Sheki Wines

Table of Contents

Introduction

Sheki Wines Museum, also known as the Az Abrau Museum, is located in the Chelebikhan settlement of the Sheki District in Azerbaijan. Nestled at the foothills of the Greater Caucasus and overlooking the scenic Alazan Valley and vineyards, the Sheki Wines Museum offers visitors a compelling blend of history, tradition, and oenological culture in a region celebrated for its winemaking heritage.

About the Museum

The Sheki Wines Museum is housed within the Sheki Wines (Az Abrau) winery complex, which represents a successful Azerbaijani‑Russian collaboration in viticulture and wine production. The exhibition includes more than five hundred items that chronicle the cultivation of local grape varieties, traditional grape‑pressing methods, wine ageing, and the broader viticultural history of the region. Displays feature wine bottles and labels, rare photographs and paintings, archaeological artefacts including replicas of ancient vessels, and multimedia presentations of early nineteenth and twentieth century Azerbaijani wine labels alongside poems by celebrated local poets inspired by wine.

Visitors may choose guided tours that either focus solely on the museum content or include wine tasting. Tasting tours feature local wines such as white sparkling Brut and the semi‑sweet “Abrau 1870,” and may also include Russian‑made Abrau Durso and Brut D’Or Rosé. Tastings are accompanied by olives, breadsticks, and a cheese plate to complete the experience.

The museum occupies a distinctive position—part educational exhibition, part active winery—allowing guests not only to learn about historical winemaking practices but also to witness contemporary production processes on the same site.

Interesting Facts

The museum’s collection includes more than five hundred exhibits, encompassing vintage wine bottles, labels, photographs, paintings, archaeological finds, and replicas of ancient wine vessels.
A modern multimedia display highlights nineteenth‑ and early twentieth‑century Azerbaijani wine labels alongside works of great national poets inspired by wine culture.
Visitors may opt for tours with wine tasting that feature local specialties such as Brut sparkling white wine and the semi‑sweet “Abrau 1870,” with accompanying snacks like olives, breadsticks, and cheese.
The museum is located on the same grounds as the working Az Abrau winery, blending historical exhibition with production processes and offering a live view of contemporary wine‑making in Sheki.
This project is part of a broader investment by Abrau‑Durso Group, which led to modernising local production lines and launching a museum on site when a new sparkling wine line began operations in June 2023.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +994 55 203 7622

Website: azerbaijan.travel/sheki-wines-museum-history-blended-with-wine

Conclusion

The Sheki Wines Museum delivers an enriching and immersive experience that blends museum curation with real‑time winery insight in a region famed for its grape‑growing traditions. Whether you arrive to explore the historical exhibits showcasing artifacts and wine‑inspired art, or to sample the local Brut and Abrau 1870 wines accompanied by olive and cheese pairing, your visit promises both cultural depth and sensory engagement. Situated within the beautiful natural setting of Sheki, this museum makes an ideal destination for travellers interested in wine, history, or Azerbaijani heritage. A visit here not only deepens appreciation for local viticulture, but also supports an authentic and living tradition in one of the country’s most scenic regions.