Why go
Khareba Winery preserves Georgia's 8,000-year winemaking heritage inside a 7.7-kilometer tunnel bored into the limestone foothills of the Greater Caucasus. Built in 1962 for the Soviet military, this vast subterranean complex was repurposed in 2005 to store wine at constant 12-14°C temperature and 70% humidity—ideal conditions for aging qvevri and European-style wines alike. The tunnel holds over 25,000 bottles, including rare vintages and private collections. Beyond the engineering marvel, Khareba represents Kakheti's resilience: after Soviet-era industrial wine production collapsed, this facility helped revive traditional Georgian methods. Visitors walk the cool, dim corridors past stacked bottles and concrete vaults, tasting Saperavi and Rkatsiteli where empires once planned bunkers.