Stalin’s Wine Cellar: The True Tbilisi Story
Original 1999 records, the book by John Baker and Nick Place, and the story today.
Embedded Files
A mysterious list. A hidden cellar. 40,000 bottles.
A mysterious list. A hidden cellar. 40,000 bottles.
In 1999, Australian wine merchants John Baker and Kevin Hopko travelled to Tbilisi, Georgia, to investigate a remarkable collection of rare wines. Their search became Stalin’s Wine Cellar, the book by John Baker and Nick Place.
Explore the original investigation, the bottles they examined and the story that continues today.
The book & six international editions · Interviews, reviews & original photographs
The 1999 investigation · Historic wines & archive records · Timeline & 2026 developments
Stalin’s Wine Cellar — The Book
Stalin’s Wine Cellar — The Book
A remarkable true story of wine, history, obsession and a search that began with a cryptic list of legendary bottles.
By John Baker and Nick Place.
Discover the book, six international editions and where to buy
Inside the Cellar — 1999
Inside the Cellar — 1999
In 1999, John Baker and Kevin Hopko travelled to Tbilisi to investigate an extraordinary collection of wine.
By then, Baker had extensive experience as a fine wine merchant, having established several wine businesses including Quaffers Double Bay Cellars and the importing business Bordeaux Shippers. Hopko had worked alongside Baker for many years, specialising in the assessment, authentication and valuation of fine and rare wine. His principal role in Tbilisi was to examine the bottles, assess their authenticity and establish the potential value of the collection.
Over the course of a week, they examined and recorded a cellar containing approximately 40,000 bottles, including remarkable 19th-century Bordeaux, Burgundy and Château d'Yquem, alongside historic Georgian wines and spirits.
The inventory, notes and photographs made during that visit created an independent record of the collection as it existed in 1999.
An Extraordinary Collection
An Extraordinary Collection
The scale of the cellar was remarkable, but it was the age and provenance of the bottles that made the collection extraordinary.
Many had remained where they had rested for decades, covered in dust and largely untouched by the outside world.
Château d'Yquem 1847 — 1924
Château Lafite Rothschild 1877 — 1899
Château Latour 1874 — 1909
Historic Burgundy, including Montrachet 1965
Vin de Constance 1846 and others
Madeira and Port from the 1800s
Cognac dating to the 1700s
Georgian Brandy 1834—1966
Kvareli 1844—1946
Mukuzani 1913—1954
Napareuli Red 1918—1945
Teliani 1917—1952
Tsinandali 1918—1971
The Story Continues
The Story Continues
What began with a mysterious list in 1999 became a story spanning decades — involving extraordinary wines, disputed ownership, unexpected twists and a cellar whose history was far from over.
The full story is told in Stalin's Wine Cellar.
More than 25 years later, the cellar is once again attracting international attention. A reopening ceremony took place on 28 May 2026, bringing renewed interest in the identity, provenance and preservation of its remarkable bottles.
The story of Stalin's Wine Cellar is not over.
Television Adaptation & Development
Television Adaptation & Development
The bestselling true story Stalin's Wine Cellar has been officially optioned by Beyond Productions (producers of MythBusters for Discovery Channel) and IPG Media for development as a potential television series.
Read co-author Nick Place’s TV development announcement — 17 September 2026.
Where Are They Now?
Where Are They Now?
John Baker
John Baker
John remains a passionate wine enthusiast and is the co-author of the bestselling Stalin’s Wine Cellar. After a career that included hospitality, music promotion and establishing several fine wine businesses, he is now involved in a range of other projects, including the olive oil business.
Kevin Hopko
Kevin Hopko
Kevin continued working with fine and rare wine after the Tbilisi discovery, including as a wine specialist for an auction house. While his professional career later moved into other business interests, fine wine has remained a longstanding passion, as has his interest in the extraordinary collection he first encountered in Tbilisi in 1999.
Press & Media
Press & Media
The remarkable story of Stalin's Wine Cellar has attracted international media attention since the book was first published.
The discovery, the extraordinary wines and the continuing story of the cellar have been covered by wine, news and broadcast media around the world.
Stalin’s Wine Cellar — interviews, reviews and media coverage
Stalin’s Wine Cellar media enquiries — media@stalinswinecellar.com
For interviews, original 1999 photographs, historical records and information about the cellar, contact us at media@stalinswinecellar.com.
Questions about Stalin’s Wine Cellar
Questions about Stalin’s Wine Cellar
Is Stalin’s Wine Cellar a true story?
Is Stalin’s Wine Cellar a true story?
Yes. It tells the story of John Baker and Kevin Hopko’s 1999 investigation of a historic wine collection in Tbilisi, Georgia. Baker co-wrote the book with author and journalist Nick Place.
Where is the cellar, and can I visit?
Where is the cellar, and can I visit?
The collection is beneath the former Savane Winery No. 1, now Wine Factory No. 1, in Tbilisi. The cellar can be viewed from the complex; check current access before visiting.
How many bottles were there?
How many bottles were there?
Approximately 40,000 bottles were examined and recorded in 1999. The National Wine Agency’s 28 May 2026 announcement gave a preliminary estimate of up to 20,000 collectible bottles. These figures describe different dates and assessments.
What were the oldest bottles?
What were the oldest bottles?
The 1999 records included Château d’Yquem 1847, vodka dated 1725 and Georgian brandy dated 1834. Wines tasted during the investigation were typical for their age; Château Suduiraut 1899 was outstanding.
Has the cellar reopened, and will the wines be sold?
Has the cellar reopened, and will the wines be sold?
The collection was sealed in 2002. A reopening ceremony took place on 28 May 2026. Reuters reported auction plans with proceeds intended to support a wine education school. This website does not sell bottles from the collection. The previously published update of 2 October 2026 did not confirm an auction date, auction house or catalogue.
Where can I buy the book and see international editions?
Where can I buy the book and see international editions?
Visit the book guide for authors, editions, covers, ISBNs and buying links. Published languages include English, French, Simplified Chinese, Estonian, Romanian and Hungarian.
Where can I find interviews, reviews and photographs?
Where can I find interviews, reviews and photographs?
The Media page brings together international coverage, podcasts and original photographs from 1999.
Is there a television adaptation?
Is there a television adaptation?
Beyond Productions and IPG Media have optioned the book for development as a potential television series. Nick Place announced the option on 17 September 2026. A commissioned series and release date have not been announced in that statement.
Historical sources: the 1999 records described on this site; National Wine Agency, 28 May 2026; Georgian Ministry statement, 29 May 2026; Reuters; Penguin Books Australia.
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