Armenia Wine Country

One of the Oldest Wine-Making Countries

Armenia wine country is one of the oldest wine-producing areas in the world. In 2010, the relics of a wine production facility were discovered in the Areni cave system in the east of the country, the artefacts of which are said to be over 6000 years old. Wine is cultivated on a total area of ​​approx. 25,000 hectares. A large number of autochthonous grape varieties that are rather unknown to us are grown.

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Armenian Wine Regions

There are 4 main wine regions in Armenia: Ararat, Armavir, Aragatsotn, and Vayots Dzor. Around 85 and 90% of all the wine from Armenia comes from these superb wine regions. The best known is Vayots Dzor, which is home to the Areni wine. Areni is a dark-skinned indigenous grape with a thick skin that helps maintaining the freshness and structure of the grapes.

Armavir

Armavir is located in the west of the country at an altitude between 800 and 900 meters above sea level. The soils are deep and shaped by weathered glacial moraine. With around 7,100 hectares of vineyards, Armavir is the largest wine-growing province in the country. White wines are mainly made from the Garan Dmak and Mskhali varieties, rosé wines from the Vadaguyn Yerevani variety.

Ararat

The Ararat Valley lies at around 800 meters above sea level and is the second most important wine region in Armenia. Numerous different grape varieties are planted on over 5,000 hectares. The red varieties are Kakhet, Sev Aygeni, Karch Mat, Sev Ginuk, Garni, Yeraskheni, Vagheni, and Sev Sateni. The main white varieties are Spitak Arakseni, Spitakeni, Sarnashak’ar, Arevar, and Ararati.

Aragatsotn

The Aragatsotn vineyards on the border with Turkey cover around 1,700 hectares, mainly on basalt, tuff, and limestone soils. The climate here is hot and dry during the day. However, the altitude of around 1,200 meters above sea level provides the necessary balance with cooling nights. The main grape varieties are Voskehat, Kangun, Akhtanak, and Rkatsiteli. Trials with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are becoming increasingly common.

Vayots Dzor

The province of Vayots Dzor is a region that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. Its name translates to "whining gorge", which stems from the frequent seismic activities. The underground is rocky and volcanic and there are a variety of gorges and caves. With around 1,000 hectares of vineyards, Vayots Dzor is the wine-growing region for absolute quality wines. It is home to the Areni vine. On the nutrient-rich soil, this noble grape matures to taste excellence. Rich, elegant, and velvety red wines are made from it. Other red varieties are Seyrak, Movuz, Shaheni, and Movsesi. The main white varieties are Nazeli, Mormor, K’rdi Chakat, Khatun and Khatouni.

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Armenia Wine Country