Tusheti — a mysterious, remote region high in the mountains bordering Chechnya with ancient pagan and Christian monuments; to go here is to wander back in time hundreds of years
Kakheti is solid Georgian territory, but you can get by just fine with knowledge of Russian, the second language for much of the older generation and for all taxi drivers.
If you happen to speak Chechen, you could have a very interesting experience in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, where many Chechen refugees have set up shanties.
''Great'' drinking opportunities await visitors to Kakheti. Some wineries (especially the Tsinandali Winery) will give nice tours to anyone who shows up, whenever they show up, which include wine tasting. As a matter of fact, if you go to any of the wineries and ask for a tour, you will get one, although they may not be very professional about it. Because nearly all of Georgia's high quality wine is exported, and because there are not many tourists in Kakheti, it can actually be impossible to buy wine directly from smaller wineries (even under the table!). Wineries that are not licensed to sell directly to visitors should have an official store nearby, but ''be sure to call ahead of time'' to make sure that it is open.
But the best drinking opportunities are actually not in the wineries, but rather in the homes of the ordinary people of Kakheti. Nearly every household has its own homemade, usually delicious wine. If you are the least outgoing and speak either Georgian or Russian, chances are you will get invited into someone's home for wine and food—''do not pass this up!'' Your host may also offer you Georgian "chacha," an outrageously potent vodka distilled from grapes, which you may indeed want to pass up.