Chachkari Winepresses (Region of Samtskhe – Javakheti)
Chachkari Stone Winepresses (Georgian: ჭაჭკარის ქვის საწნახელები) – Chachkari is the name of a medieval rocky village, meaning chacha gate (chachis kari) in Georgian. The word “chacha” (Georgian: ჭაჭა) means grape cake in Georgian. The main infrastructures of the village were terraces where grapes and other crops were grown, various storage facilities and wineries. Numerous rock wineries testify to the fact that viticulture and winemaking had a special place in the village. There are more than fifty rock wineries in the village, each of which could produce up to 4 tons of wine. Naturally, besides wine, fortified drinks were also produced here in large quantities.
The principle of construction is the same as in Vardzia (Georgian: ვარძია) and Vanis Kwabebi (Georgian: ვანის ქვაბები ). However, if these settlements had defensive or religious significance, Chachkari specialized in agriculture. It is said that Chachkari and Vardzia were connected by a secret tunnel, through which wine and food were delivered to the cave city. Grapes grown in the vineyards cut into the rock in the village were first pressed on the spot and then the juice was sent to Vardzia and poured into jugs. Historians name up to 40 Meskhetian vines of Chachkari that have survived to this day, one of which is about 400 years old. The village of Chachkari has been abandoned for about 100 years. The Ottoman trace – the devastation of region Samtskhe-Javakheti (Georgian: სამცხე-ჯავახეთი), total destruction, genocide, mass displacement and Islamization made their mark.
Chachkari Village (Georgian: სოფელი ჭაჭკარი), Aspindza Municipality (Georgian: ასპინძის მუნიციპალიტეტი)