Wine storage facilities
Viticulture and horticulture were well-developed in the Machakhela Valley. Along with winemaking, every village has remnants of wine storage facilities, including ancient winepresses (marani) and large clay vessels (kvevri).
- Chonchkho Winepress: Located near Upper Chkhutuneti, the Chonchkho Winepress is carved into a steep rock cliff, allowing it to survive relatively undamaged over the centuries.
- Mere’s Winepress: Built on a steep, hard-to-reach slope, this winepress is carved entirely from rock.
- Dzneladze Family Winepress: Situated in Upper Chkhutuneti, this winepress has three walls made from locally cut stone, with the fourth wall integrated into the rock. Its dimensions are 3.55 meters in length, 2.55 meters in width, and 1.05 meters in height.
- Winepress and Marani in Tskhemlara: Of particular interest are the marani facilities on the Salvaridze estate in the village of Tskhemlara, estimated to date back to the 11th-12th centuries. It features a winepress, with a length of 4.8 meters and height of 1.45 meters, and an adjacent building used for storage.
- Ilias Marani: A medieval marani, dating to the Middle Ages, measuring 8 meters in length and 4 meters in width, used by the ancestors of the Malaqmadze family for winemaking.
Stone Arch Bridges
The Machakhela Valley is notable for its numerous stone arch bridges, attributed to the valley’s economic and strategic importance. The valley was part of a major trade route connecting Tao-Klarjeti and the Black Sea regions. Key remaining bridges include the Tskhemlara, Chkheri, and Chamakheuri bridges.
Tskhemlara Arch Bridge: Located on the Machakhela River, this bridge features a half-circle arch, with the right end embedded in rocky cliffs and the left resting on a constructed support. It dates from the 11th-13th centuries.
Chkheri Bridge: Built over the Chkheriswater River, a tributary of the Machakhela, this bridge has an 8.7-meter long surface with a maximum height of 14 meters.
Chamakheuri Arch Bridge: Built over the Chamakheuri water, this 13-meter-long bridge is believed to have been repaired in the 18th century by local figure Ahmed-aga Khinkiladze.
Chkhetuneti Fortress (Qali-Vake)
The Chkhetuneti Fortress is an ancient material culture monument located on the left bank of the Machakhela River in Lower Chkhetuneti. Known as “Qali Vake,” the fortress guarded the strategic military and economic route through the valley. Excavations have revealed artifacts such as ceramics, jugs, bowls, and iron materials. The fortress likely dates back to the 11th-15th centuries, with later Ottoman influences in the 16th-19th centuries.
Field Cannon
During World War II, in 1940, a field cannon “embrasure” was installed in the village of Skurdidi in Machakhela Valley, made of reinforced concrete. It includes small rooms for soldiers and ammunition storage, protecting the border routes.
