Discovery
By Ara Mihranian, posted on 23 June 2025
For the past fifteen years or so, Armenian wines have been undergoing a true revival. Viticultural traditions that were forgotten, and sometimes lost, during the Soviet era, are re-emerging with increasing numbers of vineyards coming on-stream and an ever-broadening variety of wine. With its outstanding rocky, mountainous terrain, average elevation of 1,500 metres, diverse micro-climates and rich volcanic soils, Armenia is home to felicitous regions for growing vines.
The Cellar at Hin Areni
The catalyst for change was likely the discovery of the historic Areni cave in 2007 by international archaeologists. Here, they found amphorae filled with grape seeds dating back 6,100 years, whose DNA matched the iconic Areni Noir grape variety. This prehistoric cave was therefore the site of one of the oldest wine fermentations in the world.
The unprecedented popularity of wine and sizeable investments have led to a five-fold increase in the number of wineries in less than 10 years, translating to exponential growth of the industry and the development of wine tourism.
Different types of terroir have become apparent in several regions across Armenia, spawning a wide variety of authentic, quality wines that offer a showcase for native Armenian grape varieties.
As a direct consequence of this upturn, wine has become fashionable, with consumption increasing year-on-year, several major wine festivals taking place around the country and the capital city Erevan becoming a gourmet food hub boasting hundreds of restaurants and wine bars. At the initiative of the Armenian Vine and Wine Foundation – a government agency that works to promote Armenian wine worldwide – Armenian wines take part in international exhibitions ever year and garner medals in the most prestigious global competitions. With their Old World legacy, Armenian wines have been resurrected and are beginning to make a name for themselves in export markets. This has undeniably put Armenia on the global wine map.
We take a closer look at six wineries that are representative of the unique vineyard sites in three Armenian wine regions.
The Vayots Dzor region and the village of Areni in particular have been the cradle of Armenian winegrowing for thousands of years. The region is home to a distinctive continental climate where the winters are mild and the days filled with sunshine. The vineyard sites range in elevation from 1,000 to 1,800 metres and are conducive to growing healthy vines free of phylloxera.
Hin Areni, finding strength in ancient vineyard sites
Founded in 2013 not far from the prehistoric cave of Areni, Hin Areni is located along the Areni wine route, formerly the historic Silk Road. It is now the largest winery and wine tourism estate in Vayots Dzor, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and wine enthusiasts from across the globe.
Offering a showcase for the iconic Armenian grape varieties Areni Noir and Voskéhat, Hin Areni produces racy, elegant single varietals that have garnered awards in international competitions. The wines show hallmark varietal characters, concentrated aromas, pronounced fruit notes, silky tannins and great acidity.
An artistic French touch has been instilled for the past decade by southern French winemaker Didier Cornillon who has never failed to successfully show off this unique terroir. In addition to its range of classic wines, Hin Areni also crafts charming oak-aged wines like its red Réserve and ‘La Divine’. These are wines that display incredible elegance, rich forest fruit aromas and notes of pepper and spice.
Hin Areni only grows the indigenous Areni Noir and Voskéhat grape varieties in its 32-hectare ungrafted vineyard located 1,250 metres above sea level. Five hectares of vines are farmed organically and most of the vines are situated on hillsides, thereby benefitting from great exposure to sunshine. The soils are volcanic, rocky and mineral-rich, whilst significant diurnal shift produces grapes that reach peak ripeness and are well-aired.
In addition to its large winery, Hin Areni also has a tasting room and a hotel to accommodate visitors, a restaurant and a unique ‘wine bank’ where patrons can store and mature wines.
Vardan Mkrtchyan, the founder and director of Hin Areni
Ara Mihranian, an ambassador for Hin Areni wines
In the north-western part of Armenia, the Aragatsotn region – named after Mount Aragats (4,090 m) – is renowned for its quality wine companies and vineyards stretching from 1,100 to 1,400 metres above sea level. The very diverse climate, combined with primarily volcanic, limestone-rich soils among the foothills of Mount Aragats, have historically made this a prime site for growing vines whose history dates back over 5,000 years. Several renowned Armenian wine companies – both modern and family-run – perpetuate the tradition.
Van Ardi, a family affair
Van Ardi, pioneering Armenian family winemaking
Nestled at the foot of the sunny slopes of Mount Aragats, Van Ardi is a family-run winery that has played a pioneering role in the resurgence of modern Armenian wine. Founded in 2008 by Varuzhan Mouradian – a stargazing wine enthusiast who moved with his family from Los Angeles to Armenia to materialise his vision of the future – Van Ardi was born just as the country’s wine industry was embarking on its resurrection.
Since its inception, this family-owned winery has combined a profound respect for tradition with a spirit of innovation and excellence to produce authentic, expressive terroir-driven wines that have won awards in major international wine competitions. The wines are produced with minimum human intervention and showcase a number of Armenian grape varieties like Milagh, Haghtanak, Areni, Kangun and Voskéhat.
The organically-certified vineyards thrive on rocky volcanic soils 1,050 metres above sea level where hot days and cool, windy nights create the ideal environment for growing healthy, vibrant fruit. At Van Ardi, wine, art and human relations fuse as one and the vineyards often provide the stage for musical and artistic performances organised by the Mouradian family. The founder’s wife, Anahit, is in charge of culinary experiences at Van Ardi and serves food and wine pairings for visitors, whilst their daughters run the hospitality, visits and tastings at the property.
Varuzhan Mouradian, The founder of Van Ardi
Voskezav Winery
Voskévaz is a true family chateau located in the namesake village which means ‘golden bunch’ in Armenian. Founded in 1932, its rebirth began in 2004 when David Hovhannisyan and his family purchased the estate in order to produce authentic, high quality wines that combine wine traditions and innovation.
Designed in the period style of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia, the castle comprises several buildings and facilities in a variety of styles and decors. They mystically come together as a single whole where the cult of wines and vines plays a central role.
Voskévaz produces a wide array of wines that highlight autochthonous grape varieties, fermentation in Armenian karas – or clay amphorae – and maturation in high quality, rare Armenian oak. The grape varieties used for the red wines are Kakhet, Haghtanak, Areni and Khndoghni, whilst Kangun, Voskéhat and Muscat Vardabuyr are used for the whites.
Every year, Voskévaz wins medals in major international competitions. Its award-winning wines include Voskévaz Karasi, made from old vines and matured in karas, an ancient winemaking vessel made in the 19th century – the oldest on the estate dates back to 1894. This traditional implement for fermenting and maturing wine has been used in Armenia since Antiquity.
In 2005, Voskévaz also became the first Armenian winery to produce wines using the ‘Kakhani’ method. The term means ‘hanging’ in Armenian and involves drying grapes in the cellar prior to the winemaking process. The winery is now a popular wine tourism complex where visitors can discover not just exquisite wines but also some extraordinary architecture that has a distinctly exotic feel about it.
Voskevaz founder, David Hovhannisyan and his children Mary and Arman
Stork Wines
Founded in 2020 by Karen Tsharakyan, a passionate wine enthusiast who lived in the United Kingdom for many years, Stork Wines is first and foremost a homecoming of sorts for nature loving Tsharakyan. Having travelled though several Armenian wine regions, she chose to return to Armenia and embark on this fascinating journey.
The choice of the name Stork was no accident. It pays homage to these magnificent creatures whose lifecycle matches that of the ripening process of grapes. As you head towards the vineyards, you go through several ‘stork villages’ where the roofs of every house and the electric poles are graced with the nests built by these noble birds. In the spring, when the vines are being pruned, the storks collect the canes and use them to build their nests, whilst in the autumn the young stork chicks fly above the vineyards, readying to head off in search of warmer climes.
Stork’s vineyards are located in Sasunik – in the Aragatsotn region – and in Tapérakan (the Ararat region) and boast magnificent views out over Mount Ararat, described in the bible. The winery is situated in Sasunik where Stork has produced elegant white wines from the Kangun variety and red wines with the Areni and Montepulciano varietals since 2022. The estate also hosts cellar and vineyard tours, wine tastings and events that combine wine and gourmet food.
Karen Tsharakyan, founder of Stork Wines
Situated on Ararat plain with the biblical Mount Ararat to the south and Mount Aragats to the north towering above, Armavir is Armenia’s largest wine region with elevations ranging from 900 to 1,100 metres.
Jraghatspanyan Winery
Jraghatspanyan Winery is a family-run estate located in the village of Bambakashat, in the Ararat valley, a region renowned for its outstanding vineyard sites and historical roots that date back to Antiquity. ‘Jraghats’, which means water mill in Armenian, has symbolised abundance and fertility for centuries.
After moving from western Armenia to the Blur district in Armavir, one of the country’s historic capitals, famous for its ancient vine growing traditions, the ancestors of the Jraghatspanyan family planted vines, built an underground cellar in the 1890s and produced their own wine, passing down their winegrowing traditions to future generations.
The cellar is equipped with ancient amphorae or ‘karas’ and barrels and the winemaking process along with food and wine pairing continue to be an integral part of daily life for the Jraghatspanyan family.
The vineyards sit at over 850 metres above sea level, on clayey, sandy soils, producing stellar quality grapes with balanced sugars and acidity, aromatic and phenolic substances. The climate is continental with 300 days sunshine a year. Vine age ranges from 30 to 70 years. Jraghatspanyan Winery produces high quality wines from the Armenian varieties Tigrani and Karmrahyut for the reds and Garan Dmak, Kangun, Dolband and Muscat Vardabuyr for the whites.
The Jraghatspanyan Brothers
Moonq Wines
For eighteen years, Tevan Poghosyan produced a house wine called ‘Adriné’, named after his fourth daughter. He would produce one hundred bottles and gift them to his friends. So for nearly two decades, winemaking was a hobby for him. Deep down, though, he had always dreamt of having his own winery. After eighteen years of amateur winemaking, Poghosyan, now 50, ultimately took the plunge and created Moonq in 2021 as a reflection of his love of the land and his passion for wine.
Moonq, which means ‘Us’ in the local dialect in the Armenian region of Artsakh, is the culmination of two decades of dreams and the conceptualisation of a brand conveying family and community values and the love of wine.
The vineyards are located in the Ararat valley, near the village of Ptghounk, in the Armavir region. They cover half a hectare and sit 870 metres above sea level. The soil is a blend of clay, sand and rich volcanic minerals. The micro-climate provides long sunshine hours during the day and lower temperatures by night, ensuring good diurnal shift. Moonq’s cellar produces 5,000 bottles a year from the Armenian varieties Nrnéni, Khndoghni, Voskéhat and Areni.
Tevan Poghosyan, The founder of Moonq Wines
Tevan Poghosyan and his wife
Discovery
Discovery
Discovery