Winemaking in Armenia

Armenia is known as the cradle of winemaking, as according to the legend, the wine development in the Armenian valley goes back to biblical times, when our forefather Noah, after landing on the sacred Mount Ararat planted the first vine on its slopes. The wine was a kind of reward to Noah and his family for all the pain and suffering that they had overcome during the Great Flood.Armenian winemaking has a history of over 6000 years. This is not just a legend.Particularly in the caves near Areni village, ancient samples of the winemaking equipment, as well as the remains of grape seeds, were found by scientists. Excavations were conducted by a team of Armenian, US and Irish archaeologists. The results of the study have been published in such prestigious journals and international media like BBC, National Geographic and «The Journal of Archaeological Science».Furthermore, not far from Yerevan, in a place known as Red Hill (Karmir Blur, known as Teishebaini), in the course of excavations, archaeologists found 12 different cultivars of grape seeds, which are still used in the manufacture of wine. They also found more than 400 ancient wine barrels.Thus, the wine has become a sacred drink, which is identified with the blood of Jesus Christ: for example, during the rites of Baptism and Matrimony believers should drink wine as a prototype of the blood of Christ. Until now, the Armenian Church practices the ritual of grape blessing at the altar. This ritual is very popular among people, as it is believed that the blessed grape brings health and well-being to the family. Grape blessing ceremony takes place on the feast of the Assumption of Virgin Mary.Areni” is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Armenia. The winery is located in the region of Vayots Dzor, in the sunny village of Areni. Areni village is surrounded by vineyards where grow unique indigenous grapes. After visiting the factory, you can also make an excursion into the cave of Areni – 1. The cave is located in the western part of the village, on the left bank of the river Arpa, on the way to the monastery of Noravank.😋