Historical Context

Nestled alongside the Arpa river in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia is the now infamous Areni-1 cave , discovery site of the oldest winemaking facilities in the world, dating back over 6000 years. This nondescript hole in the cliff face was an extraordinary discovery for Armenians, archaeologists, historians, scientists and wine enthusiasts alike- or anyone interested in history, people or life. The grape seeds found in the vessels half buried in the floor of the cave were remnants of production and evidence of the ancient practice of winemaking in the region. In short- people living in this area of the world have been making wine for a long time.

We can learn a lot from this discovery but let us focus on two main points:

The land has produced wine grapes for millennia, the volcanic soil lends itself well to the practice. People have been producing wine here for millennia, there is a historical precedent for being winemakers.

Today, many Armenians living in Vayots Dzor still grow grapes, but instead of producing wine, they sell their grapes to major wineries for approximately 50cents/ kilo. They make a profit, but they could significantly increase their income by selling wine made from the grapes they grow. Many farmers have an entrepreneurial spirit and desire to expand their production and from them we can expect great things, which is where our latest campaign comes in…