The Khareba Wine Tunnel is one of the most talked-about attractions in Kakheti, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the region’s winemaking heritage. Nestled within a genuine rock tunnel, this site houses a wine shop, a tasting room, and a small ethnographic exhibition. Located on the grounds of the Khareba Winery, it draws in numerous tourist groups eager to explore its depths.
Constructed in the early 1960s by the organization “Metrostroy,” the tunnel was originally built to serve the needs of the winery. During this period, the Tbilisi Metro was also under construction, allowing engineers to apply their expertise to this fascinating project. The total length of all the tunnels in this area is said to be 7.7 kilometers, although visitors are only shown two segments: a through tunnel measuring approximately 700 meters and a dead-end tunnel extending about 500 meters.
Visitors enter the tunnel from the Khareba Winery grounds. Buses transport guests to a parking area, from which they can walk directly beneath the archway of the tunnel. During the tour, a guide will lead you through the main tunnel, briefly explaining its construction by “Metrostroy,” before directing you into a side tunnel adorned with tables and glasses. Here, you’ll encounter several ceramic pots as part of the ethnographic display, followed by tastings of two relatively good wines.
While the tunnel itself is intriguing, it’s important to remember that it is, at its core, simply a large concrete corridor. This raises a legitimate question: is it worth paying to see a concrete tunnel? At the exit, visitors will find a shop where they can purchase wines to take home.
The tunnel maintains a consistent temperature of 12-14 degrees Celsius and 70 percent humidity year-round, creating ideal conditions for wine storage and aging. With two entrances—one for visitors and another for workers—the tunnel is a significant asset to the winery. While only select sections are accessible to the public, there is also a bottled wine cellar that boasts an impressive collection of over 25,000 premium bottles.
After exploring the tunnel, guests can unwind at the Khareba Restaurant, which offers breathtaking views of the Alazani Valley and the Kvareli vineyards from its spacious verandah. The extensive menu features a delightful selection of local wines and traditional Georgian dishes, including succulent mtsvadi kebabs, hearty khinkali dumplings, and a variety of khachapuri cheese breads, such as Imeruli, Megruli, and the oven-baked khachapuri filled with Sulguni cheese. With a capacity to accommodate up to 300 guests, Khareba Restaurant is the perfect place to conclude your winery tour.