You can’t throw a khinkali in Tbilisi without hitting a wine shop, a wine bar or a local selling their
homemade wine on any given street corner. It’s all too easy to be tipsy in Tbilisi. You could spend hours and countless miles of walking around the city trying various wines from across the region. To save you the time and the steps, we took on the arduous task of composing a list of what we think are some of the best wine bars the city has to offer.
A Brief History of Georgian Wine
The tradition of winemaking in Georgia goes back 8000 years and is known as ‘the cradle of wine. ’ The vine has always held great significance to Georgian culture. In ancient times, warriors would tie vines to their belts so if they were to fall in battle their bodies would be the food for the grape seed. Wine held such prestige and status that kings would allow Georgians to pay their debts in wine instead of gold. In wine education, there are two categories wines typically fall into: New World or Old World. However, Georgian wines are in a category all of their own, known as Ancient World. The very unique technique of fermenting the wines underground in qvevri (earthenware vessel) has been kept alive since 6000 BC and UNESCO has named the qvevri method an intangible cultural heritage site.
Something to ponder while you sip your glass of saperavi, rkatsiteti, or kisi wine. In the name of being cultured and not just a lush.
8000 vintages
Location : 26 Sulkhan Tsintsadze St
This Tbilisi wine bar and shop opened its first location in May of 2016 in the Saburtalo neighborhood.
The large industrial space was a first of its kind in Tbilisi, and it’s not geared towards tourists, unlike some other wine shops in the old town. 8000 Vintages is a place for locals and wine education. It is a place to have a blind tasting and converse with the in-house sommelier. It’s the massive selection and affordable prices that keep us returning with each visit to the city.
If you are new to Georgian wine, stop in for a private tasting and a lesson with one of their sommeliers. If you’re heading to the Opera House one evening, pop into their Rustaveli location for a glass or two before the overture. However, be careful not to consume too many or you might find yourself asleep before the curtain falls. Nope, we have no experience doing that… as he types with a grin.
DADI Wine Bar
Location : 4 Shalva Dadiani St
Open since 2017, Dadi Wine Bar is centered around their love for food and organic,
biodynamic, artisanal wine sourced from family-owned wineries all around Georgia. If you are new to
Georgian wine, they offer a simple flight where you can choose from red, white or rose or a more
extensive Georgian wine experience. Dadi’s by-the-glass selection is impressive, featuring roughly 30 offerings daily and a multi-page bottle list spanning all corners of the country, including labels
from small producers that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. We ordered a few small bites to enjoy with our wine and were almost tempted to stay for dinner. Next time.
Nino Meris Wine Selection
Location : 13 Sioni St
No wider than a traditional tone oven, this little shop has plenty to offer. It is sandwiched between
two restaurants in what looks like it used to be a breezeway. The shop and tasting room is
owned by a young woman who not only sells wines from all over Georgia but wines that she
makes herself at her vineyard in Kakheti. She was quoted as saying, “I am proud to call myself a
Georgian woman winemaker. Only I and my mother care about wines with no man entering the
wine cellar during the winemaking process.” This talented winemaker will help you select a wine suited to your palate and join you in conversation if you’re interested.
Wine Boutique Tbilisi
Location : 17 anastasia eristav-khoshtaria st
Up the hill from the loud hustle and bustle of Rustaveli is a wine shop on a quiet street, in an old
row home. The shop is decorated with bright and engaging paintings from one of the shop
employees, a Frenchman who came to Tbilisi for a girl and stayed for the wine. You are welcome to do a tasting by the glass or purchase a bottle with just a small markup from retail. They don’t offer any food here, but you are more than welcome to bring your own or have it delivered. If you are celebrating
something special, consider a magnum, which is not commonly found elsewhere around town.
Tsangalas Wine Shop and Bar
Location : 12 Ioane Shavteli St
Located near the Clock Tower and Gabriadze Theater, this shop is the perfect place to
have a glass of wine before a show. The shop is quaint with just a
few small tables and a friendly staff. There are no menus, just a helpful staff member to guide
you with your taste preferences. If you want to feel like a local, finish your wine experience with
some house-made chacha. Just as a side note: If you’re going to Gabriadze Theater, wines by the
glass there start at 30 lira, double the price of a glass across the street at Tsangalas. So, do yourself a favor and swing by here first for your pre-show beverage.
Patara Dzagll
Location : 15, 27 Kote Afkhazi St
This is a great little gem located in Old Tbilisi. It’s situated along one of the more touristy streets that is lined with hawkers of restaurants and tours. We mentioned to one of the owners that we were shocked to find this place along this stretch of road. In fact, we unknowingly walked by several times thinking it might be a tourist trap. He agreed and said that he actually would like to move for that exact line of thinking.
Here, the owners are excited about wine and wine education, holding WSET certifications. You will find small production, boutique wines here; just ask them to show you their rare bottles that can’t be found anywhere else in Tbilisi. If you are a glass snob, (like we can be from time to time), they also have some of the best glassware we have found in the city. So, if you are looking for a “loyal wine buddy,” pay no attention to the nearby hawkers and stop in for a glass of wine. We can almost guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
Poliphonia Natural Wine
Location : 29/29 Chonkadze st
We had planned on coming here just for a glass or two of wine, but after quickly persuing the menu,
we couldn’t resist ordering a few snacks. The Georgian, Asian, and Italian fusion food was some of the best bites we had in our time in Tbilisi. This Tbilisi wine bar has a great selection of natural Georgian wines to accompany your meal or to enjoy on its own. Behind the bar, there is also a large selection of infused chachas, ranging from more traditional to spicy and sweet flavors. Poliphonia also carries a couple local beers if that’s more your speed (and they aren’t Megobrebi).
Final Thoughts on Wine Bars in Tbilisi
There’s no wrong place to pop in for a glass of wine in this city. Over the years, we’ve become smitten with many of what we would consider to be the best wine bars in Tbilisi. Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments.
Cheers friends,
Matt and Megan
