This chapter covers wine and gastronomy of Armenia as well as its indigenous grape "ARENI NOIR"

First Wine? Archaeologists Trace Drink to Stone Age. What do you know about Armenia Wines? Here wines are still made of enigmatic ARENI NOIR - an indigenous grape particular to the Yeghegnadzor region in the South of the country. Grown on original un-drafted roots, this grapevine has remained unchanged for centuries. The remoteness of the area, the absence of Phylloxera and the isolation from modern agriculture during the Soviet era (this is one of the 15 republics of the ex USSR) has retained virtually intact the original genome of this ancient vine variety.

Analysis by a UCLA-led team of scientists has confirmed the discovery of the oldest complete wine production facility ever found, including grape seeds, withered grape vines, remains of pressed grapes, a rudimentary wine press, a clay vat apparently used for fermentation, wine-soaked potsherds, and even a cup and drinking bowl.

The facility, which dates back to roughly 4100 B.C. — 1,000 years before the earliest comparable find — was unearthed by a team of archaeologists from Armenia, the United States and Ireland in the same mysterious Armenian cave complex where an ancient leather shoe was found, a discovery that was announced last summer.

"For the first time, we have a complete archaeological picture of wine production dating back 6,100 years," said Gregory Areshian, co-director of the excavation and assistant director of UCLA's Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Feel free to contact us for more details For more please feel free to contact us.