Kalauri

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

Overview

Kalauri is a village in Kakheti, Georgia’s principal wine region, within Gurjaani Municipality in the Alazani valley. It lies roughly 2 hours 15 minutes by road from Tbilisi, about 5 hours 30 minutes from Kutaisi and around 7 hours 40 minutes from Batumi. The settlement sits among the rolling vineyards that define this part of eastern Georgia, close to larger wine centers such as Gurjaani and Velistsikhe.

Kalauri matters less for monuments than for what it represents: a working Kakhetian wine village where families still press grapes and ferment them in buried clay vessels, a tradition that has shaped the region for centuries. It is the kind of place that rarely appears on a standard itinerary but rewards travellers who want to see how Kakhetian wine culture is actually lived, rather than only tasted in a tasting room. GTour includes Kalauri in private itineraries on request, pairing it with the verified cellars, guesthouses and restaurants listed below.

History

Kalauri belongs to Kakheti, the historic eastern Georgian kingdom whose medieval and early modern history is tied to the Alazani valley’s agricultural economy, including viticulture; see the general background on Kakheti. The area around present-day Gurjaani Municipality, in which Kalauri lies, developed over centuries as a patchwork of villages whose economies depended on vineyards and orchards along the Alazani plain; see Gurjaani Municipality.

Like much of rural Kakheti, Kalauri’s modern administrative shape dates largely to the Soviet period, when local vineyards were organised into collective farms supplying regional and union-wide wine production. Grape growing and household winemaking in qvevri, the traditional large clay vessels, continued informally even within that system; for the broader context of qvevri winemaking in Georgia, see Georgian wine. After Georgian independence in 1991, land was privatised and many families in villages such as Kalauri returned to small-scale, independent wine production, a pattern now visible in the family cellars (marani) open to visitors around the village today.

What to see

Family wine cellars (marani)

Several households in and around Kalauri maintain traditional marani where grapes are pressed and fermented in qvevri buried in the cellar floor. Visitors can usually see the vessels, ask about the grape varieties used and taste wine directly from the cellar, often alongside homemade bread and cheese.

Alazani valley vineyards

The land around Kalauri is given over almost entirely to vineyards, with the Caucasus foothills visible on clear days. Walking or driving slowly through the lanes between plots gives a direct sense of the scale and rhythm of Kakhetian viticulture, especially during the harvest season.

Village church

Kalauri has a modest village church typical of small Kakhetian rural parishes, used for local services rather than tourism. It is a quiet stop rather than a major monument, best combined with a cellar visit nearby.

Gurjaani and Velistsikhe

The nearby town of Gurjaani and the village of Velistsikhe, both a short drive from Kalauri, have additional wineries and are useful bases for combining a Kalauri visit with other Kakhetian sights in a single day.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, Kalauri is reached by the Kakheti highway through Sagarejo and Gurjaani, a drive of about 2 hours 15 minutes by private car or with a GTour driver-guide; check current conditions via road status before travelling in winter. Marshrutka minibuses run from Tbilisi to Gurjaani from the city’s eastern bus yards; from Gurjaani, Kalauri is a short taxi ride, as there is no direct public transport into the village itself. A passenger train connects Tbilisi with Telavi in Kakheti, operated by Georgian Railway, but it does not serve Kalauri directly, so onward travel by road is required. From Kutaisi (about 5 hours 30 minutes) and Batumi (about 7 hours 40 minutes), the practical route is via Tbilisi, and an overnight stop is advisable rather than a same-day return.

When to go

September and October bring rtveli, the grape harvest, when cellars are at their most active and tastings are easiest to arrange. Spring (April–May) offers flowering vines and mild weather, while summer is warm and good for long countryside days. Winter is quiet, with fewer cellars open to casual visitors, so arranging a visit in advance through GTour is recommended outside the warmer months.

Where to stay and eat

Kalauri itself is small, so most visitors combine a stop here with a stay in a nearby guesthouse or wine estate. Verified options include VELIO guest house for accommodation, and for wine and cellar visits, Vakho Oqruashvili Wine Cellar, Amirani’s Old Wine Cellar, Berozas Wine, Glakho Papa’s Wine Cellar, Marani Velistsikhuri, Lomtadze’s Marani and Tevdorashvilis Marani. GTour’s verified register lists more options in the wider Gurjaani area for both stays and meals.

Practical notes

Kalauri has little tourist infrastructure of its own, so a private car, driver, or an arranged tour is the most reliable way to visit; see GTour’s private tours. Cash is preferred at most family cellars, and calling or messaging ahead is advisable, as visits are often informal and depend on the household being available. For planning a wider Kakheti itinerary, GTour’s guides and best-of lists cover nearby sights worth combining with a Kalauri stop.

Questions travellers ask

Where is Kalauri located?

Kalauri is a village in Gurjaani Municipality, Kakheti region, in eastern Georgia, within the Alazani valley wine-growing area.

What is Kalauri known for?

It is known for family-run wine cellars where grapes are fermented in traditional qvevri, reflecting everyday Kakhetian winemaking rather than large commercial production.

How do I get to Kalauri from Tbilisi?

By car or private transfer along the Kakheti highway via Sagarejo and Gurjaani, the drive takes about 2 hours 15 minutes.

Is there public transport to Kalauri?

Marshrutkas run from Tbilisi to Gurjaani, but there is no direct public transport into Kalauri itself, so a taxi or private transfer is needed for the final stretch.

What wine is produced in Kalauri?

Local households produce traditional qvevri-fermented wines from Kakhetian grape varieties, typically for family use and small-scale sale, in the style common across the Gurjaani area.

Can I visit wine cellars without a guide?

It is possible but difficult without local contacts or Georgian language, since many cellars are private family operations; arranging a visit through GTour or the verified register makes access more reliable.

What is the best time to visit Kalauri?

September and October, during the grape harvest, offer the most active cellar visits, while spring and summer suit general countryside travel.

Are there places to stay in Kalauri?

Accommodation directly in Kalauri is limited; nearby guesthouses such as VELIO and other options in Gurjaani Municipality are the practical base.

How far is Kalauri from Gurjaani?

Kalauri is a short drive from the town of Gurjaani, within the same municipality, making it easy to combine both in one day.

Does GTour offer tours to Kalauri?

Yes, GTour arranges private transfers and guided day trips to Kalauri, combining it with nearby wineries and villages in Kakheti.

Sources

• Kakheti
• Gurjaani Municipality
• Georgian wine
• Georgian Railway