Gurjaani

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Overview

Gurjaani is a town in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia, roughly 1 hour 40 minutes by road from Tbilisi. It sits on the Alazani Valley’s southern edge, surrounded by vineyards that have given the town its name to one of Georgia’s recognised wine appellations, Gurjaani, a semi-sweet white made chiefly from Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes. With a population of about 8,000, it functions as the administrative centre of Gurjaani Municipality and as a working base for visiting the wine villages of the surrounding valley.

The town matters to travellers less for grand monuments than for its role as a living wine town: family cellars, a well-known early medieval church, and a small recreational lake sit within walking or short driving distance of each other. Gurjaani is a practical stop for anyone building a Kakheti wine itinerary, and GTour includes it in private tours on request, combining it with the verified wineries and guesthouses listed below.

History

The territory around Gurjaani lay within the historical Kingdom of Kakheti, and the wider Alazani Valley has been a wine-producing area for several millennia, a continuity documented by archaeological finds of qvevri and grape pips across Kakheti. The region’s best-known monument near the town, the Kvelatsminda church, is dated by Georgian art historians to the 8th–9th centuries and is listed among the country’s protected cultural heritage monuments by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation.

Through the medieval and early modern periods Gurjaani remained a village-scale settlement within Kakheti’s feudal estates, gaining town status and administrative weight under Russian and later Soviet rule, when it developed as a processing centre for the valley’s grape harvest, including a brandy distillery established in the nearby village of Velistsikhe. In the twentieth century the district became known nationally as the birthplace of Eduard Shevardnadze, the Soviet foreign minister and later president of Georgia, born in the village of Mamati within Gurjaani Municipality. Georgia’s traditional qvevri winemaking method, still practised in cellars around the town, was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, a recognition that underpins much of the wine tourism now built around towns such as Gurjaani (Georgia National Tourism Administration).

What to see

Kvelatsminda Church

Standing in a small park at the edge of town, Kvelatsminda is a triple-church basilica dated to the 8th–9th centuries, an unusual plan combining three parallel naves under one roofline. It is protected as a cultural heritage monument and is among the more significant pieces of early medieval religious architecture in Kakheti.

Lake Gurjaani

A reservoir on the town’s outskirts created in the Soviet period, Lake Gurjaani is used today as a local recreation spot with a shoreline promenade, cafés and boat rental in summer. It offers an easy, low-key stop between wine visits rather than a destination in itself.

Velistsikhe village and its distillery

The nearby village of Velistsikhe is home to one of Georgia’s oldest brandy-producing operations, founded in the late nineteenth century, and gives its name to a well-known Georgian brandy brand. The surrounding vineyards illustrate the valley’s long transition from table wine to distilled spirits production.

Family wine cellars

Gurjaani’s working marani (wine cellars) remain the town’s main attraction for visitors, offering qvevri tastings and, in several cases, guesthouse stays on site. GTour’s verified register below lists specific cellars open to visitors.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, Gurjaani is about 1 hour 40 minutes by car via the Tbilisi–Telavi highway, with regular marshrutka minibuses departing from Tbilisi’s Samgori (Navtlugi) station, a journey of roughly 2 hours depending on stops. From Kutaisi the drive runs via Tbilisi and takes around 4 hours 45 minutes; from Batumi, via Tbilisi, around 7 hours. There is no passenger rail service directly to Gurjaani; travellers arriving by train use Tbilisi as the connecting point. Check current conditions on the road status page before a self-drive trip, or arrange a private transfer through GTour’s tours.

When to go

Late September through October covers the rtveli grape harvest, when cellars are busiest and most active, though advance arrangement is advised. Spring (April–May) brings mild weather and green vineyards; summer is warm and suited to the lake and outdoor tastings. Winter is quiet, with some family cellars operating by appointment only.

Where to stay and eat

Gurjaani’s accommodation and dining options are mostly wine-cellar guesthouses and family-run marani offering tastings alongside simple meals. Verified options include Wine House Gurjaani, KHAOS MARANI, Ia’s Winery, Winery 1895, château Kharitona, TEVDORASHVILIS MARANI, TEVDORASHVILIS GUEST HOUSE and Amisulashvili wine cellar. GTour’s verified register lists more below, and further guesthouses and restaurants across the region are covered in GTour’s guides and best-of lists.

Practical notes

The local currency is the Georgian lari; cards are accepted at larger wineries and guesthouses but cash is useful for small family cellars. Most tastings involve several wines and chacha, so arrange transport in advance rather than self-driving afterward. Mobile coverage is reliable in town; modest dress is expected when visiting Kvelatsminda church. Many cellars require a phone call or message ahead of a visit, which GTour can arrange as part of a guided day.

Questions travellers ask

Is Gurjaani worth a dedicated day trip from Tbilisi?

It works well as part of a wider Kakheti wine day rather than as a sole destination, combined with nearby towns such as Telavi or Sighnaghi. A single day allows time for a cellar visit, Kvelatsminda church, and lunch.

What wine is Gurjaani known for?

Gurjaani lends its name to a recognised semi-sweet white wine made mainly from Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes, one of several Kakhetian appellations tied to specific towns and villages.

Can visitors tour wine cellars without advance booking?

Some family marani accept walk-ins, but many prefer a call ahead, particularly outside harvest season. GTour arranges confirmed visits as part of private itineraries.

Is there a train from Tbilisi to Gurjaani?

No direct passenger train serves Gurjaani; road transport by car or marshrutka from Tbilisi is the standard route.

What is the Kvelatsminda church known for?

It is a triple-church basilica dated to the 8th–9th centuries, notable for its unusual three-nave design and its status as a protected early medieval monument in Kakheti.

Who was born in Gurjaani Municipality?

Eduard Shevardnadze, Soviet foreign minister and later president of Georgia, was born in Mamati village within Gurjaani Municipality.

Is Lake Gurjaani suitable for swimming?

It is used locally for boating and walking around the shoreline in summer rather than formal swimming facilities, and is best treated as a short, relaxed stop.

Best time for a harvest visit?

Late September into October covers the rtveli grape harvest period, when cellar activity peaks, though exact timing shifts yearly with the vintage.

How far is Gurjaani from other Kakheti wine towns?

Telavi and Sighnaghi are both within roughly 30–45 minutes by car, making it easy to combine Gurjaani with either town in one day.

Sources

• Kakheti
• Eduard Shevardnadze
• National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation
• Georgia National Tourism Administration