Edik Baghdasaryan, David Banuchyan

Vahe the wine guy, Karasi Vahe – these are some of the monikers that people use when talking about Vahe Keushguerian, the vintner who moved to Armenia from the U.S. six years ago.

He’s the busiest diasporan Armenian I know. The man is always in meetings or in the vineyard, the wine factory or organizing wine talks and tastings.

Other wine makers and grape growers seek his advice on a host of matters. Vahe jokes that he’s the godfather of Armenia’s wine mafia. He knows all the details about the domestically grown grape and the wine produced from it.

Vahe has gathered a dedicated team of professional that has taken the first steps on the road of developing Armenia’s winemaking potential. The team researches the history of Armenian grape growing and vintner. The team traveled to Iran to track down the unadulterated Armenia grape and claim to have discovered new varieties.

The vintner has also assisted wine makers in Artsakh by advising them on what varieties of grapes to grow, at what altitude, and in what type of soil. Vahe knows the secrets of the ancient art of wine making. For example, he can tell you what taste is imparted to wine by grapes grown on a mountain slope where a chilly evening breeze blows.

Comparing the wines produced by various countries, Vahe is convinced that Armenia, due to its long sunny season, can produce some of the best.

Vahe is also an active participant in the social and public life of Armenia. He can be seen at various events, demonstrations, and has even served as an election monitor. While he sometimes gets disenchanted, such emotions quickly fade. He regains his optimism and says that there are many good people out there and that together, they’ll change Armenian for the better.