Armenia revives ancient winemaking tradition for global market
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Le Figaro, a French publication, reported on Armenia’s growing wine industry and its deep historical roots.
Journalist Stéphane Reynaud wrote that Armenia is leveraging its millennia-old winemaking heritage to compete in the modern wine market. Armenia Wine Company, founded by Vahagn Mkrtchyan and Vardges Vardanyan, currently produces around 8 million bottles each year and recently opened a wine history museum to showcase the country’s traditions.
In recent years, the number of Armenian wine labels has increased considerably, growing from 35 to 165 in just seven years. These new producers focus on native grape varieties and quality, building on Armenia’s unique genetic heritage. Kristina Margaryan of Yerevan University’s Institute of Molecular Biology explained that Armenia is an ancient center for grape domestication, with 400 registered varieties and 50 more awaiting approval.
Archaeological discoveries at the Areni Cave in the Vayots Dzor region revealed a 6,100-year-old wine production facility led by Boris Gasparyan. Researchers uncovered a grape-pressing basin, vessels, seeds, and grape remains. Le Figaro noted that wine in ancient Armenia was reserved for elites and used in religious rituals, linking it to concepts of life, death, and the afterlife.
The publication concludes that Armenia isn't entering the wine market as a newcomer, but rather reclaiming its place as one of the world’s oldest winemaking regions.
