Wine Culture in Armenia

Roots and history of wine in Armenia 

Since ancient times Armenia has been famous for its wine making traditions. Foreign travelers and historians have always been surprised by wine culture in Armenia.  We knօw about this from the works of famous philosophers as Xenophon or Strabo. 

Wine has always been a national drink of Armenia and people cultivated grapes since ancient times. The evidence of that are the ancient wineries that were found during the excavations. 

One of them was discovered in Vayots Dzor region. It is said to be one of the oldest wineries in the world from the middle ages. Archeologists and scientists believe that the ancient people who inhabited the Areni cave might have used wine in some sort of rituals. Excavations have shown that more than 20 human burials are located beside the winemaking zone within the cave and archeologists have additionally found various drinking caps around the graves. 

The excavations were held in 2011, where besides wine making instruments a 5500 year old leather shoe was found. 

The large number of rock-cut wine presses and storage vats discovered in Agarak’s excavations show the predominant role of viticulture and winemaking in the economic life of its inhabitants. As one of the most important points along the trade route leading from Ararat to Shirak and Ani, Agarak developed a flourishing economy and commercial sector, especially in the 4th-3rd centuries BCE and the 2nd-4th centuries.

Wine festivals in Armenia 

“Yerevan Wine Days” is being held since 2017 in Yerevan. It’s an annual festival held in a “street-fest” style. 

The festival usually lasts 2 days and unions the winemakers, wine restaurants and wine lovers in the streets of Yerevan. The festival gathers over 25 wineries and 30 restaurants from Armenia and Artsakh. Over 200 types of wine from different regions of Armenia are being presented to the visitors. Yerevan Wine days attracts thousands of visitors from around the world, including international food bloggers and tourists. 

“Areni Wine Fest” takes place on the first Saturday of October of each year. During the festival the guests have the opportunity to taste Armenian wines made from the “Areni” grapes and Armenian cheese, listen to national songs and participate in different competitions.The festival is being held since 2012. Participants of the wine festival are both professional and homemade wine and cheese producers. Participance in Areni wine festival is free, but there is also an option for wine tasting. You can buy a ticket and taste as many wines as you want. 

“Artsakh Wine Fest” is being held in Togh village of Artsakh since 2014. The main goal of the festival is to develop Wine Tourism in Artsakh. There you can see the ancient rituals of winemaking which is followed by hospitality, exhibition fair with participation of wine producers from Armenia and Artsakh. 

Among the participants are more than 25 wineries and 12 local families with their home-made wines who will serve more than 4500 visitors. 

Wine Tasting and Wineries in Armenia 

The story of Trinity Canyon Vineyards started in two thousand nine, when three (Trinity) devoted and determined wine enthusiasts  decided to step into the mysterious world of wine crafting. Assisted by an equally passionate group of winegrowers and winemakers, they established a unique vineyard in the Vayots Dzor Highlands. It is located in the close vicinity of the world’s oldest known wine producing site dating back some 6100 years. Trinity wines are filled with faith, traditions and legends of Armenian winemakers that will always serve as a beacon for all our undertakings.

ArmAs is revitalizing Armenia’s winemaking legacy by creating elegant wines that stem from one of our country’s best natural resources, the idyllic terroir of the vine.

It is no coincidence that Armenia, known as the birthplace of the vine, is also the site of the oldest known winemaking ruins, dating back to 6,100 years.

Winemaker Emilio Del Medico has paid homage to this heritage by creating award winning, elegant and distinct wines from estate grown native varieties.

ArmAs Estate is a picturesque display of agricultural achievement, set against the backdrop of the inspiring Mount Ararat. 

Voskevaz Winery is located in Aragatsotn region of Armenia in the village by the same name, “Voskevaz,” which in Armenian means “golden bunch.” The foothills area of the highest mountain in Armenia-Aragats is amazingly beautiful and diverse, and its land keeps cultural layers of ancient Armenian civilization.

 

Most Armenian wine varieties are indigenous that means they grow only in this region and nowhere in the world. 

Recently, wine producers have begun recovering vineyards and establishing new wineries. The traditional labels of Armenian wines are returning, and new varieties are being established.

The economic resurrection gave a new birth to the industrial wine production in Armenia. Nowadays there are more than 30 wine producers in Armenia.

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