard in the Okami Valley, alongside two styles of chacha. Visitors can book a wine tour that combines tastings with a look at the vineyard, the marani (cellar) and chacha production, and the estate also offers simple guest rooms on site.

The estate and its history

Merebashvili Estate describes itself as a family winery and hotel in Kaspi, a small town in the Shida Kartli region. According to the estate, winemaking and hospitality have been part of the family for centuries, and the current generation says it follows the practices of its parents and grandparents while applying modern approaches to viticulture and winemaking. The official text does not give a specific founding year or construction date for the estate, so no dated timeline can be given here beyond the vintages of the wines currently offered.

Kaspi itself is an old settlement in Shida Kartli, a region long associated with vine growing and known more widely for the nearby ancient capital of Mtskheta and the cave city of Uplistsikhe, both within comfortable reach for travellers combining a winery visit with regional sightseeing.

Vineyards, grapes and method

The estate says its grapes are sourced from its own organic vineyard in the Okami Valley, described as a gently south-facing hillside site at elevations of 550 to 650 metres above sea level. The estate attributes the character of its wines to this site’s climate and mineral-rich, varied soils.

According to the estate, it works with four grape varieties associated with Shida Kartli: Chinuri and Tavkveri, described as the region’s best-known varieties, alongside Goruli Mtsvane and Shavkapito, which the estate calls rare and, in the case of Shavkapito, almost extinct. Winemaking follows two paths: the estate’s amber and red wines are fermented and aged in qvevri, the traditional clay vessels buried underground, while the Goruli Mtsvane is fermented and aged in stainless steel without skin contact. No hectare figures or annual production volumes are stated on the website.

The wines

• Chinuri (2022) — Amber qvevri wine with full skin contact, 11.5% alcohol; the estate describes notes of dried apple, apricot and almond with an expressive varietal aroma.
• Goruli Mtsvane (2021) — Amber wine fermented and aged in stainless steel without skin contact, 13.0% alcohol; the estate describes citrus notes, a fairly strong body and refreshing acidity with a long finish.
• Tavkveri (2021) — Dry red qvevri wine, unfiltered, mature ruby colour, 12.5% alcohol; the estate describes flavours of black plum and blackberries with a marked varietal aroma.
• Shavkapito (2021) — Dry red qvevri wine, ruby colour, 14.0% alcohol; the estate describes aromas of ripe plums and cherries, with an intense taste and long finish.
• Chacha Traditional — Clear pomace brandy at 42% alcohol, distilled from a blend of Tavkveri, Shavkapito, Chinuri and Goruli Mtsvane over an open wood fire; the estate describes floral, nutty and light honey notes with a fruity finish.
• Chacha Oak — Pomace brandy from the same four varieties, aged twelve months in French oak, 42% alcohol, deep amber in colour; the estate describes notes of dried fruit, almond, walnut and chocolate with a creamy texture.

All wines are bottled in 750 ml format and the chachas in 500 ml, according to the website. No prices are listed for the wines or spirits themselves.

Visiting

The estate offers what it calls a wine tour centred on its tasting room, which it describes as a place where wine, food and, as the estate puts it, hunting are brought together. A visit, according to the website, can include tasting the family’s wines with food pairings, a walk through the estate’s collection vineyard, and an introduction to traditional winemaking and chacha-making methods. The estate also mentions a small-scale honey bee farm on site and says visitors can take part in culinary workshops focused on traditional Georgian dishes. No fixed tour prices, exact duration or booking hours are stated on the website; travellers are advised to contact the estate directly to arrange a visit.

Food and stays

The estate’s wine tour description mentions food and wine pairing and the cuisine of the Shida Kartli region as part of the visitor experience, though no separate restaurant is named on the website. Merebashvili Estate also operates as a small guesthouse, with five room types listed on its website:

• Deluxe King Room — 2 guests, 25 m², one large double bed and a sofa bed, private entrance and terrace with garden and vineyard views, 200 GEL per night.
• Triple Room — 3 guests, 25 m², one large double bed and one single bed, private entrance and terrace, 200 GEL per night.
• Standard Twin with Balcony — 2 guests, 16 m², two single beds, private entrance and terrace with garden views, 150 GEL per night.
• Standard Double with Balcony — 2 guests, 16 m², one double bed, private entrance and terrace with garden views, 150 GEL per night.
• Family Room — 4 guests, 25 m², one queen bed and one bunk bed, private entrance and terrace with garden views, 200 GEL per night.

All rooms are described by the estate as air-conditioned with a private bathroom featuring a bath.

Awards

No awards or competition results are stated on the official website.

Location and getting there

Merebashvili Estate is located at 29 Vakhtang Gorgasali Street, Kaspi, Shida Kartli region. Kaspi is a small town roughly on the main route between Tbilisi and Gori, generally reckoned to be around an hour’s drive west of the Georgian capital, making the estate a feasible stop on a day trip that might also take in Mtskheta or the Uplistsikhe cave town, both in the same general direction. Travellers without their own transport are best advised to arrange a transfer or private tour, as the estate’s website does not describe public transport options to its door.

Good to know

• The estate is both a working winery and a small guesthouse, with five room categories priced between 150 and 200 GEL per night.
• Wines are made in qvevri with the exception of the Goruli Mtsvane, which is vinified in stainless steel without skin contact.
• The vineyard is organic and located in the Okami Valley at 550 to 650 metres above sea level.
• The estate produces four single-varietal wines — Chinuri, Goruli Mtsvane, Tavkveri and Shavkapito — plus two chachas, one unaged and one oak-aged.
• A wine tour can include tastings, a vineyard walk, a look at chacha production, a small bee farm and culinary workshops, according to the estate.
• No tour prices, opening hours or online booking system are published; contact is by phone or email.
• The address is in central Kaspi, a town in Shida Kartli within reach of both Tbilisi and Gori-area sites.

Questions travellers ask

Is Merebashvili Estate a good day trip from Tbilisi?

Kaspi, where the estate is located, lies roughly an hour’s drive from Tbilisi along the route towards Gori, so a visit can be managed as part of a day trip, potentially combined with other Shida Kartli stops such as Mtskheta or Uplistsikhe.

Can you stay overnight at the winery?

Yes, the estate operates as a guesthouse alongside the winery, with five room types ranging from 150 to 200 GEL per night, according to its website.

What grape varieties does the winery work with?

According to the estate, it produces wine from Chinuri and Tavkveri, the best-known varieties of Shida Kartli, as well as the rarer Goruli Mtsvane and the almost extinct Shavkapito.

Are the wines made in qvevri or using European methods?

Most of the estate’s wines are fermented and aged in qvevri, the traditional buried clay vessels, though the Goruli Mtsvane is made in stainless steel without skin contact, the estate says.

What does a tasting or tour at the estate include?

The estate describes a visit as combining wine tasting with food pairing, a walk through its collection vineyard, an introduction to chacha-making, a look at a small bee farm, and optional culinary workshops focused on traditional Georgian dishes, though specific pricing and timings are not published and should be confirmed directly with the estate.

Sources

• Merebashvili Estate — official website (merebashvili.com)
• Merebashvili Estate: Wine
• Merebashvili Estate: Wine tour
• Merebashvili Estate: Hotel
• Merebashvili Estate: Contacts

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.