The Ateni Valley
Vineyards, an ancient church and rock-hewn caves - ten minutes south of Gori, an hour and a half from Tbilisi.
Where the Ateni Valley Is
The Ateni Valley runs south from Gori along the Tana river, in the Shida Kartli region of central Georgia. Sheltered by mountains and carved by the Tana river, it is a quiet corner of vineyards, orchards and old stone villages - about a ten-minute drive from Gori and roughly an hour and a half from Tbilisi.
It is an easy place to slow down. People come for the wine, the cool air and the seventh-century church in the valley, then stay for a meal and a night under the mountains. Below are the places worth seeing while you are here.
The Valley & Its Wine
The same valley you come to explore is what gives our wine its character. Cool nights, mountain shelter and mineral soils help the grapes keep the bright natural acidity that defines Atenuri - the registered Ateni Valley appellation, and Georgia's only PDO classified for sparkling wine. Château Ateni is a young family winery, founded in 2010, growing the valley's traditional grapes such as Chinuri and Goruli Mtsvane just down the road from the Ateni Sioni church.
What to See Nearby
- Ateni Sioni Church
- A seventh-century domed church standing in the valley itself, known for its early Georgian inscriptions and faded medieval frescoes. It is the valley's great landmark and only a short drive from the cellar.
- Uplistsikhe Cave Town
- One of Georgia's oldest settlements - an entire town of halls, dwellings and a pagan temple carved straight into the rock above the Mtkvari river, a short drive from Gori.
- Gori - Fortress & Museum
- The nearby town of Gori is crowned by a medieval hilltop fortress with sweeping views, and is home to the Stalin Museum dedicated to the leader born here.
Plan Your Visit
The valley is easy to reach: about ten minutes south of Gori and roughly an hour and a half from Tbilisi by car. Most visitors make a day of it - Ateni Sioni, Uplistsikhe and Gori sit close together - and round it off with a tasting at the cellar and traditional Georgian food. To linger longer, book one of our five guest cottages and wake up among the vineyards.