Wine: Armenia’s Secret Weapon to Conquer Your Hearts

Wine always manages to steal the spotlight at dinners and gatherings. Wine is not only appreciated in cuisine, but is also highly valued among artists and writers who believe the importance of wine for creativity and inspiration. And just like that, wine satisfies our taste buds and connects us with the unknown, dark world of ideas. It reminds us that we are mortals and gives us the possibility to feel divine.

We can trace the roots of wine production in Armenia to Areni village in the southern Armenia, where the earliest known winery in the world was discovered seven years ago in a cave known as Areni-1. The site contains a wine press, fermentation vats, jars, and cups. In addition, there were crushed grapes, seeds, and vine leaves dating to about 6,100 years ago.

Archaeologists are impressed that this winery was so well-preserved. An archeologist stated that the environment, the microclimate, and the average temperature inside the cave might have been the factors that helped to conserve the winery. 

The Areni-1 Cave isn’t the only thing that proves that Armenia was (and is) a winemaking state. Archeological excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries at the Fortress of Teishebaini resulted in the discovery of a wine storehouse with 480 clay pots holding 370,000 liters of wine. Moreover, during excavations at Karmir Blur and Erebuni, 10 wine storehouses with 200 clay pots were found. 

For a clearer sense of the history of wine and its production, Armenia Wine offers its visitors an interesting and informative tour of its winery. Located in Aragatsotn, a viticultural region in Armenia, this exemplary winery offers tours throughout the year to introduce people to the whole process of wine production, from learning about the types of grapes used in winemaking to witnessing wine making. In the end, visitors will know how to taste and describe wine in a specialized tasting room.

Image credit: Armenia Wine

People usually study subjects they are interested in, such as technology, literature, or the fine arts. Even though it is not common, it is possible to major in enology and wine business. EVN Wine Academy, located in Yerevan, offers study programs for prospective and practicing wine entrepreneurs, students, and wine enthusiasts to empower them with the latest knowledge in the global wine industry. Some of the main goals of this academy are to improve the quality and production process of wines produced in Armenia, as well as to increase the visibility of the Armenian wine sector.

In the end, wine is a treasure that has not yet been fully discovered. We may know how to produce it, but how does it give us this immortal feeling that writers and poets talk about? Maybe this is the beauty of wine; it is undiscovered and full of mystery. And we mortals can fall for that easily, as we strive for the unknown.