Armenia: Areni Winery & Winetasting
Areni is a small winemaking area in the southern Armenia where wines have been produces since the 3rd century AD. The grape variety growing here – areni – is unique to the area and produced in very limited varieties. The grapes require excessive sun, very sandy and poor soils, and very dry climate – this variety doesn’t yield good grapes in other areas of Armenia or globally. Tasting the wines at the Areni winery – you get to try 6 wines including 1996/1998 vintages, 6 fruit wines, and 6 brandies. Interestingly, right above the village of Areni stands a 14th century Armenian church, high on a rocky plateau.
