Discover the world’s oldest winemaking tradition. This immersive one-week course invites participants to explore how wine, culture, and identity intertwine in Georgia — a nation where the art of fermentation has shaped history, faith, and daily life for over 8,000 years.

Through lectures, tastings, and excursions led by Georgian historians, archaeologists, winemakers, and chefs, participants trace the journey of wine from ancient clay vessels to modern cellars. They’ll visit archaeological sites, stroll through Tbilisi’s markets, cook traditional dishes, and meet producers in the country’s renowned Kakheti region.

Along the way, the course examines how wine has served as a symbol of resilience and hospitality, a marker of national identity, and a bridge between tradition and global innovation. Ideal for students of history, culture, gastronomy, or anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how taste carries meaning, this program blends intellectual discovery with sensory experience.

If you are a current student: it is your responsibility to check the academic calendar of your home institution to ensure you do not miss class and/or have the necessary approvals in place for participation. If you are interested in another spring break (or other) period and have a group of at least 4 participants, contact us. Applications received after the session deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.

If you are interested and the deadline has passed, please contact us immediately.

See semester and other programs in this region

Program Details

 

Temperatures in March in Georgia are moderate, averaging 50-60F during the day, falling to around 35-40F at night. Please pack and dress appropriately!

Day 1 (Saturday):Arrival in Tbilisi, introduction to the neighborhood of your very centrally located hotel. We anticipate arrivals throughout the day so we will take it easy today while you acclimate to your new time zone. Depending on overall arrival schedule, we will have a program orientation in the evening.

Day 2 (Sunday): Introduction to Georgia: The First Sip

  • Walking Tour of Tbilisi
  • Welcome lunch
  • Guided tour of the Wine History Museum
  • Dinner (on own)
  • Evening Map Activity & Degustation – Georgian Terroir & Grape Varietals
  • Overnight in Tbilisi; Included meals: B, L

Day 3 (Monday): Communion: Faith, Resilience, and Identity

  • Lecture: Faith, Wine, and Identity in Georgia
  • Lecture: Wine as a Tool of Resistance
  • Lunch (on own)
  • Documentary Film Viewing: “Our Blood is Wine”
  • Dinner (Georgian Supra)
  • Overnight in Tbilisi; Included meals: B, D

Day 4 (Tuesday):Wine Origins: The Case for Georgia

  • Day Trip to Kvemo Kartli
  • Bolnisi Archaeological Museum – artifacts from finds from the first gold quarry in the Caucasus and evidence of the country’s ancient winemaking traditions
  • Dmanisi Citadel
  • Orozmani Archaeological Excavation Site
  • Overnight in Tbilisi; Included meals: B, L

Day 5 (Wednesday): From Vine to Vessel: Winemaking and Georgian Culinary Traditions

  • Lecture: How Wine Is Made – From Vine to Vessel
  • Lunch (on own)
  • Dezerter’s Bazaar Tour
  • Cooking Workshop
  • Overnight in Tbilisi; Included meals: B, D

Day 6 (Thursday): Kakheti: Georgia’s Winemaking Heartland

  • Visits to conventional and natural winemakers
  • Breadmaking
  • Churchkhela making
  • Lunch
  • Cheese tasting
  • Visit to qvevri maker
  • Overnight in Tbilisi; Included meals: B, L

Day 7 (Friday): Going Global

  • Lecture: Contemporary Opportunities and Challenges for Georgian Wine
  • Lunch (on own)
  • Marketing workshop: Wine label design
  • Degustation: Foreign vs. Georgian wines
  • Overnight in Tbilisi; Included meals: B

Day 8 (Saturday): Final Toast

  • Course Reflection Roundtable
  • Lunch (on own)
  • Short Essay Assignment & Course Survey
  • Certificate Ceremony
  • Sulfer baths (optional)
  • Farewell Dinner
  • Overnight in Tbilisi; Included meals: B, D

Day 9 (Sunday):Transfer to airport for departure.

Included meals: B

Schedule is subject to change.

SRAS Certificate Courses are location-based, intensive, and interdisciplinary in nature. Through lectures, workshops, dialogues, and other experiences, we address current and global issues that are even more relevant and visible in our host country. Upon completion, you gain a certificate, many contacts, and experience to share on your resume.

Participants in this program who wish to extend their stay with the From Plate to Printprogram focusing on Food Writing may apply a $750 discount to the latter program.

Participants in either session of this course may extend their stay for Russian as a Second Language (4-10 weeks). Participants in Summer Session 2 may also extend with Georgian Language & Culture (4 weeks). In all cases a discount will apply to the latter program, amount depending on length of study. 

You will stay in a centrally located small hotel/guesthouse in twin/triple rooms. Single supplement charge is $120. Early check-in can incur up to a full day charge.

Breakfast is included at your guesthouse. Other meals as indicated in itinerary. Vegetarian/Vegan and other dietary needs will be accommodated. Georgia is generally a great location for vegetarians and vegans.

Tbilisi is both enigmatic and endearing, with an Old Town that blends medieval, Persian, Soviet, and contemporary architecture. Georgia’s cuisine, known for its unique yet universally loved flavors, is paired with one of the world’s oldest wine traditions, with meals meant to be savored slowly in the warm company of friends. Georgian arts are equally captivating—from haunting polyphonic singing and energetic dance to majestic churches and regional traditions that vary across this small but remarkably diverse country. From the Black Sea coast to the Caucasus peaks, lush vineyards to remote stone villages, Georgia offers far more to see and experience than its size suggests. Tbilisi itself is alive with cafés, theaters, and markets, while excursions quickly connect visitors to breathtaking landscapes and historic sites, revealing why Georgia’s food, music, and warm hospitality are hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Find out more about:

When completing the short application for this trip, you will pay a $50 non-refundable fee that is applied to the total trip cost. When your participation is confirmed on our end (you will receive an email) a non-refundable deposit of $450 is due within 7 days to hold your space. Full trip payment is due 45 days prior to arrival. 

  • If we recieve cancellation in writing 20+ days before the program start, 20% of the total trip cost is refundable
  • If cancellation occurs less than 20 days before the program start, no refund is guaranteed.

Because we know things happen, if somehow we are able to fill your spot, we will endeavor to refund as much as possible. If you have things going on in your life (or in the life of those around you) that could lead to cancellation, we recommend securing travel insurance.

Funding from SRAS:

  • SRAS Ambassadors can write while abroad or educate students at home after their return – and earn stipends!
  • SRAS Online Research Internships award partial scholarships for study abroad.
  • Group Discount*: Bring 1-2 friends abroad with you for this program and you will each receive a $150 discount. Bring 3+ friends and you each receive a $200 discount. All participants must name each other as part of their application for their SRAS study abroad program. *Does not apply to students who already receive an alumni discount or special group pricing from SRAS, which includes Affiliation Discounts.
  • If you pair this course with a SRAS summer program in any location, a $250 discount will be applied to the latter program.

If you are interested in leading your own group to Georgia for spring break, click the “Enquire Now” button below to start the conversation with us.

For more insight into a Georgia faculty-led experience, see this Debrief with Andrea Lanoux of Connecticut College.