Staryi Pidval (Old Cellar) Wine Tasting Hall, Berehove

Staryi Pidval ("Old Cellar") is a small family winery in Berehove where the hosts grow the grapes, make and bottle the wine and present it to guests themselves. Tastings take place where the wine matures — in an old cellar cut into the rock more than three centuries ago. It is one of the town's most popular sights and a great introduction to the winemaking traditions of the Berehove area.

A cellar carved into the rock

The cellar is considered one of the oldest in Berehove; it is dated to the 17th century and counted among the town's most valuable surviving monuments of that era. Local legend says the galleries were dug by captured Turks, and the marks of their picks are still visible on the walls. The walls are covered with a thin layer of noble mould, bottles rest in niches and oak barrels line the stone galleries — the atmosphere is genuinely medieval and makes for striking photos. Vines have been grown on Berehove's slopes since time immemorial, and the hill above the town was once riddled with cellars like this one.

Which wines to try

The estate specialises in dry vintage wines from the historic local varieties of the Berehove wine area. They are made traditionally and aged in oak barrels, so wines of the same name vary with the vintage and the weather. The range includes:

• Müller-Thurgau — a fresh white the hosts consider the pearl of their collection;
• Traminer and Bianca — the most demanding whites to make, with an expressive aroma;
• Riesling — a classic white from the Transcarpathian slopes;
• Merlot and Zweigelt — reds with noticeable oak ageing.

Tour and wine tasting in Berehove

The visit starts with a walk through the cellar's halls, like a journey back to the Middle Ages. The hosts talk about the history of winemaking in Berehove and the culture of drinking wine, and teach you how to tell the real thing from a fake. Then, in a cosy brick-vaulted hall, they usually pour six or seven local wines, with homemade grape juice for children and non-drinkers. You can ask about technology, varieties and ageing, and buy the wines you like on the spot.

Practical information

• Address: 37 Vynohradna St, Berehove (some directories give 37/2).
• Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00, Sat 9:00–14:00, closed on Sunday.
• Phone: +380 50 904 72 66; e-mail: [email protected].
• Tasting price: ask by phone in advance.

Arrange your visit at least a day ahead: groups come here often and the hosts are busy in the vineyard and the cellar. If you are driving, make sure someone in your party stays a sober driver.

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

How to get there

Berehove lies in the south-west of Zakarpattia, about 70 km from Uzhhorod and 25 km from Mukachevo. Buses and trains run to the town from Uzhhorod, Mukachevo and Lviv. Vynohradna Street climbs the hillside above the town, where wine cellars have been dug for centuries; it is a few minutes by taxi from the centre.

Website and social media: beregovo-wine.com

Photos: beregovo-wine.com.