If you love rich culture, history, food and most importantly, wine then this little known European gem needs to be on your radar for an autumnal getaway.

Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia – a country that fewer than a third of Brits even realise is in Europe – and it is the perfect spot for a holiday. 

Known as the birthplace of wine for those in the know, Georgia started producing quality tipple around 8000BC and has been going strong ever since.

Boasting around 500 indigenous grape varieties, almost 120 million bottles of Georgian wine were exported worldwide last year.

Despite its fame in the wine world, Georgia is an often forgotten location for tourism but it shouldn’t be. 

Next year, EasyJet and British Airways will launch direct flights from London to Tbilisi, making it the perfect time to get planning your relaxing getaway.

The capital of Tbilisi (pronounced tuh-buh-lee-si) is a gorgeous spot to soak up culture. One of the oldest capitals in Europe, this stunning city offers history and beauty in spades.

At the heart of it lies the old city which was built during the early middle ages and still has its incredible colourful domed baths which date to the 17th century.

These baths are naturally heated by sulphur and the water ranges from 38-40°C

Once you’ve soaked and relaxed, why not head out of the capital to the main winemaking hub of Georgia in Kakheti where fertile soil and sunny weather makes for incredible grapes. 

The most famous varieties 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.

Zurab Margvelashvili, Founder of Tbilvino Wines, which is the oldest family run Georgian winery,says: “We’re thrilled to learn about the new flight routes from the UK to our capital. It’s a fantastic opportunity to share the magic of Georgian wine with a wider audience.”

If you’re planning a trip to Georgia then it pays to learn a few phrases in their national language of which Georgians are fiercely proud and protective – but don’t stress too much as English is commonly used too.  

The currency in Georgia is the Lari, of which 1 is equivalent to 28 pence in GBP.