# Peli > gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge. - Canonical: https://gtour.ge/georgia/peli/ - Author: Mariam Lomidze (GTour desk, Tbilisi) - Published: 2026-09-15 - Updated: 2026-10-17 - Language: en - Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/georgia/peli/ By [Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/author/mariam-lomidze/), GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · [Editorial policy](https://gtour.ge/standards/editorial-policy/) ### Overview Peli is a small village in the Ateni Gorge, part of Gori Municipality in the Shida Kartli region of central Georgia. It sits in the upper reaches of the valley carved by the Tana River, a tributary of the Mtkvari, roughly 10–12 km south of the city of Gori and about 85 km west of Tbilisi. The gorge is one of the oldest continuously farmed wine districts in the country, and Peli’s terraced vineyards and household qvevri cellars are a working example of that tradition rather than a museum piece. The village matters to travellers chiefly as an entry point into the wine and heritage landscape of the Ateni valley: traditional Georgian qvevri winemaking, associated with villages such as Peli throughout Shida Kartli, is recognised by UNESCO as part of the [Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity](https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ancient-georgian-traditional-qvevri-wine-making-method-00870). Combined with the nearby seventh-century Ateni Sioni church and the proximity of Gori, Peli offers a compact, low-traffic alternative to the better-known wine routes of Kakheti. GTour includes it in private itineraries on request, pairing a cellar visit with other destinations in the [Shida Kartli region hub](/georgia/). ### History Shida Kartli forms the historical core of the ancient Kingdom of Kartli, known to classical authors as Iberia, whose capital Mtskheta is today inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as [Historical Monuments of Mtskheta](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/708). The wider region, lying along the Mtkvari river and its tributaries including the Tana, has been settled and farmed since antiquity, and viticulture has long been central to its agricultural economy. The Ateni Gorge itself is best documented through the Ateni Sioni Church, a domed cross-in-square church built, according to art-historical consensus, in the seventh century and decorated with a layer of frescoes added some centuries later; it stands a short distance downstream from Peli and is treated as one of the key early medieval monuments of the region (see Ateni Sioni Church). Villages in the gorge, Peli among them, developed as agricultural settlements tied to this valley economy, producing wine from local grape varieties alongside grain and orchard crops, a pattern typical of Gori Municipality. Twentieth-century collectivisation reorganised but did not erase household winemaking in villages like Peli, and since Georgian independence, family cellars in the gorge have returned to small-scale, qvevri-based production, which is how Peli’s wine cellars operate today. ### What to see #### Ateni Gorge vineyards The terraced slopes above the Tana River around Peli are planted largely with local white varieties typical of the Ateni microzone. Walking or driving through the gorge in late summer gives a direct view of pre-harvest vineyard work that is rarely staged for visitors elsewhere in Georgia. #### Traditional qvevri wine cellars Several households in and around Peli maintain underground qvevri cellars where wine is fermented and aged in clay vessels buried in the cellar floor, following the method recognised by UNESCO. Visits usually combine a short explanation of the process with a tasting, arranged in advance. #### Ateni Sioni Church A short drive north toward the mouth of the gorge, this seventh-century church is one of the more significant early medieval monuments in Shida Kartli, with surviving frescoes and a well-preserved domed structure. It is a natural extension to a half-day visit based around Peli. #### Tana River valley The river itself, flanked by orchards and vineyard terraces, offers easy walking routes between villages of the gorge. The valley is narrow and quiet, with little vehicle traffic beyond local farm use. ### Getting there From Tbilisi, Peli is reached by taking the Tbilisi–Gori road (part of the E60 corridor) to Gori, then turning south onto the local road into the Ateni Gorge; the drive takes roughly 1.5 hours by private car. Marshrutka services run frequently from Tbilisi’s Didube station to Gori, from where a taxi is needed to continue into the gorge, as there is no direct public transport to Peli itself. From Kutaisi, the route also passes through Gori via the same E60 corridor, with a broadly similar onward leg into the gorge; total driving time is around 2 hours. From Batumi, the distance is substantial, and travellers typically either drive the full highway route via Kutaisi and Gori or take a train to Tbilisi or Kutaisi and continue by road; check current conditions via the [road status page](/road-status/) before travelling, especially in winter. GTour arranges private transfers and guided tours with an English-speaking guide from any of the three cities; contact GTour to plan the day. ### When to go Late April to June brings mild weather and green, newly worked vineyards, good for walking the gorge. September and early October coincide with rtveli, the grape harvest, when cellar activity in Peli is at its most visible and tastings are easiest to arrange. Midsummer is hot but the valley offers some shade along the river; winter visits are possible for cellar tastings, but the unpaved sections of the upper gorge road can be difficult after snow or heavy rain. ### Where to stay and eat Peli itself has no formal hotels or restaurants; visits are built around cellar tastings and, where arranged, a home-cooked meal at the host’s table. Two registered wineries in the village welcome visitors by appointment: [Nika Vacheishvili’s Wine Cellar](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-nika-vacheishvilis-wine-cellar/) and [Winecellar Mitra](https://gtour.ge/georgia-places/place-mitras-wine-celler/), both offering tastings of qvevri-aged wine from local grape varieties. For overnight stays and additional dining, Gori town, a short drive away, has guesthouses and restaurants; GTour’s verified register lists more options below, and the [best-of guide](/best-of/) and [Shida Kartli hub](/georgia/) can help plan a fuller itinerary around the gorge. ### Practical notes Cellar visits in Peli should be arranged in advance, as hosts are working farmers rather than staffed tourist venues; GTour can confirm timing and transport. Cash is the most reliable means of payment in the village, as card facilities are limited or absent. Mobile network coverage can be patchy in the upper gorge. The road beyond the lower villages of the gorge is only partly paved, so a sturdy vehicle or local driver is advisable, particularly after rain; see the [road status page](/road-status/) for current conditions. Combining Peli with the Ateni Sioni church and a stop in Gori makes for an efficient half- to full-day trip; see the [tours page](/tours/) and [destination guides](/guides/) for itinerary ideas. ### Questions travellers ask #### Is Peli the same place as Ateni? No. Ateni, or the Ateni Gorge, is the name of the wider valley along the Tana River; Peli is one of the villages within that gorge, located in its upper reaches. #### What grape varieties are grown around Peli? The Ateni microzone is traditionally associated with local white varieties suited to the valley’s soil and climate, fermented using the qvevri method described in UNESCO’s listing of Georgian traditional winemaking. #### Can the Ateni Sioni church be visited from Peli? Yes. The church lies a short drive down the gorge toward its mouth and is commonly combined with a cellar visit in Peli as part of the same trip. #### How far is Peli from Gori? Peli is roughly 10–12 km south of Gori along the Ateni Gorge road, a drive of about 20–25 minutes depending on road conditions. #### Is there accommodation in Peli itself? No formal guesthouses or hotels operate in the village; most visitors base themselves in Gori or combine the visit with a day trip from Tbilisi. #### When is the best time for a wine tasting? September and early October, during the grape harvest, give the most active look at cellar work, though tastings of aged wine are offered by the registered cellars throughout the year by appointment. #### Is the road to Peli paved? The lower part of the Ateni Gorge road is paved, but sections nearer Peli and further into the gorge can be unpaved or poorly maintained, so checking current conditions before travelling is advisable. #### Can GTour arrange a private wine tour to Peli? Yes. GTour arranges private transfers and guided visits with an English-speaking guide, combining Peli’s wine cellars with nearby sites such as Ateni Sioni and Gori. #### What language do locals in Peli speak? Georgian is the language spoken in the village; English is not widely used, so a guide or interpreter is recommended for cellar visits. #### Is it safe to drive to Peli independently? Driving is generally safe but requires caution on the narrower, partly unpaved sections of the gorge road, particularly after rain or snow; a private driver or guide is a practical alternative for visitors unfamiliar with the route. ### Sources - [UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage – Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making method](https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ancient-georgian-traditional-qvevri-wine-making-method-00870) - [UNESCO World Heritage – Historical Monuments of Mtskheta](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/708) - [Georgian National Tourism Administration — Shida Kartli region](https://georgia.travel/regions/shida-kartli) Plan your Georgia Want Peli on a private itinerary with a driver who knows the road? A GTour travel expert designs the route and calls you back. [Start planning](/contact/)   [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/995577416314) Photo: ანი ბირთველიშვილი / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0