Winemaking History in Armenia
“The truth is in wine” – the millennia-old saying reads. Since ancient times wine has been considered not merely an alcoholic beverage but also a piece of art. Wine can rightfully be called one of the few human creations which stood the test of time. However, wine is perhaps one of the most debated products among other beverages. Almost every country claims to be the birthplace of this fermented grape juice, and those who do not claim to bear the palm, insist on having the exclusive knowledge of how to produce the “real” wine.

In fact, archaeologists currently have no shared view of the historical birthplace of wine. Nevertheless, one thing is sure: people knew about Vitis Vinifera – the cultivated grape – back 8- 10 thousand years ago. They used it as a fruit and drank its juice. At least, this is what fragments of the survived clay vessels with the remains of wine come to prove, and the first graphic and text evidence about wine dates back to the fourth millennia BC.

People started making wine after the development of viticulture when they started cultivating the grapevine in the Neolithic Era in the Middle East. Viticulture started to develop around 8000 BC, right in the regions of Transcaucasia, Eastern Anatolia and the North of Zagros Mountains (in the territory of modern Iran).

Indeed, the Armenian Highlands played a significant role in the history of winemaking. Therefore, it is quite natural that a large number of written evidence and artefacts show that the Armenian Highlands and neighboring areas are the cradle of viticulture. Winemaking thus existed long before the creation and propagation of the written word. However, some of the ancient scripts in forms of myths and legends contain vital information about the origin and spread of viticulture.
Approved

  • Republic of Armenia

  • Soviet Republic of Armenia

  • Medieval Armenia

  • Hellenistic Ancient Armenia

  • The Kingdom of Van

  • Archeology of Ancient Armenia

  • Historical facts

  • The Era of Legends

Approved

The Modern Republic of Armenia is known as agro-industrial country, where vine cultivation and winemaking are essential elements of the economy.

By smartly combining centuries-old winemaking experience, traditions and innovative knowledge and methods of wine production, Armenian wineries gradually reach reputable international levels, confidently starting to compete in the international arena.By using the climatic and relief conditions of the country smartly, the producers receive excellent grapes and make unique and impressive wines later on.

The volumes of wine production in Armenia grow year by year. The winemaking is based on both main big producers and private, small houses of enthusiasts, who impress the delicate consumers with new aromas and flavours, matching the high standards at the same time.

Invited by Armenian winemakers, international oenologists played an especially significant role in modern Armenian vitiviniculture by creating new, totally individual and attractive wines, thus pushing the wine production and vine cultivation into the modernized milestone in Armenian winemaking.

Wine culture is actively growing in parallel with the development and extension of wine in Armenia. New wine institutions, wine tours and routes are established to promote Armenian wines.

Armenian wine enthusiasts do not bound with this; they go on creating new entertainments, wine festivals, bazaars and some more every year, to develop wine culture and strengthen the old traditions of the ancient country.