Azerbaijan Wine Tour: Shamakhi Vineyards & Ancient Lahij

Name: Azerbaijan Wine Tour: Shamakhi Vineyards & Ancient Lahij
Brand: Tours In Azerbaijan
Price: 212.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (17 reviews)

From

₼360

Duration: 10-11 hours Group Size: 1-17 5.0/5 (17 reviews) 2,145 views

Azerbaijan Wine Tour: Shamakhi Vineyards & Ancient Lahij

To the northwest of Baku, the mountains of the Greater Caucasus hold two completely different but equally fascinating worlds. The first is Shamakhi — an ancient city with centuries of winemaking tradition, where Madrasah, Meysari, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay ripen on hillside slopes, and the air carries the scent of vine and oak barrel. The second is Lahij — a medieval village of craftsmen, where coppersmiths work using techniques unchanged since the days of the Great Silk Road. This wine tour in Azerbaijan brings both worlds together into one perfectly balanced day: a tasting at Abqora wine club, lunch on the winery grounds, a mountain road, a suspension bridge, and streets paved with river stone. Among all azerbaijan tours, this format stays with you not as a sightseeing trip, but as a genuine journey.
The route is built on contrast: in the morning — vineyards and the quiet luxury of a tasting room; in the afternoon — a scenic canyon and winding mountain road; by evening — Lahij with its blacksmiths, mosques, and a way of life unchanged for centuries. Gastronomy, nature and history — all woven into a single day with no compromises and no unnecessary stops.

Tour Itinerary

Just beyond the city limits of Baku, the landscape begins to shift: flat plains give way to rolling hills, and then the first vineyards appear on the slopes. The drive to Shamakhi is a gradual immersion into a different side of Azerbaijan — unhurried, expansive, scented with wild herbs and cool mountain air. Along the way you will pass both working wineries and abandoned Soviet-era facilities, silent reminders of another chapter in the region's winemaking history. Rocky outcrops alternate with green hillsides, creating the feeling of a Caucasian Provence long before the first stop. By the time you arrive in Shamakhi, the atmosphere has already set the tone — thoughtful, sensory, and open to new tastes.

Nestled among the vineyards of Shamakhi, this boutique winery offers an authentic introduction to Azerbaijan's modern wine culture. During your visit, you will learn about local grape varieties, vineyard traditions, and the winemaking process before enjoying a guided tasting of carefully selected red, white, and rosé wines. Wine tasting in Shamakhi is more than simply sampling wine—it is an opportunity to discover the unique terroir and centuries-old traditions of the region. After the tasting, a freshly prepared lunch is served in the peaceful surroundings of the vineyard, with beautiful views of the rolling hills and surrounding mountains.

Between Shamakhi and Lahij, the road climbs in switchbacks through the Caucasian ridges before arriving at the Zernava suspension bridge — the only crossing to the remote village of the same name. Beside it, a natural canyon carved by the river over thousands of years creates a scene of striking stillness, where the air turns cooler and quieter with every step. The Shamakhi Lahij tour earns its reputation here — this short stop is one of those unexpected moments that defines the whole day. Among all tours in Azerbaijan that pass through this region, few include a viewpoint quite like this one.

Lahij greets you with stone houses, cobblestone streets, and the sound of hammer on copper — craftsmen here still practise a trade inherited from ancestors whose work was exhibited at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873. Every district of the village has its own mosque, every street its own character, and the Girdiman River running along its banks gives the whole place a quiet, lyrical quality. The wine tasting in Azerbaijan and the living craft traditions of Lahij in a single day is a combination that few itineraries can offer. This is exactly what draws travellers to tours around the regions of Azerbaijan — a country that reveals itself differently at every turn, far beyond what any guidebook can capture.

Tour Category: Exclusive Tours

Group Size: 1-17 people

Start Time: 09:00

Duration: 10-11 hours

Pickup Location: Baku hotels

What's Included

Professional Russian-speaking guide throughout the entire route
Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with seat belts
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Guided Walk Through the Vineyards and Winery

What's Not Included

Lunch (paid independently)
Wine Tasting – When booking, please choose the package that suits you from the list below:
Classic Package — 40 AZN / per person (minimum 6 people) — tasting of 3 wines (Mahru White Dry, Sanam Rose Dry, Asmar Red Dry) with snacks (olives, grissini, cheese, cold cuts, water).
Signature Package — 80 AZN / per person (minimum 3 people) — tasting of 6 wines (Mahru White Dry, Bulluri White Dry, Sanam Rose Dry, Marcan Red Dry, Asmar Red Dry, Innabi Red Dry) with snacks (olives, grissini, cheese, cold cuts, charcuterie, water).
Exclusive Package — 120 AZN / per person (from 1 person) — tasting of 8 wines (Sadaf White Dry, Mahru White Dry, Bulluri White Dry, Sanam Rose Dry, Marcan Red Dry, Asmar Red Dry, Innabi Red Dry, Makhmari Red Dry) with snacks (olives, grissini, cheese, cold cuts, charcuterie, water).

Note

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes with a non-slip sole — the route includes walking sections on cobblestone streets in Lahij and mountain paths.
Please bring cash in Azerbaijani manats for shopping in Lahij, as most local craftsmen do not accept card payments.

Select Date

Adults 12+ yrs

Children 3-11 yrs

Infants 0-2 yrs

Adults $0

Children $0

Infants (Free) $0

Total Amount $0

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Frequently Asked Questions

The tour lasts about 10 hours. We leave Baku early in the morning to comfortably visit all the main attractions, including Shamakhi, a modern winery with a wine tasting, the Zernava Suspension Bridge, and the medieval village of Lahij. We return to Baku in the evening.

No special fitness is required. The tour includes easy walks around Lahij and the winery grounds. Most paths are stone-paved streets and natural walking trails. We recommend wearing comfortable closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles.

The number of wines depends on the tasting package you choose. You will taste a selection of carefully chosen red, white, and rosé wines, including both local Azerbaijani grape varieties and well-known international varieties grown in the Shamakhi region. During the tasting, your guide will explain each wine, the local winemaking traditions, and the unique terroir of the region.

Yes. After the tour and wine tasting, you will have the opportunity to buy your favourite wines at the winery's wine shop. The selection usually includes the wines you tasted, as well as exclusive labels that may not be available in regular stores. We recommend checking the available payment methods before your visit.

Not at all. The tasting experience is designed for both wine lovers and first-time visitors. Your guide will explain the grape varieties, the winemaking process, the local terroir, and the character of each wine in a simple and enjoyable way. No previous knowledge is needed—just curiosity and a desire to discover Azerbaijan's rich wine culture.

Yes. This is one of the main reasons people visit Lahij. Local craftsmen still make traditional copper products by hand using techniques passed down through generations. You can watch them work in their workshops and even talk with them about their craft.

Lahij is one of the oldest and most authentic mountain villages in Azerbaijan. It is famous for its traditional copper craftsmanship. Narrow stone streets, historic houses, and working workshops create a unique atmosphere where centuries-old traditions are still part of everyday life.

Lahij is the country's best-known centre of traditional copper craftsmanship. You can buy handmade copper and brass products such as trays, jugs, jewellery, decorative plates, and souvenirs. Each item is made by hand using traditional methods. We recommend bringing some cash in Azerbaijani manats, as many local craftsmen do not accept bank cards.

Yes. Clean toilet facilities are available during the winery visit and at the lunch stop. On some mountain sections between the main attractions, toilets may not be available, so we recommend using the facilities during the planned stops.

Yes. The tour is suitable for guests of all ages. Transportation is comfortable, and the walking pace is relaxed. Please note that the streets of Lahij are paved with uneven river stones, so comfortable and stable footwear is recommended. If you have any special requirements, please let us know when booking.

Lahij is beautiful all year round, but the best time to visit is from April to October. In spring, the village is green and full of flowers. In summer, the mountain climate is much cooler than Baku, making walking very comfortable. Autumn is especially beautiful, with colourful landscapes and the grape harvest season in Shamakhi. During winter, snow and icy mountain roads may affect the route, so we recommend contacting us before booking.

Yes, and it is a great idea. Shamakhi and Lahij can easily be combined with other attractions in the region, such as the Diri Baba Mausoleum, the Juma Mosque, or scenic viewpoints along the Shamakhi mountain pass. If you would like to explore more of Azerbaijan, take a look at the Similar Tours section at the top of this page for more travel ideas.

Yes, of course. If you would like to visit the same region without the wine tasting, we recommend our Lahij Tour, which you can find in the Similar Tours section at the top of this page. It follows a similar route and includes the main attractions without visiting the winery.

Our FAQ section contains answers to the questions travellers ask most often. If you cannot find the information you need, please contact us through the Contact page. We usually reply within 24 hours.