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Grape Varieties Armenia

It is believed that Armenia has over 400 indigenous grape varieties but only 55 of those are currently cultivated. Some of the wine varieties were completely lost during the Soviet years when Armenian grape growers were obliged to prioritize the varieties used for brandy. Nevertheless, the 2007 discovery of a 6,100-year-old winery in Areni, the oldest ever discovered, reminded the country how deeply wine culture is rooted in its history. Now, over 16,000 hectares of Armenia’s cultivated agricultural area is used for viticulture, mainly in the regions of: Armavir, Ararat, Aragatsotn, Tavush and Vayots Dzor. Over 70% of Armenian grapes grow in the Ararat and Armavir regions.

Armenian Muscat

1/10

The taste:

Pear and honey are combined with floral scents

Aroma:

An intensive aroma of white rose petals

Type of wine:

Semi dry ,sweet, desert wines

Color:

Straw color with light green notes

It make wines with high level of sugar and medium acidity. The aromas are intense with pronounced floral aromas. It makes various styles of wine, from dry to semi-dry and sweet wines. The cluster is medium sized, conical, of medium density. The berries are average size, round, yellow. The skin is of medium thickness. The flesh with juicy pleasant taste, strong muscat aroma. Seeds small, ovate, light brown, often 2 pieces.

Khndoghni (Sireni)

2/10

The taste:

Spicy and fruity scents combined with wood aromas

Aroma:

Ripe red fruit aromas

Type of wine:

The wine has a smooth texture and a refined aftertaste

Color:

Beautiful cherry red color with fuchsia tones

The Khndoghni or Sireni grape is indigenous in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is also found in some regions of Armenia. It makes wines with high, ripe tannins. It is usually aged in Caucasian oak barrels. The cluster is medium sized, cylindrical, very dense. Shrubs are green. The berries are of medium size, with round shape, black or dark blue color. The skin is of medium thickness. The flesh is juicy, colored, the taste is pleasant. The seeds are of medium size, elliptical, 2-3 pieces.

Kakhet / Milagh

3/10

The taste:

Blackberry and blackcurrant, fig and plum

Aroma:

Spicy and smoky notes

Type of wine:

Charmingly soft and significantly rich in flavor, with balanced tannin

Color:

Distinguished with dark, concentrated color

Αn Armenian grape variety which is used for the production of dry and dessert wines in Armenia. The cluster is mainly small, dense, cylindrical. The shrubs are light green, steady. The berries are of medium size, round, sometimes elliptical. The colour of the berries is dark bluish, shiny. The skin is thick, easily detached from the flesh. The flesh of the fruit is plump and juicy, of medium sweetness, the juice is colourless. Seeds are large, ovoid, 1-4 pieces

Voskehat

4/10

The taste:

Rich fruity (apricot and quince) mouth

Aroma:

Fresh floral

Type of wine:

Delicate fruit flavors

Color:

Pale straw color wine

Voskehat, literally means ‘Golden Seed’. It is often referred to as the Queen of Armenian grape varieties. Voskehat makes wines with a very rich aromatic bouquet. Cluster is medium sized, conical. Shrubs are often well developed, reaching half the length of the cluster, very dense. Peduncle is greenish-yellow, barren, unbreakable. The berry is spherical shape, medium size, white-yellowish, juicy, with a pleasant taste, very sweet. The skin is quite thick, transparent, and relatively easy to separate from the flesh. Seeds are small, 2-3 pieces.

Karmrahyut

5/10

The taste:

Flavors of strawberry, red cherry, antique rose and honey

Aroma:

Delicate dark cherry aroma

Type of wine:

Full body wine, red dry, semi dry wine

Color:

Ruby red, intense color

The name means “red juice”. This red grape variety grows only in Armenia, at an altitude of a thousand meters above sea level. Karmrahyut makes red and rosé wines. Cluster is medium sized, conical, sometimes branched, of medium density․ The skin is thick. The flesh of the fruit is red, with a juicy pleasant taste. Seeds are small, gray-red, 2-4 pieces.

Haghtanak

6/10

The taste:

Black currant, cherries and vanilla notes

Aroma:

Fruity and slightly spicy aromas that are combined with the taste of flowers

Type of wine:

Full body red wine

Color:

Ripe pomegranate in color

The grape name means ‘’victory’’ in Armenia. It makes a deeply coloured wines with high sugar content. The cluster is medium sized, cylindrical, of medium density. The shrubs are light green, strong. The berries are of medium size, round, black, covered with a dense layer of wax. The skin is of medium thickness. The flesh and the juice are intense red. The flesh is juicy. Seeds are small, oval, grey-brown, 2-3 pieces.

Garan Dmak

7/10

The taste:

But also yellow fruits and savory aroma wine

Aroma:

Scents of flowers and herbs

Type of wine:

Soft and full, dry and semi dry wines

Color:

Yellow color with golden green hues

This white grape's name translates to "sheep's tail." It thrives in rocky soils and gives delicate fruit aromas and round texture on the palate. Cluster is cylindrical, sometimes branched, mostly dense, sometimes sparse. The berries are medium size, almost round, greenish-yellow, golden in sunny places. The skin is rough, the flesh is soft, juicy, delicate with a pleasant sweetness.

Areni

8/10

The taste:

Rich in blackberries, red fruits and spicy flavors

Aroma:

Powerful aromas of cherries, strawberry and subtle hints of smoke

Type of wine:

Delicate and structured wine

Color:

Deep ruby red in the glass

It is considered to be the king of Armenia’s red grapes. Areni makes light or medium bodied red or rosé wines. It is often compared to Oregon Pinot Noir.The cluster is medium to large, mostly dense. The berries are medium or large, oblong-ovate, black in colour, sweet. The skin is rough, easily separated from the flesh, the flesh is juicy, and the juice is colourless. The seeds are medium size, sometimes with pomegranate colour.

Kangun

9/10

The taste:

Noticeable citrus notes, quince and pear

Aroma:

Fruity and floral bouquet

Type of wine:

White dry wine, crispy and refreshing

Color:

Light straw color

It make complex medium bodied white wines. Kangun makes delicate dry and dessert white wines. The cluster is large, cylindrical, closely dense. Shrubs are light green, strong. The berries are of medium size, even, ovate, yellow-green, brown in sunny places. The flesh is juicy. The flesh and flesh juice are colourless. The skin is of medium thickness, steady. Seeds are small, round, light brown, 2-3 pieces.

Syrah ( Armenia)

10/10

The taste:

Red berries

Aroma:

Earth driven fruit aromas

Type of wine:

Medium body with velvety texture

Color:

Dark purple in the glass

Its origins have been popularly debated, but its modern viticultural home is unquestionably the northern Rhône Valley of eastern France. Wines are produced in many styles and display myriad dark-fruit flavors. The cluster of the Syrah grown in Armenia is medium sized, short conical, mostly dense. The berries are medium size with dark coloured skin. The skin is thick covered by a waxy layer. Seeds are small, round, light brown, 2-3 pieces.