The real Georgia is within its people, living embodiments of traditions, culture and stories. Georgian hospitality is legendary and yet many visitors do not get to experience it fully. Why? Because they often miss the places it thrives the most, in the villages and small towns, in the homes of local families, where you can see their household, and witness the true culture of the country.
The secret to having the most authentic experience in Georgia is through human connections. One of the best ways to see Georgia authentically is by visiting local markets, where you can watch how locals greet and interact with each other, which ingredients they choose and what matters to them in everyday life.
Even more powerful is visiting local families. Imagine learning how to cook delicious Georgian food from locals and not the recipes and let them share their generational knowledge with you.
Let us share about the real families.
Meet Your Hosts:
1. Meet Veriko — Musician, Mother, and Host of Genuine Georgian Hospitality
Veriko, a professional violinist and a mother of four. Veriko runs her household alongside her family, taking care of the vineyard, gardens, harvesting bio vegetables and fruits, baking bread, making Churchkhela, and much more. Her goal is to have bio products for her kids and the guests. Despite her busy schedule, she manages to host us for lunch, preparing a beautiful Sufra (traditional feast) and showing exceptional hospitality.
2. Meet George: The Winemaker Reviving Georgia’s Ancient Wine Traditions
Wine is an inseparable part of Georgian identity, but just tasting it is not enough; you must meet the people behind the wine.
Meet George, a winemaker from the Kakheti region. In 2015, he returned to his village from Tbilisi and continued his family's tradition of winemaking. He’s one of the few in Georgia producing organic wine from the very rare and special species of grape, Jgia. With no formal education in the wine industry, he’s utilizing the generational knowledge passed down from his father and grandfather, continuing the 8000-year-old tradition of winemaking in Georgia.
3. Meet Avto — The Man Whose Toasts Capture the Spirit of Georgia
Avto is from a big family, where several generations live together in one household, running their family farm together. This is one of the families hosting our lunches, where we get to try their family's production, such as: wine, Chacha, brandy, honey and all of the delicious food and with products grown in their garden. Avto is famous for his toasts, which is essential to Georgian gatherings, a huge part of our drinking culture.
4. The True Essence of Georgia: Where Every Guest Is a Gift from God
Despite its small size, Georgia is remarkably diverse in its nature, cuisine, people and traditions of hospitality. This may differ from one region to another, yet it is always genuine, hearty and unforgettable. And this is the hospitality we share on our tours, opening the door and allowing you to feel the authenticity of Georgia.
These experiences offer more than just landmarks and good food, they offer a glimpse of the true Georgian way of living, what people eat, how they live and most importantly, how they treat guests
In Georgia, there’s a saying: “A guest is a gift from God.” This is not just a phrase, you will feel it once you’re welcomed into a Georgian home.
So, visit the landmarks, but do not forget about people. That’s where the real magic lies.