ARMENIAN WINE

Armenia: The Birthplace Of Wine

According to the Bible, Noah planted a vine at the foot of Mount Ararat after the Flood.

Needless to say, Armenians proudly claim that this was the nation’s first vineyard.

While you may or may not take the Bible as a historical document, there is sound evidence that Armenia truly is one of the most ancient winemaking civilisations in the world.

Wild vines appeared on this land over a million years ago. Later on, sea-fairing civilisations including the Phoenicians and Greeks spread the vines throughout much of Europe. Eventually, the plants adjusted to new soils and climates. As a result, they evolved into the grape varieties which we know today.

Fascinatingly, just as all humans are related, all modern grapes share the same distant ancestors. Furthermore, many of these ancestors are very likely to have come from the territory of modern Armenia and, broader speaking, the whole region of Caucasus.

Areni-1 Cave: World’s Most Ancient Winery

Moreover, about a decade ago, archaeologists made a break-through discovery in the south of Armenia, next to Areni village. In a huge cave they found the world’s most ancient winery. Amazingly, the cave contained a wine press, parts of clay vessels used for winemaking and even the world’ oldest leather shoe. All of these finds date back to 4,100 BC.

Naturally, the scientists examined the traces of wine which they found in the clay jars. It turned out that the wine was made of a local grape, Areni Noir. This grape is still widely grown today, making some the country’s best reds. It also happens to be the most acclaimed Armenian wine in the UK.

Armenian Wine In The Ancient World

Wine was an important part of Armenian culture as early as several millennia ago. In fact, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, what is now modern Armenia widely exported its wines. Wine export was a common thing here as early as in the 5th Century BC.

According to Herodotus, merchants transported the wine in leather-covered rafts. These sailed down the river Tigris to the kingdoms of Mesopotamia. Other nations highly valued Armenian wine. Indeed, a famous mural found on the walls of Persepolis shows Armenians bringing a gift of wine and horses to the legendary Persian king, Darius the Great.

Armenian Wine In The 20th Century

Unfortunately, throughout the 20th century Armenian winemaking suffered from a long period of decline. During the Soviet times the government nationalised private wineries, Brandy (a.k.a Armenian cognac) became the state’s priority. At last, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, came the revival. In the last 10-15 years, many Armenians living abroad repatriated to their homeland and started heavily investing into vineyards and winemaking technologies.

Small boutique family-owned wineries have been shaping the face of Armenian wine for the last decade. These wineries champion native grape varieties and terroir-driven wines. At the same time, Armenians are very much open to adopting international winemaking methods and techniques. A handful of enthusiastic winemakers have paved the success of the Armenian wine in the UK and across the world. 

The advantages of the karas winemaking lie in the shape, as well as the material of the amphorae. Specifically, clay pores allow some oxygen during the fermentation. This, as well as the egg shape of the karas, has its positive effects on the wine. As a result, the wine obtains a velvety texture and richer, more pronounced flavours. At Wine Origins, we offer a selection of some of the top karas-made Armenian wines in the UK.

Armenian Oak

Another distinctive feature of Armenian wine is the use of Armenian oak, a.k.a. Caucasian oak which can be up to 250 years old. This unique type of wood originates from forests in eastern Armenia as well as in the Artsakh region. Armenian oak is considered more powerful than its French counterpart, as such it requires less contact time with the wine. Additionally, it enriches wine with complex flavours including sweet tones of vanilla, spices and notes of eucalyptus.

Armenian Pomegranate Wine

This is another exciting tradition of the Armenian winemaking. A well-made pomegranate wine has a beautiful red brick colour and pronounced aromas and flavours of juicy pomegranate. A refreshing palate with soft tannins comes hand-in-hand with a subtle, delicate sweetness.

It is a marvellous match for Persian food, as well as other Middle Eastern cuisines. We are proud to offer a truly refined Armenian pomegranate wine in the UK. 

Vayots Dzor

The most prominent winemaking region is Vayots Dzor, often named “the jewel of Armenian winemaking”. It is home to the world’s most ancient winery: the Areni cave. It is also the birthplace of the country’s most famous grape variety, Areni Noir. Vines grow at altitudes of 1,000-1,800 metres above sea level. The climate here is notoriously dry. Summers are hot and winters are frosty with temperatures sometimes dropping to -30℃. In these rough conditions only the strongest vines survive. As such, Vayots Dzor wines show plenty of character. 

Ararat

Second largest wine region of Armenia is Ararat. This region has grape growing traditions which date back to the 7th Century BC. The vines are planted at altitudes of 800-1,000 metres above sea level. The main grape here is the black variety, Kakhet.

Armavir

Armavir is the largest viticultural region of Armenia and probably the hottest one. Summer temperatures sometimes reach 40℃. It is the land of brandy (a.k.a. Armenian cognac), however some high quality white wines also come from here. Vines grow at altitudes of 900-1,100 metres on volcanic soils. The main grape varieties are white Kangun and black Hakhtanak.

Aragatsotn

The region of Aragatsotn in the western part of Armenia has seen some of the biggest investments into winemaking in recent years. As a result, a few new modern wineries popped up here. This and close proximity to Yerevan, makes Aragatsotn an attractive destination for wine lovers. Vineyards are planted at altitudes of 1,100-1,400 metres. Volcanic lava makes up for a big part of soils. White Kangun, black Areni Noir and white Voskehat are the main grapes here.