wine Archives

Yerevan to host Wine Days on May 11-12

May 5, 2018 by administrator

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s capital city will host Wine Days on May 11-12, chairman of the State Tourism Committee Mekhak Apresyan told reporters.

The festival which is held for the second time and is expected to become a traditional event, provides an opportunity to represent Armenian wine at the local and international market and to show the potential of Armenia’s ecotourism.

Apresyan said last year’s Wine Days were appreciated by tourists and the locals.

In turn, the head of tourism department of Yerevan Municipality Gevorg Orbelyan said the Wine Days and similar events contribute to the development of Armenia’s “eventful” tourism.

Over 25 wineries from Armenia and Artsakh will present their products, director of EventToura company Mary Badalyan said. Over 30 restaurants will join the event by presenting Armenian and other dishes.

This year’s event is dedicated to the 2800s anniversary of Yerevan.

“Our goal is to show that the wine drinking culture in Yerevan has a 2800-year history, because drinking wine is not a habit, it’s a lifestyle. We want to show that wine for Armenians is not a tribute to fashion, but a tradition,” said Nune Manukyan, director of Areni Festival Foundation.

The Independent’s natural wine selection Armenian Karasi Areni among

February 27, 2018 by administrator

The Independent in a fresh article about natural wines recommends trying Armenian Karasi Areni Noir 2014 for an authentic experience.

According to the feature, ‘natural’ wines must tick a number of boxes: organically or biodynamically produced grapes, hand-harvested, fermented using natural wild yeast and additive-free, other than no or very low sulphites. They should, mostly, not be fined – the process where chemicals are put in wine to reduce astringency and residues – and be only lightly filtered. In summary: minimal human intervention – or as one natural winemaker put it: our work is in the vineyard, not in the winery.

The article says a key natural wines trend is amphorea wines – where the wine is fermented in traditional egg shaped terracotta clay vessels, a process which originated many thousands of years ago when wine was first made in central Europe and parts of the Middle East.

“For the authentic experience, try the Armenian Karasi Areni Noir 2014 made from the Areni grape, which is indigenous to Armenia – a country whose robust red wines are well worth discovering – and named after a village where a 4,000 year old winery was discovered,” the article says.

“An extraordinary, iron-fist-in-velvet-glove wine: a perfumed nose, fresh and medium bodied, yet fabulously rich and powerful on the palate, with grippy tannins and layers of ripe red fruits.”

A Taste of History in a Glass, Armenian cave Earliest evidence of wine production

February 23, 2018 by administrator

ALLYSON KO / AGGIE

by: David Madey

Earliest evidence of wine production found in Armenian cave gives scientists insight on ancient, modern methods

Wine is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. The history of this fine delicacy dates back many millennia. In September of 2010, the earliest evidence of wine production was found in a cave in Armenia, proving that humans systematically produced wine 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.

According to the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, the first vineyard was planted in present-day Armenian territory after Noah’s Ark landed in the Mountains of Ararat. The discoveries made in the Armenian cave gave archeologists a complete picture of 6,100-year-old wine production for the first time, showing that making wine during that period was on a large scale.

Dr. Nelli Hovhannisyan, a professor at Yerevan State University in Armenia, came to UC Davis in late January to share more about the world’s first-known winery at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. She is responsible for the excavation of the cave.

“The cellars had different layers,” Hovhannisyan said. “The upper layers were bearing wide pots where the wine remains were very concentrated. There were also old manuscripts describing in detail how people were making raisins.”

The oldest known leather shoe was also discovered in the same cave — dating back 5,500 years. Aside from this artifact, archaeologists excavated drinking cups, a wine press for grape stomping, storage and fermentation vessels, withered grape vines, skins and seeds.

The Areni cave in Armenia contained a large number of seed specimens.

“The grape remains found in the cave were practically perfect,” Hovhannisyan said.

In archeological excavations, near-perfect relics are rare. The main limitation is the number of available samples from each site. Merely five or 10 seeds would limit the statistical confidence in the scientific claims.

“You have to have enough number of seeds with the right level of preservation,” Hovhannisyan said.

Having a large sample size gave scientists greater confidence in their analysis by comparing the ancient grape seeds with modern grapes. Weathering makes it difficult to find perfectly-preserved seeds, but the cave’s natural features gave them a perfect shelter.

“Armenia is very interesting because of the old remnants of the vineyards are found in monasteries,” Hovhannisyan said.

The grape stems discovered in the 6,100-year-old cave show very close genetic relationships to those that are still growing in monastery vineyards today. In fact, the same grapes that were used in red wine production today were found in the Armenian cave, collating ancient and modern times.

Back then, the wine was pressed by the stomping of human feet, giving the term “made the old-fashioned way” more specific context. The juices from the crushed grapes were then drained into a tub and were left for fermentation. The wine was kept in clay jars and stored in the cool, dry Areni cave that made the perfect wine cellar.

Shards of pottery were chemically analyzed for signs of wine storage. The clay pots themselves were radiocarbon-dated between 4,100 B.C. and 4,000 B.C. The results showed traces of malvidin, a plant pigment that gives red wine most of its color, is also found in pomegranates — Armenia’s national fruit.

Aside from its historical significance, there are also some modern benefits from this finding, such as disease resistance.

Dr. Summaira Riaz, a researcher in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, worked with grapevine samples from Armenia in Dr. Andy Walker’s lab. Viticulture is the science of growing farm grapes and enology is the science of making wine. The two branches make the industry that is wine-making.

“We look for natural sources of resistance to different pests and disease to carry out conventional breeding by making crosses of resistance and susceptible varieties,” Riaz said. “This allow us to understand the genetics of resistance and develop molecular tools to speed up breeding process.”

The common grapevine, Vitis vinifera, has over 5,000 different varieties around the world. The UC Davis study used 45 samples of Vitis vinifera from Armenia to analyze the grapevines’ resilient properties. Walker’s lab focuses on breeding disease-resistant grapes to reduce the use of insecticides and fungicides in vineyards.

“We worked with plant tissue and extracted DNA to carry out DNA fingerprinting, and testing of plants in the field and lab for powdery mildew resistance,” Riaz said.

The research showed that the cultivated grapevines are resistant to mildew.

Riaz attended Hovhannisyan’s talk on the cave’s excavation.

“[The findings] will give us better understanding of natural diversity of plant germplasm [a living tissue that preserves biological diversity] and would allow us to maintain germplasm collections in more efficient way to preserve it for future generations,” Riaz said.

UC Davis is ranked in the top two viticulture and enology programs in the United States. Nicholas Shurden is a UC Davis transfer student from the Lodi area majoring in agricultural business. Last summer, Shurden worked in Napa Valley farming wine grapes, where he was exposed to the various diseases affecting the vineyards. He attended Hovhannisyan’s talk to get a better understanding of the various cultivars.

“This research will play a pivotal role in identifying ancient strains of grapes along with genetic restoration will result in the rebirth of ancient wines being produced again in the 21st century,” Shurden said.

Today, Armenia’s Ararat Valley is like that of California’s Napa Valley — and the wine industry is booming just as well. Wineries are opening all around the country and wine bars are flourishing in Yerevan, the nation’s capital. Over the past few decades, Armenian wines were off the radar, and now they are gaining global recognition.

In 2012, the Zorah Karasi Areni Noir Armenian wine (2010) was ranked among Bloomberg’s top 10 wines for the year. It was the first vintage wine to be made based on the findings from the Areni cave. Made from Areni noir grapes and aged clay amphora, tasting this red wine is like drinking a part of history.

“One thing I respect about our particular industry — the wine industry — is the willingness to help and share information without prejudice from country to country,” Shurden said.

Source: https://theaggie.org/2018/02/23/taste-history-glass/

Written by: David Madey — science@theaggie.org

Zorik Gharibian’s Open Letter to Eduardo Eurnekian “David vs Goliath” KARAS WINE

January 31, 2018 by administrator

Zorik Gharibian’s VS Eduardo Eurnekian

report about the dispute between Karas Wines and Zorah brands in December 2017.

Banks.am has received an open letter from Zorah founder Zorik Gharibyan to Karas Wines founder Eduardo Eurnekian, which we present below. We are ready to publish the response from Eduardo Eurnekian or his representatives as well.

“Dear Mr Eurnekian,

We are both diasporan Armenians who are investing in reinstating Armenia’s ancient wine culture in an attempt to create a bright and prosperous future for successive winemaking generations of our young country as well as the rightful recognition, on a world stage, of Armenia as one of the cradles of Vine and Wine.

KARAS wines is undoubtedly one of the largest of investments in this field. Indeed, KARAS wines is not your only investment. Your dedication to the rebirth of your ancestral homeland has made you invest in Armenia’s future in fields as diverse as agriculture, banking and aviation. For your commitment you were recently awarded the highest of our country’s honours by our President who bestowed upon you the title of “National Hero of Armenia” handing out the prestigious “Order of Motherland” for your services aimed at the “development and prosperity” of the country.

Are you therefore aware, Mr Eurnekian, that your founded company, KARAS wines, has taken a completely opposite stance to that of encouraging “development and prosperity” in Armenia’s winemaking by absurdly demanding exclusive brand usage of the word “KARAS”. In so doing, KARAS wines is wanting to prohibit all Armenian winemakers, who work with these vessels, the right to use the word “KARAS” on their labels and is wishing to monopolise, entirely for its own benefit, what is historically Armenia’s most ancient and traditional winemaking vessel.

Perhaps it is worth mentioning that the history of winemaking in the ‘KARAS’ is so old that it merges with the history of humanity itself. Six thousand years ago in the highlands of Armenia wine was being fermented in the ‘KARAS’, as testifies the archaeological site of Areni-1 Cave. Three thousand years ago, our ancestors, the Urartians, were fermenting wine in huge KARASSES as testifies the archaeological site of Karmir Blur. The cellars of our medieval churches are full of KARASSES in which wines were made and fermented. Before the Soviet era there were entire villages dedicated to the art of ‘KARAS’ production, a craft which was passed from one generation to the next. The ‘KARAS’ have a deep-rooted, profound and intimate relationship with Armenia’s winemaking history and are undoubtedly part of Armenia’s cultural heritage.

It is, therefore, absolutely preposterous that a corporation, which is not involved in the rebirth of winemaking in the ‘KARAS’ and does not ferment or age one single drop of its production in these vessels, hold ransom the whole industry by pretending exclusive rights to its word usage. This creates not only false illusions for those who consume KARAS wines but, also, deprives present and future generations of Armenian winemakers the right to use the word on their labels to express an ancient and authentic Armenian wine-making method . This behaviour from KARAS wines shows complete disrespect for one’s history as well as short sightedness and typical corporate arrogance.

The Georgians have elevated their equivalent of ‘KARAS’ the Qvevri to UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity status. The Portuguese have created a DOP for the production of their wines in Thala (KARAS in Portuguese) while countries like Italy are now investing heavily in the rebirth of amphorae made wines, their heritage from Roman times.

Armenian winemakers of today and tomorrow, on the other hand, will have to stand on international and domestic platforms and talk of Armenia’s 6000 year winemaking history using words such as Amphorae, Qvevri or Thala and explain that our endemic word ‘KARAS’ was sold to the highest bidder, a powerful corporation, for personal promotion and brand usage.

The ‘KARAS’ are part of the cultural legacy of this country and belong to all its people so WHY does KARAS wines feel entitled to have exclusive rights for personal brand usage? WHAT gives it the right to do so? Is it its selfish corporate might? Or does ‘KARAS wines’ believe in some kind of superior right where no one or nothing can claim against its wishes?

This is a senseless endeavour. Development and prosperity in Armenia’s winemaking can ONLY come with unity, farsightedness, collective cooperation and most importantly knowledge and respect for one’s heritage. What KARAS wines will achieve with this self-centred action is only divide and discord with the only great looser being the future development of Armenia’s wine industry itself.

The stance of KARAS wines is clear. What, I ask, is your personal position? Divide and discord or strength in Unity?”

Armenia Wine will invest 270 million drams in new vineyards and wine tourism

September 2, 2017 by administrator

The Armenian Prime Minister visited the Armenia Vine company in the community, the government’s press service reported. He said the company sold its products to 14 countries – Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Baltic States, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, USA, Canada, Mexico, Israel, China and Japan.

The company’s leaders told the Prime Minister that this year they will expand the geography of exports, also involving Sweden, Germany, Poland and Kazakhstan.

In 2017, the company recorded a significant increase in exports. In particular, exports in January-May are expected to increase by 33% over the previous year. As a result, the company intends to increase the purchase of grapes in autumn.

This year, the company will make serious investments in two important areas. In April, it installed exemplary vineyards on the territory adjacent to the winery, with modern vineyard systems to complete its vineyards in the province of Armavir. The company has invested 140 million drams ($ 289,200) in this project and 120 million drams (approximately $ 268,600) as part of a viticultural tourism development project.

The production capacity of the company will be 4 million bottles of wine, 1 million bottles of champagne and 3 million bottles of brandy. The plant employs 200 people.

Sunday, September 3, 2017,
Stéphane © armenews.com

CCAF: First time that France parliament will have 3 Armenian members

June 19, 2017 by administrator

This is the first time that three Armenians are elected MPs in France, at the same time.

Co-chairman of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF), Ara Toranian, told the above-said to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“We are glad, we are happy that we have Armenian deputies in [French] parliament,” he said. “This means that Armenians have active participation in the country’s political life, especially considering that they are among the authorities.”

In Toranian’s words, however, solely President Emmanuel Macron’s Republic on the Move (La République En Marche (La REM)) party had Armenian MP candidates.

As reported earlier, three Armenians were elected MPs in Sunday’s second round of National Assembly elections in France. They are Jacques Marilossian, Guillaume Kasbarian, and Danièle Cazarian.

Armenian wines were tasted in Washington

June 15, 2017 by administrator

Armenia introduced its products at the recent wine festival in Washington D.C., and which was organized by the Smithsonian Associates educational foundation, reported Voice of America Armenian Service.

As the cradle of wine, Armenia—along with Georgia, Palestine, Israel, and Turkey—was represented at the festival, said Diaspora Armenian winemaker Vahe Keushguerian. He added that Armenian winemaking is being reborn, over the course of the past five to six years.

Armenian wines enjoy a great interest in the United States. As per Keushguerian, however, the US wine market will be favorable for Armenians in one or two years, since Americans love new wines and new flavors.

In his words, there is great progress also in the quality of Armenian wines.

Armenia snatches 23 medals at Grand International Wine Awards

March 3, 2017 by administrator

Armenia has secured a total of 23 medals – 10 golds and 13 silvers – at the MUNDUS VINI 20th Grand International Wine Awards, held in the German town of Neustadt in late February.

19 winemaking companies from Armenia participated in the event, bringing 58 types of wine to the professional jury’s attention.

6,000 types of wine were presented at the awards overall from 44 countries globally.

In terms of the medals it won, Armenia left behind a number of countries including Georgia (4 golds, 7 silvers), Moldova (8 golds, 12 silvers), Macedonia (6 golds, 3 silvers), Romania (6 golds, 5 silvers) and China (1 gold, 1 silver).

New Zealand snatched the same amount of medals as Armenia, both countries placed the 14th among the 44 states represented.

Armenian wine production last year surges by 30 percent – union of winemakers

January 12, 2017 by administrator

Photo by Gagrule.net durring Adopt A village project.

YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. Armenia’s wine production in 2016 surged by 30%, Avag Harutyunyan, the head of the Union of Armenian Winemakers, told a news conference today, citing what he described as ‘unofficial sources.’

In his words, local wineries produced at least 6 million bottles of wine, of which 4 million were grape wines. He also said that over the past seven years wine consumption in Armenia has been on the rise with many citizens shifting from vodka to that strong drink.

Avag Harutyunyan also claimed that according to the available data, many Armenian families had on their New Year tables locally-manufactured wines .

“Overall, in recent years, imports of foreign wines to Armenia decreased from 500 thousand to 200 thousand bottles, attributed to emergence of high-quality locally-made wines, as well as to growing confidence in the domestic manufacturer,” Harutyunyan said.

“Nevertheless, Armenia exports only 2 million bottles of wine per year, while the neighboring Georgia exports up to 35 million bottles. The problem is that Armenia does not have enough resources for the production of cheap wines in the price range of $1- $1.5 per bottle, which are in the greatest demand across the Eurasian Economic Union”, said Harutyunyan.

He also reminded of the Soviet legacy, when Armenia, unlike Georgia, was perceived as a brandy-producing country rather than wine.

According to official statistics, in January-November 2016 Armenia’s wine production has increased by 15.6% to 5.8 million liters. -0-

Armenia seeks to attract tourists through wine therapy

October 30, 2016 by administrator

Armenia seeks to attract tourists through wine therapy, also known as enotherapy, the head of the country’s Viticulture and Winemaking Foundation said Friday, October 28, according to Panorama.am.

“The foundation representing all the local winemaking companies has unveiled a new map that will be of great interest among tourists visiting Armenia,” Vahe Jilavyan said on the sidelines of the conference Welcome to Armenia.

“We have included all the winemaking companies and their addresses on the map, mentioning which of them offer tours, tastings and other activities which can be of interest among travelers who arrive in a country with a 6200-year-oldwinemaking history.”

Also, Jilavyan said, they seek to make Armenia an attractive destination for wine therapy.

“Enotherapy is common in all developed countries that have grape and wine production. The introduction of this form of travel will also solve the problem of wine which hasn’t been used up and is no longer subject to consumption,” he added.

“Enotherapy concerns both tourism and health care. We’ll examine the issue with the Ministry of Health and introduce a project on wine therapy in 2017.”