To explore the merits of a cave feels a touch silly. On the one hand, caves are humanity’s oldest architecture. Demonstrably a big deal! But on the other hand, when’s the last time any of us were actually in one? For most, the answer is not recently. But if you’re like me and have discovered the otherworldly delights of tasting wine underground, the conversation topic of caves isn’t so silly after all. On a purely logistical level, the practice of storing wine in a subterranean chamber is useful for maintaining cool, consistent temperatures that are conducive to aging wine. But from a theatrical standpoint, the opportunity to descend into the earth, wander through dark corridors, and sample historic bottles by candlelight? That’s an experience I’d suggest prioritizing.

For many, wine tasting as a weekend pursuit typically evokes pastoral verandas overlooking rolling vineyards, with lots of sunshine. That’s all well and good, but there’s something about the cave—so moody, so mysterious—that sets the soul alight. The first time this sentiment rang true was on a visit to Champagne several years ago, deep within the wine region’s iconic crayères. These tunnels date back to the Roman era when Cretaceous chalk was quarried, in part, to build the city above. Well over a thousand years later, the crayères found a new purpose: to store and age Champagne. Stepping through these ancient passageways, palming limestone walls so soft and moist that chalk deposited onto my fingertips, it felt like pure, unadulterated time travel. How more people aren’t hanging out in wine caves is beyond me.

Elsewhere around the world, caves hold similar weight in a wine region’s identity. From the tuffeau caves of the Loire Valley to volcanic chambers in Santorini, there’s a below-ground experience for every kind of cave connoisseur. Below, five memorable destinations wine lovers should know about for subterranean journeys ahead.

Napa Valley, California

Wine caves require a specific set of geological conditions to exist, the most critical being rock type. Soft enough to excavate, hard enough to remain self-supporting once it’s been carved out. That’s why materials like volcanic tuff fit the profile, which is what you find in Napa Valley. The famous California wine region sits in a zone of ancient volcanic activity, with hills on either side of the valley that are made up of volcanic rock. The first Napa caves were dug in the late 1800s by wineries like Schramsberg and Beringer (both of which you can still visit for a tasting). Prohibition brought development to a halt for decades, and it wasn’t until the early 1980s that wine cave production kicked back into gear. Far Niente is credited with constructing the first new age cave, which triggered a revival that’s now a thriving cave community all across the valley. There are now dozens of wineries in Napa Valley with underground cellars, including favorites like Pine Ridge Vineyards, Inglenook, and Hall Rutherford (plus a highly anticipated cave at Bouchaine Vineyards arriving this fall).

Santorini, Greece

Wine has been made in Santorini for millennia and is distinct for its vines wound into baskets at ground level, which offers protection from the island’s intense winds. (Look up a photo!) It’s also distinct for the volcanic soil, which is a result of the Minoan eruption around 1600 BC that blew out the center of the volcano and left behind a dramatic caldera. The island’s caves emerge from this same volcanic geology with their soft pumice and tuff rock that winemakers have been using as cellars for centuries, directly into the hillsides. It’s a dreamlike wine region by any account, and no visit to the island is complete without a cave rendezvous of some variety. A few ideas to get you started: the “secret” wine cave at Mystique, the 400-year-old wine cellar at Vedema, and a honeymoon-worthy wine tasting whipped up by the team at Canaves Collection.

Champagne, France

Much of the bedrock that lies beneath Champagne was formed millions of years ago from the accumulated shells and microorganisms of a prehistoric sea. The result? Brilliant white chalk that not only is superb for caves, but also stores water for the vines growing above it. These caves are ideal for méthode champenoise, which requires consistent temperature and humidity, no light, and no vibration. Naturally, tours and tastings in Champagne are in no short supply. For the Roman-era tunnels mentioned earlier, head for the city of Reims where these are most prominent. And be sure to add quaint villages like Aÿ to your itinerary, where producers like Billecart-Salmon offer tours of their chalk tunnels as well as the estate’s elegant grounds—including the historic one-hectare Clos Saint-Hilaire vineyard that produces their most prestigious wine of the same name.

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Although the wine region as a whole isn’t particularly known for its caves, the Willamette Valley has a few exquisite options that would make an excellent addition to your Oregon wine country itinerary. First, Abbott Claim, which offers candlelit tastings of their low-intervention wines in an underground cellar (caviar included). Then there’s the legacy cave tour at Archery Summit, leading guests through its barrel-filled caves carved into the basalt bedrock of the Dundee Hills. And while perhaps not technically a cave, the Barrel Hall at Antica Terra evokes an identical sensation. After entering through a tunnel of black-stained cedar planks, guests arrive at a long table flanked by Douglas fir walls and wine shelves, with a glowing paper lantern overhead.

Loire Valley, France

If you’ve spent any time in the Loire Valley, you already know the chateau is the star of the show. These opulent castles were built from quarried tuffeau, resulting in limestone tunnels that were eventually repurposed for bottle aging. In the wine region of Saumur, subterranean caves offer a dark, still respite for sparkling wines made in the méthode traditionnelle. For a cave tour with a playful twist, Bouvet-Ladubay lets you hop on a vintage bicycle and pedal through their ancient tunnels. Over in Vouvray (where some of the world’s greatest chenin blanc is made), producers like Maison Brédif invite visitors into their 10th-century troglodyte cellars that house rare wines dating back to the late 1800s. And if you’re in the mood for an acclaimed cabernet franc, French Side Travel can take travelers into the heart of the Bourgueil region to taste in atmospheric underground cellars such as Domaine de la Chevalerie.