By Elizabeth Lavis for Investor.ge
Attend a Georgian supra and you may hear elaborate toasts celebrating god, peace, and grapes – in that order. Winemaking and the grape harvest are part of an 8,000-year-old tradition that Georgians hold as sacred and essential to their national and cultural identity, and there’s no better time to celebrate the bounty of the vineyards than rtveli.
Rtveli translates to “fruit harvest” and occurs predominantly in Georgia’s Kakheti region between early September and mid-October. Rkatsiteli and Saperavi grapes make up the overwhelming bulk of the harvest, yielding crisp whites and tannic reds ideal for pairing with your mtsvadi (grilled meat skewers). Beyond the delicious wine, fermented in traditional qvevri or stainless steel canisters, rtveli is a time of fellowship, food, and rich traditions, many of which are open to the public.
Visit the Vineyards
One of the most popular ways to get involved in rtveli is to go straight to the source: the vineyards themselves.
Keti’s House, in the Khaketian village of Shilda, offers three-day rtveli celebrations from September 19th to the end of October. The first day features a cooking class and local wine tasting. On the second day, visitors harvest grapes, learn how to make churchkhela, and have a family dinner, followed by a communal breakfast on the third day before heading back to Tbilisi.
Keti’s House also offers one-day visits for those who can’t commit to the entire weekend. Additionally, Schuchmann Wines and Wine Yard N1 offer immersive experiences that can be tailored to your needs, showcasing the grapes perfectly.
Mosmieri and Vinotel are other excellent choices for your rtveli adventures. In 2024, Mosmieri offered grape harvesting, cooking classes, and supras for guests, and Vinotel held wine tastings, grape harvesting, and supras to celebrate the season. Keep your eyes on their socials for what’s happening in 2025.
Château Mukhrani, one of Georgia’s premier wineries, has been celebrating rtveli since 2011, an event open by invitation only. While you’ll need to be on the guest list to participate in the exclusive September 21 Rtveli festivities, it’s an excellent spot to sample the latest vintage and enjoy the chateau’s fabulous palatial grounds.
“Rtveli is more than just a harvest, it’s a refined Georgian feast, blending tradition and elegance,” Teona Talakhadze, Global Brand Manager for Château Mukhrani, says. “There’s music, dance, art exhibitions, and of course, wine. It’s an experience that engages all senses and leaves lasting memories.”
Join a Tour
Eat This! Food & Wine Tours offers rtveli 2025 tours in Racha, Kartli, Imereti, and Kakheti. These tours are as authentic as it gets, with participants joining a local winemaking family as they harvest the grapes that will be the next year’s vintage. Paired with a traditional tamada-led supra, it’s a genuine peek into this age-old tradition. Plus, since each harvest is different, every rtveli is unique, and a memorable way to spend your time in Georgia.
Eat This! Food & Wine Tours also offers chacha and churchkhela making tours, and rtveli simulation tours that run outside the actual rtveli, where guests visit independent vineyards, pick grapes, and mingle with local winemakers to appreciate the wine-making process.
“Rtveli is always our favorite time of year,” co-owner Meg Williams says. “The unique experience of working alongside local families and their friends to bring in that year’s harvest is an experience like no other. When it all ends in feasting with wine, song, and endless toasts, this incredible transformation happens where strangers turn into friends, and friends feel like family. It’s quite an emotional experience.”
Co-owner Tom Williams echoes the sentiment, saying, “It’s hard to put the whole rtveli experience into words if you’ve never been. It’s not just about picking grapes; it’s over 8,000 years of history. Between the toasts, the laughter, and the stories, you start to understand just how much this tradition means. The fact that they welcome us into it like family? That’s something pretty special.”
TEMI, an intentional community in the village of Gremi, offers bicycle tours, cooking classes, and a rtveli harvest and celebration. Visiting this village is an excellent way to give back and support the community, which is composed of people with diverse abilities and needs, while enjoying an iconic Georgian tradition.
Rtveli on any budget
Whether you splash out or scrimp, rtveli is bound to be the highlight of your Georgian trip. Places like TEMI offer vineyard and grape-picking tours for as little as 20 GEL, whereas larger wineries offer multi-day packages complete with supras and additional perks for an extra fee.
It is entirely possible to explore the Kakheti wine region on your own, also, with buses and marshrutkas leaving regularly from Tbilisi to places like Telavi and Sighnaghi, both of which are right in the heart of wine country.
Ultimately, rtveli is a time to celebrate what truly makes Georgia unique: a wine tradition that spans centuries, and an age-old mandate of hospitality that lets visitors truly feel welcome at the family supra table.
