GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Zegaani

Where qvevri tradition breathes in stone and vine

Zegaani

Why go

Zegaani sits in Kakheti's heartland, a village where the 19th-century estate of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze once stood—now home to Zegaani Winery, one of Georgia's most meticulous practitioners of qvevri winemaking. Here, enormous clay vessels lie buried underground as they have for 8,000 years, fermenting Saperavi and Rkatsiteli with skins, stems, and seeds. The winery occupies a restored noble residence with original frescoes and a park planted by the prince himself, making it a rare place where aristocratic history and living UNESCO heritage converge. Visitors taste not wine alone, but the continuity of Georgian civilization.

On the ground See

  • Tour the qvevri cellar where 40+ buried clay vessels hold wine in the ancient method
  • Walk the original 19th-century park designed by Prince Chavchavadze with rare trees and views toward the Caucasus
  • Taste the estate's amber Rkatsiteli and inky Saperavi alongside Kakhetian supra dishes in the restored manor house

Practical Know before you go

Open year-round by appointment; 15 minutes by car from Telavi, with harvest season (September-October) offering the most active qvevri work.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly