Zhaivoronok Wine Cellar and Tasting Room, Berehove

The wine cellar of the Zhaivoronok (Lark) health resort in Berehove is one of the most atmospheric places for wine tasting in Berehove. It is carved straight into the rock: according to local tradition it was hewn at the end of the 17th century, and ever since it has served as a natural cellar that stays at a steady 11–12 °C even in summer heat. Here, among oak barrels in cool stone corridors, you will find the tasting room — open to everyone, whether or not you stay at the resort's hotel.

What to taste

The wine list is built around Transcarpathian wines aged in oak and made by local winemakers from grapes grown in the Berehove wine region. You can try aged vintage and young table wines — whites, rosés and reds — as well as house liqueurs with rich, deep flavours. A glass can be ordered at the bar, but for a fuller experience book a guided tasting: the sommelier talks about grape varieties, the history of Berehove viticulture and the volcanic soils the vines grow on.

• Guided tastings — daily at 15:00 and 18:00, on Saturdays at 12:00 and 15:00 (check the schedule in advance).
• Wine hall and cellar — open daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
• Booking — at the wine-hall bar or by phone +38 075 240 00 07.

Berehove — a historic wine land

Berehove (Beregszász in Hungarian) is ringed by vine-covered hills, and winemaking here goes back more than nine centuries. The region blends Hungarian, Austrian and local traditions, and its slopes still hold plantations of rare grape varieties. A tasting in a rock cellar is therefore not only about flavour but also a short journey into the culture of a land where wine has been part of daily life for centuries.

Practical information

The resort's address is 112 Shevchenka St, Berehove (directories sometimes give 112a). The cellar is open all year round — underground, the weather does not matter. Tasting prices are not published online, so ask in advance by phone, and check availability at weekends and on holidays: the hall seats about 50 guests. The same resort has thermal pools and a hotel, so the tasting is easy to combine with a thermal-spa break.

The resort lies outside the border zone, so no special permits are needed to visit.

How to get there

Berehove is reached by rail via Batiovo and by bus from Mukachevo and Uzhhorod. By car it takes about 30 minutes from Mukachevo along the Berehove road. Zhaivoronok stands on Shevchenka Street at the edge of town towards the hills, a few minutes by taxi from the centre; there is on-site parking.

Tip before you go

Time your visit for a guided tasting: you will hear the cellar's story and try several wines in a row rather than a single glass. If you are driving, agree on a designated driver or stay the night in Berehove. Ask at the bar whether you can buy bottles to take away.

Website and social media: zhayvoronok.net

Photos: zhayvoronok.net.