German village in Georgia (Elisabethal) & Wine tasting

Asureti offers a rare change of pace from the usual Georgian wine route. Once called Elisabethal, this village was built by German settlers, and its ruined Lutheran church, old cemetery, and sulfur bath still point to a community that disappeared during World War II. The final stop brings you to a working wine setting for a tasting of unusual Asuretuli Shala, a grape linked to German farmer Otto Schall.

I like the private pickup and drop-off, which saves you from arranging a rental car or finding a meeting point outside central Tbilisi. I also like the mix of social history and wine: you get more than a tasting room and a pretty view. The main drawback is that the tour lasts about five hours, despite being described as a full-day trip, and lunch is not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Asureti is the heart of the visit: You explore the former German settlement of Elisabethal, not just pass through a wine village.
• The Lutheran church is a ruin: The site is meaningful, but do not expect a restored interior or a formal museum.
• The cemetery preserves German names: Old German inscriptions give the village’s story a personal touch.
• Shala wine is the special tasting: Raminashvilebis Marani serves Asuretuli Shala, a rare local grape associated with Otto Schall.
• Your vehicle and guide are private: Only your group participates, with hotel pickup and return in Tbilisi.
• Plan for no included meal: Wine is covered, but lunch and other food or drinks are at your own cost.

From Tbilisi to Asureti, a different side of Georgia

The trip begins at about 10:00 a.m., with pickup from your hotel or another address in Tbilisi. Since the vehicle is private, you do not have to work around strangers, and you can ask your driver-guide to explain the places you pass along the way.

The route leads you to Asureti, a village with a German past in Georgia. The settlement was originally known as Elisabethal and was established by German colonists in the early 19th century. Its story adds a human layer to the wine country. You are not only looking at old stone and tasting local wine. You are tracing how a German community built a life in Georgia, then lost it through wartime deportation.

The tour is sold as a full-day private visit, but the stated duration is about five hours. That makes it more useful as a half-day outing than as an all-day expedition. You should have time for the four planned stops, yet you should not expect a long list of extra attractions or a leisurely restaurant lunch unless you arrange food separately.

The ruined Lutheran church in Asureti

The first stop is the Asureti German Lutheran Church, where you have about 30 minutes. Built in the mid-19th century, the church was once the spiritual and social center of Elisabethal. It served worship, village gatherings, and the preservation of German customs.

Today, the church is in ruins. That is both its appeal and its limitation. You can read the site as a record of abandonment, but you should not arrive expecting a polished historic monument with displays, staff, or a restored nave. The simple German design is easier to appreciate when you understand what the building once meant to the village.

I find this kind of stop most rewarding when you take a moment to picture its original role. A church in a small settlement was not only a place for Sunday services. It also helped hold a community together. After the German population was forcibly deported during World War II, the building lost that purpose and fell into disrepair.

Your guide can help connect the ruins with the wider story of German settlement in Georgia. David and Irakli are among the guides associated with this company, and the strongest guiding approach here is likely to be conversational rather than a flood of dates. That matters at a place where the setting itself tells only part of the story.

Reading the German cemetery

The next stop is the Elisabethtal cemetery, also allotted about 30 minutes. It was established by the early German settlers and contains gravestones with German inscriptions. These stones are small, direct reminders that families lived, worked, worshipped, and died here over several generations.

The cemetery has experienced neglect, though preservation work has helped protect it. Its condition may feel uneven, and you should treat it as a historic site rather than a manicured attraction. The reward is in the details: names, dates, lettering, and the visible mixture of German religious tradition with a Georgian setting.

This is a good place to slow down. The church tells you about public life, while the cemetery brings the story down to individual people. If you enjoy genealogy, migration stories, or local history, you may find this stop more affecting than the larger sights.

The cemetery also helps explain why Asureti is different from a standard Kakheti wine excursion. Many tours focus on monasteries, fortresses, grand views, and tastings. This visit gives you a narrower subject, the traces of one immigrant community, and lets you see how much remains after a population has been removed.

The old sulfur bath and German craftsmanship

The third stop is Asureti’s German sulfur bath, with about 30 minutes for the visit. German settlers built the bath in the 19th century, and it was valued for both relaxation and the supposed health benefits of sulfur water.

The bathhouse reflects German building methods and the settlers’ care with practical design. It is another reminder that the community did not simply establish homes and a church. It created the everyday facilities needed for village life.

The important practical note is that the bath may no longer be in use. You should think of this as a heritage stop, not a bathing experience. No swimming or treatment is included in the tour description, so bring your camera and curiosity, not a bathing suit.

Taken with the church and cemetery, the sulfur bath gives you three different views of Elisabethal. The church represents faith and public gatherings. The cemetery preserves family memory. The bath shows daily life and practical infrastructure. The sequence works because each stop adds a different piece to the same story.

Tasting rare Shala wine at Raminashvilebis Marani

The final stop is Raminashvilebis Marani, where you spend about an hour tasting local wine. This is the most directly hands-on part of the tour, and the wine is not just a standard Georgian red poured for tourists.

You taste Shala, also called Asuretuli Shala, a rare grape variety connected with the German farmer Otto Schall. The vineyards were planted near Asureti on the banks of the Algeti River and have produced this wine since 1931. That link between grape, place, and German agricultural influence gives the tasting a clear reason to be here.

The tasting is included in the tour price. Food, lunch, and extra drinks are not, so plan accordingly. If you want a full meal, ask in advance if an arrangement is possible, but do not assume it is part of the package.

The experience should appeal to you if you like trying grape varieties that are less familiar outside Georgia. Georgia is known for ancient winemaking traditions, but this particular stop adds another angle: a wine shaped by the meeting of Georgian land and German settlers.

Past trips with BB Georgia Travel have also included homemade wines in villages and wine-focused excursions in Kakheti. If you are especially interested in wine, tell your guide at the start. The company’s guides have been praised for offering information without burying the day under dates and facts, which suits a tasting where you want clear explanations and time to enjoy the glass in front of you.

What the $75 price really covers

At $75 per person, the value depends heavily on how many people are in your private group. The price includes fuel, a private vehicle, driver-guide service, hotel pickup and drop-off, and the wine tasting. Those inclusions remove several costs that can quickly add up when you arrange a day independently.

The private format is the strongest part of the price. You are not joining a large bus, and only your group participates. That gives you more control over questions, pace, and conversation. It also makes the tour a practical choice for couples, families, and solo visitors who prefer a direct connection with a local guide.

The value is less impressive if you want a long, attraction-packed day with lunch and several major monuments. This route is focused. You are paying for transport, a guide, access to a distinctive village story, and a wine tasting, not for a large number of entrance tickets.

There are no separate admission charges listed for the church, cemetery, or sulfur bath. The tasting is included. You should still budget for lunch and any additional food or drinks, since those are excluded.

How the private format changes the day

Pickup is offered from anywhere in Tbilisi, with return to your accommodation or another agreed address in the capital. That is useful if you are staying away from the main tourist center or carrying luggage for a later transfer.

Because this is a private activity, the guide can adjust the conversation to your interests. You might want more background on German settlement, more attention to wine, or a simpler overview with time for photographs. The information provided does not promise a particular vehicle size or a fixed lunch break, so ask those questions before booking if they matter to you.

The company has used guides including David and Irakli. David has been praised for a good sense of humor and for giving useful information without overwhelming people with facts. Irakli has led Kakheti visits with a focus on local culture and Georgian customs. Your assigned guide may differ, but these examples suggest the company’s guiding style can be personal and relaxed.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and most people can participate. It is also near public transportation, though the included pickup makes that less important for most visitors.

Who will enjoy Asureti most

I would choose this tour if you want a wine outing with a clear historical theme. It suits people who have already seen Tbilisi’s main sights and want a shorter trip into the countryside without committing to a long Kakheti circuit.

It is also a good fit for:

• Couples looking for a private day with flexible conversation
• Solo visitors who want local transport and a guide
• Families interested in villages, old buildings, and food culture
• Wine drinkers who want to try a less familiar Georgian grape
• History-minded visitors curious about German communities in Georgia

You may want another tour if your priority is Sighnaghi, major fortresses, grand churches, or a broad tour of Kakheti. The provided route is centered on Asureti and one wine stop. It is focused rather than expansive.

The experience also works best if you are comfortable with historic sites that are not fully restored. The church and sulfur bath are important because of what they reveal, not because they offer polished visitor facilities.

Practical advice before you book

Wear shoes suitable for uneven ground, since the church ruins and cemetery are historic outdoor sites. The information provided does not specify accessibility details, so contact the operator if you need step-free access or other arrangements.

Start with a light meal or carry a snack. Lunch is not included, and the schedule gives the wine tasting a full hour. That is enough time for the included degustation, but not a guarantee of a substantial meal.

Ask about the day’s exact timing if you are making evening plans in Tbilisi. The start time is 10:00 a.m., and the stated duration is approximately five hours, but private tours can vary slightly with pickup locations and time spent at each stop.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book this Asureti wine tour?

Book it if you want a private, manageable outing that combines German-Georgian history with an unusual wine tasting. The ruined church, German cemetery, sulfur bath, and Asuretuli Shala make the route more distinctive than a generic countryside drive.

Skip it if you expect a full-day tour packed with famous Kakheti sights, a guaranteed lunch, or a restored museum experience. For the right audience, though, $75 buys a useful mix of transport, personal guiding, and a wine stop you are unlikely to find on every standard itinerary.

FAQ

How long does the Asureti tour take?

The tour lasts approximately five hours and begins at 10:00 a.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from anywhere in Tbilisi are included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is wine tasting included in the price?

Yes. Wine degustation at Raminashvilebis Marani is included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch, food, and additional drinks are not included.

What wine do you taste?

The tasting features Shala, also known as Asuretuli Shala, a rare grape variety associated with the Asureti area.

Are there entrance fees for the historic stops?

The listed church, cemetery, and sulfur bath visits have no admission ticket included or required according to the tour details. Any extra ticket or entrance fee is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.