'Magical' European city known as the 'birthplace of wine' is a very affordable destination

Direct flights have launched to Tbilisi in Georgia next year and if are looking for somewhere to go that is a hidden gem they should add this to their list. While the country is not widely known by the public, research from reveals less than a third of wine drinkers know that Georgia is a country.

Yet, 19 percent believe it is an area inside Russia, 15 percent believe it is in South America, and one percent believe it's located in the Bermuda Triangle. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) have no idea the capital is Tbilisi.

However, experts have known about the country for years thanks to its superb reputation often referred to as the 'birthplace of wine'.

With around 500 grape varieties, its world-renowned wines have begun to make a name for themselves in the UK, with exports surging 28 percent in the last year.

Georgia is quickly rising in the ranks of must-visit destinations for travellers drawn to a rich tapestry of cultures, and luckily for tourists, is a very affordable country.

'Birthplace of wine'

Georgia first produced wine as early as 8,000 BC. Nevertheless, almost 120 million bottles of Georgian wine were exported worldwide last year.

With increased accessibility and a spotlight on the country, Georgian wine is poised to captivate the palates of British consumers. This year, Georgia proudly secured 14th place among 38 winemaking countries, at The International Wine Challenge, spotlighting its growing reputation.

The most famous varieties from Georgia include Saperavi (sa-per-ah-vee), often referred to as the 'king of Georgian grapes', and Kisi (kee-see) an aromatic white grape variety often used in orange or amber wine. With 98 percent of Brits expressing openness to exploring new wines, the timing couldn't be better.

How to get to Georgia?

easyJet and British Airways announce the launch of direct flights from the UK to Tbilisi in 2025.

Departing from April 1, 2025, easyJet will operate two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer. However, these will only be available from London Luton for now.

The low-cost airline has also launched a new route to Tbilisi from Geneva and Milan Malpensa.

Ali Gayward, country manager at easyJet said: "We are delighted to announce a new route to a brand-new destination on our network today, and to be providing direct connectivity between the UK and Tbilisi in Georgia for the first time from next summer, providing even more choice for our customers flying from London Luton who choose us for our unrivalled network which we continue to strengthen, our crew and their fantastic service, and of course our great value fares."

Meanwhile, British Airways will operate from London Heathrow four times per week from summer 2025.

Neil Chernoff, chief planning and strategy officer at British Airways, said: "We're delighted to welcome Tbilisi back into our route network, after our last scheduled service in 2013. We expect this to be a popular route with the leisure market, which has seen a strong comeback since 2019, as well as with those looking to enjoy direct flights to visit friends and family. We look forward to improving the connectivity between our two capital cities next year."

Mariam Kvrivishvili, deputy minister of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, said: "We are proud that flagship carrier British Airways has decided to enter the Georgian market, which is an important recognition for our country. This will significantly boost Georgia's awareness within the UK market and improve connectivity with the USA, which is a strategic partner country of Georgia."