Gurjaani

Gurjaani (Georgian: გურჯაანი) is a city, with a population of 10,000, in the Alazani Valley of the Kakheti region.

Understand
The area around and in Gurjaani was already inhabited during the stone ages. The oldest church originates from the 8th century. As with the rest of the Kakheti region, also Gurjaani is an important wine region. The modern city was founded in 1934.

By bus
Marshrutkas heading for Telavi from Tbilisi, but not taking highway no. 38, also go through Gurjaani.

Furthermore, several marshrutkas travel between Gurjaani and Telavi, Sighnaghi as well as Tnori.

By car
The main Kakheti highway no. 5 can be taken from Tbilisi or the Azerbaijani border. At Bakurtsikhe take highway no. 42 for 10 km towards Telavi.

Get around
The city is small enough to be walkable.

Buy
In the city center, there is a market area where you can find everything you need for daily life: ATM's of Bank of Georgia (orange terminal) and TBC Bank (blue terminal), pharmacies, a vet and lots of things for your car if you need to fix something. There are several super markets at the main road through the city (SH42).

Eat
Kakheti is well known for meat and barbecue. It is common using dry branches of grapevine to make a fire, wait for glowing ashes and then put meat skewers on a frame to grill the meat. When the meat is done it's put into bowls and mixed with fresh onions and herbs. It is also common to eat the grilled meat with tremali sauce (a kind of saur plum sauce).

Drink
There is a small and nice cafe in Ioseb Noneshvili Gamziri since 2022.

Go next

 * Telavi – the capital of Kakheti is a convenient base for exploring the region's wineries, castles, and monasteries
 * Sighnaghi – A restored wine town with an extensive wall and close-by the popular Monastery of St. George at Bodbe (aka Bodbe Convent).
 * Lagodekhi – A pretty border town (next to Azerbaijan) and a nearby nature reserve with subtropical forests.
 * David Gareja Monastery Complex – A 6th century cave monastery clinging onto a rocky hillside lying meters away from Azerbaijan, with beautiful frescos. Can be reached by taxis or organized tours, no public transport available from Sighnaghi (only Tbilisi). 50 km from Sighnaghi, a detour along the way to/from Tbilisi.