New Wine Festival (Akhali Gvinis Pestivali) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Kartli calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi, in the heart of one of Georgia's most distinctive wine areas. It has been running since 2010, with a long unbroken local tradition behind it.
Georgia's New Wine Festival, held each May at Mtatsminda Park overlooking Tbilisi, marks the symbolic spring opening of the previous autumn's qvevri wines. Over 100 producers from across all of Georgia's wine regions present their newly opened qvevri wines, with the public tasting from clay drinking bowls (azarpesha and kantsi). The programme combines tastings with traditional Georgian polyphonic singing, dance ensembles, the distinctive Tbilisian funicular ride to the festival site, and Georgian gastronomy.
The festival has become one of the most important annual public wine events in Georgia. Wine festivals across Europe typically combine producer tastings with food pairings, live music, and a strong sense of place. Visitors can expect access to wines from a range of producers in the appellation, alongside food stalls offering regional specialities, masterclasses or vineyard walks for those who want to learn more, and an opportunity to buy directly from producers at cellar prices. Many events run across multiple days or weekends, allowing visitors to sample different parts of the programme according to interest, and combine well with the area's wider tourism offer. The event is organised by Georgian Wine Association, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for Early May 2026. Entry is free, with optional paid tasting passes or guided sessions available on site. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at https://gwa.ge/. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
