Italianate palace
Ornate wooden galleries.
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A historic estate in the village of Tsinandali in the Alazani valley that belonged to the Georgian poet and prince Alexander Chavchavadze (1786-1846). He built an Italianate palace, a European-style garden and a winery that combined European winemaking with Georgia's ancient traditions. The prince entertained foreign guests here with music and feasts, and the dry white Tsinandali is still among Georgia's best-known wines. In 1854 the estate was raided by the forces of Imam Shamil: it was plundered and the family's women and children were taken captive, then returned months later in a prisoner exchange. The estate became a museum in 1947. Visitors tour the palace with its furniture, paintings and family belongings, then the old winery, whose cellar keeps a collection of historic wine bottles, and stroll the historic garden with rare trees from many continents and a green maze. Since 2019 it has hosted an international classical music festival. Entry is by a ticket that usually includes a guided tour of the palace and winery and a walk in the garden; prices vary with the tour, and wine tasting costs extra. It lies near the town of Telavi, so it combines with Kakheti's monasteries in a single day.
Ornate wooden galleries.
Historic wine bottles.
Rare trees.
Tsinandali village near Telavi, Kakheti, about fifty kilometres north-west of Sighnaghi
Yes; the estate offers tastings for an extra fee on top of the entry ticket, bookable on arrival or in advance.