September 24, 2026, 10:31 am | Read time: 4 minutes

Kakheti in Georgia

Kakheti did not win the title of the most beautiful wine region in Europe this year, but the charming region on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus in eastern Georgia holds another distinction: Kakheti, with its more than 8,000-year-old wine tradition, is considered the cradle of viticulture. This heritage is visible throughout the approximately 12,300-square-kilometer region. The place names are mostly named after the local wines. Wine cellars are almost everywhere available—even the various Kakhetian churches have them. Additionally, according to the information site “Georgia Insight,” nearly every farmer there is also a winemaker. Vineyards and gardens are often tended by the whole family, using traditional handcraft. The Kakhetians themselves are known for being cheerful and resilient, with a love for celebrations and, of course, wine.

Kakheti’s Wine Culture

According to the information sites “Georgien.de” and “Georgia Insight,” many Kakhetian winemakers produce their wines using the ancient Georgian tradition in so-called Kvevris. The knowledge of this specific form of winemaking is passed down from generation to generation among Georgians. Kvevris are large wine amphorae buried in the ground. The grape juice is fermented in them along with the mash, which includes solid components like stems and skins, without additional fermentation agents. Thanks to their temperature control, the wine can remain in the bulbous clay vessels for decades.

This traditional Georgian method of winemaking dates back to 6000 B.C. During the Soviet era, winemaking in these labor-intensive vessels was marginalized and continued mainly in private. UNESCO added the Kvevri method to its list of intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

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What Can You Experience in Kakheti?

Anyone embarking on a wine journey to the tranquil Kakheti will hardly miss its most famous white wine, Tsinandali. This brand name is also the name of one of Georgia’s most interesting wine towns, as its information site explains. As the cradle of wine, Kakheti offers many opportunities to visit wineries and attend wine tastings.

Besides its wine, Kakheti is also popular as a hiking region. Two destinations here are the Lagodekhi and Vashlovani National Parks. The particularly green Lagodekhi National Park is located in eastern Kakheti on the border with Azerbaijan. A somewhat different landscape awaits hikers in the Vashlovani National Park in the southeast of the country, characterized by canyons and steppes. It is still considered a hidden gem.

Another popular destination in Kakheti is the town of Sighnaghi, with its elevated location and stunning views of the Alazani Valley and the mountains of the Greater Caucasus. The small town is known for its historic fortress wall and the Bodbe Monastery.

For all the information on the other contenders for the title of the most beautiful wine region in Europe, visit TRAVELBOOK.

Methodology for the TRAVELBOOK Award

Once again this year, we say: All nominated regions, countries, and others for the TRAVELBOOK Award are already winners. Even if they did not achieve overall victory. This also applies to the wine region of Kakheti in Georgia. Because: Every travel destination had already made it to the shortlist in advance, selected from a large number of contenders in a category.

The TRAVELBOOK editorial team sought help from the community on Facebook and Instagram and consulted experts from the travel industry to create the shortlist. For the first time this year, not only TRAVELBOOK readers but also BILD readers voted. In total, more than 150,000 votes were cast to determine the trend travel destinations for 2027.