Kvareli

Kvareli lies at the foot of the Caucasus on the northern edge of the Alazani valley, in the zone that produces Kindzmarauli, and its distinctive feature is underground: tunnels driven into the rock in the twentieth century for wine storage, several kilometres of them at a constant temperature, now used by producers who run tours and tastings along the galleries. The town also has a fortress with square corner towers, a lake with beaches and boats a short drive out, and the mountains rising directly behind. It is quieter than Telavi or Sighnaghi and works as a base for the eastern part of Kakheti and for Lagodekhi further along.

What you actually see

• Wine tunnels in the rock - kilometres of galleries at constant temperature.
• The town fortress - walls and square corner towers.
• Ilia lake - beaches and boats below the mountains.
• The Caucasus wall behind - the range rising directly north.

When to go

April to October; the harvest in September and October is the busiest season. A day, longer as a base. Tunnel tours run to a schedule and book up in season.

Honest expectations

The tunnels are a commercial wine operation and tours are firmly sales-oriented. The lake is developed and busy in summer. The town itself has little else. Public transport connections are slow.

Nearby

Nekresi is west; Lagodekhi lies east.