YEREVAN (ARKA)—The village of Areni in the southern province of Vayots Dzor will host its seventh Wine Festival on October 2-4, Mekhak Apresyan, the head of a tourism department in the Ministry of Economy, said at a news conference today.

Apresyan said the goal of the festival is to stimulate the development of rural tourism and to present Armenia’s rich wine-making culture and history. The Wine Festival will extend to the nearby community of Rind as well, he said.

According to Apresyan, the festival contributes to the development of rural communities by creating jobs. These types of festivals are a powerful tool for the resolution of local problems, he said.

Apresyan said two certified sommeliers—Jacob Kleitman (Israel) and Katie Jurkhadze (Georgia)—have arrived in Armenia to take part in the festival.

The festival is a joint effort of the Areni Festival Fund, the Ministry of Economy and the Industry Development Fund. They are being assisted by the Union of the Armenian Communities and the administration of Vayots Dzor.

The world’s earliest known wine-making facility—a 6,000 year old wine press and fermentation jars—was discovered in a cave not far from the village of Areni. The same area was the site of the discovery of the oldest known leather shoe, dated to about 5,500 years ago.