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- Qvevri winemaking and cellar visits — Kakheti is where Georgia’s ancient clay-amphora winemaking comes alive. You can watch (and sometimes join) the whole qvevri process, crawl into cool, centuries-old cellars and taste wines straight from the vessel — an earthy, hands-on look at why Georgian winemaking is so unique. (Personal favorite: there’s nothing like sipping a bottle pulled from a buried qvevri at sunset.)
- Supra feasts and tamada toasts — The festival is full of communal tables where a tamada (toastmaster) leads long, often hilarious toasts between plates of grilled meat, local cheeses, churchkhela and fresh bread. It’s less a meal and more a ritual: noisy, affectionate, and a perfect way to meet locals and understand Georgian hospitality up close.
- Polyphonic singing and folk dance
- Qvevri winemaking and cellar visits — Kakheti is where Georgia’s ancient clay-amphora winemaking comes alive. You can watch (and sometimes join) the whole qvevri process, crawl into cool, centuries-old cellars and taste wines straight from the vessel — an earthy, hands-on look at why Georgian winemaking is so unique. (Personal favorite: there’s nothing like sipping a bottle pulled from a buried qvevri at sunset.)
- Supra feasts and tamada toasts — The festival is full of communal tables where a tamada (toastmaster) leads long, often hilarious toasts between plates of grilled meat, local cheeses, churchkhela and fresh bread. It’s less a meal and more a ritual: noisy, affectionate, and a perfect way to meet locals and understand Georgian hospitality up close.
- Polyphonic singing and folk dance — Live performances of multi-part Georgian polyphony and high-energy regional dances give the festival its spine-tingling moments. The harmonies are utterly distinctive, and watching dancers in traditional costume—fast footwork, big swings—makes the whole thing feel epic and rooted in place.
- Hands-on harvest activities — Grape-stomping, picking in the vineyards, and simple pressing demonstrations are usually part of the fun. It’s messy, very social, and genuinely satisfying: you get to participate in the harvest rather than just spectate. Wear clothes you don’t mind wrecking.
- Street markets, competitions and village rituals — Open-air stalls sell small-batch wines, chacha, preserves, and crafts while contests (best vintage, heaviest bunch, etc.), processions and occasional church blessings give the day structure. The vibe flips between market-bustle and ceremonial — a good mix of local commerce, pride and pageantry.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.