Uncork Armenia's Wine Routes

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel and check out
09:00 - Starting the tour

The morning starts by heading towards Khor Virap Monastery (in Armenian stands for “deep dungeon”). Khor Virap's notability as a monastery and pilgrimage site is attributed to the fact that Saint Gregory the Illuminator became the King Tiridates’ III religious mentor, and they led the proselytizing activity in the country. In the year 301 Armenia was the first country in the world to declare Christianity as a state religion. The walled religious complex also stands before the snowcapped flanks of Biblical Mount Ararat, offering a spectacular view of the mountain and cutting a striking silhouette in and of itself.

There are various legends about the invention of wine in the world, but the oldest is the biblical story. According to it, Noah planted the first grape vine here in Ararat valley, when Noah’s Arc landed on Mount Ararat after the flood.

Our next stop is Areni-1 cave complex, which is a multicomponent site, a late Chalcolithic / Early Bronze Age ritual settlement, located near the Areni village. In 2010, archeologists discovered the earliest known leather shoe (5500 years old) at the site. In January 2011 the earliest known winery in the world (about 6100 years old) was uncovered in the cave. 

Lunch will be at “Momik” Winery. Nver Ghazaryan’s family has been growing and producing wine from the endemic Areni grape near Areni village for more than 40 years. The results of their efforts are quality wines, one of which was awarded "Best Homemade Wine" at Areni Wine Festival in 2011. You can taste some of these wines and learn about Armenian winemaking traditions with Nver and his wife Narine. After demonstrating wine production and offering some tastings, Nver and Narine will guide you through their small vineyard to learn more about Areni grapes and micro-wineries. Nestled in one of Vayots Dzor’s many valleys, their vineyard is a wonderful illustration of the natural beauty, winemaking traditions, and hospitality of Armenia.

On the route, we visit Noravank Monastery, the masterpiece of medieval architect Momik situated above the beautiful colorful gorge. Noravank means “New Monastery” in Armenian, although the monastery is already more than seven centuries old. The spare lines of the church contrast beautifully with the sharp red rock cliffs, and the dramatic scenery is one of the best reasons to visit Noravank.

Then we will have wine degustation at “Old Bridge” Winery. Old Bridge is a boutique winery offering tours and wine tasting, paired with locally produced goat cheese and honey. Depending on the time of year, visitors can participate in grape-picking, distillation, or bottling. There is a historic bridge nearby, dating from the 13th century, that gives the facility its name – a fun spot to explore and to work off some of that fine food and drink.

If it’s a harvest season (mid. September and October depending on season) you can participate in grape picking, squeezing and wine making process accompanied with traditional songs and dances, have genuine interaction with locals in one of the villages. An experience not to be missed!

 We reach Hotel Arevi in Yeghegis village, where we are going to spend the overnight. Arevi is the 1st hotel in Armenia built from containers. Here are a wide range of wines.

Accommodation

• Overnight in Arevi hotel on BB basis.

Included Activities

• Khor Virap
• Areni-1 cave
• Wine tasting at “Momik” winery
• Noravank Monastery
• Wine tasting at “Old Bridge” winery

Meals Included 

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Lunch at “Momik” winery
• Dinner at the hotel

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel and check out
09:00 - Starting the tour

Early in the morning we depart towards Mikaelyan Family Farm cheese factory. Here you will also see the process of cheesmaking, take part in a cheesemaking for Cheese tasting master class and taste the exclusive range.

The family left its home in Yerevan in 2012 and moved to Noratus village to start the production of new unique kind of eco-cheese. They turned the former apple and potato cellars of the village house into a cheese factory and began producing cheese with exclusive tastes, which became the only ones in Armenia. The company is specialized in the production of wine-cheese, cognac-cheese, “horats” and parmesan-type cheeses.

The process of brewing cheese in Armenian brandy, cinnamon, grape leaf and wine lasts a long time. The cheese is processed for 4-6 months, thanks to which it receives particular taste and smell and has a natural peel. Masters from Europe often visit the cheese factory to get acquainted with the technology of their production.

Not a single visit to Armenia is complete without visiting her majesty Lake Sevan - the highest freshwater mountain lake in Europe, and surrounded by the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. Set 1900m above sea level, Sevan is the largest lake in the Caucasus, it's also one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. Its colors and shades change with the weather and by its own mysterious processes, from a dazzling azure to dark blue and a thousand shades in between.

Lunch will be in Dilijan, that is sometimes referred to as the forest kingdom of Armenia. In this cozy town, you can find vivid examples of traditional wooden house architecture. The mountains and gorges are covered with rich forests changing to alpine meadows and dotted with small farms, hiking tracks, lakes and rivers. The mountainous landscape is highly diverse, with different terrains, climates, soils and water resources. Many natural and man-made features enrich the national park: monasteries, lakes, archeological sites, forests, rivers and farmland create an endlessly-changing environment.

Visiting Honey House - located in a cozy corner right in the heart of nature, where you can taste different types of delicious homemade honey, jams, and the most unique and authentic wine — a kind you probably have never tasted before — Honey Wine!

Couldn’t resist the taste? Buy from these delicious treats and take with you.

Our next highlight is wine degustation and delicious dinner at “Ijevan” Wine-Brandy Factory - one of the first wineries in Armenia that was established in 1951. The factory is considered to be the gates of Tavush region and with its unique production it represents Tavush and also Armenia to the world. From the primal times people from Tavush have cultivated grape, squeezed the juice of grapes and made wine with it.

Times are changing and people's interests change too, yet the interest towards grape and wine making doesn't expire, and people start to understand the secrets of this fabulous beverage in a new way.

Accommodation

• Overnight in Dilijan Resort on BB basis. 

Included Activities

• Cheese tasting at Mikaelyan family farm
• Sevan lake
• Haghartsin Monastery
• Honey wine tasting at Honey House
• Wine tasting at “Ijevan” Wine-Brandy factory
• Dilijan

Meals Included 

• Breakfast at the hotel

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel and check out
09:00 - Return Yerevan

You can use your free time and go to Vernissage for souvenirs. Yerevan’s Flea Market is probably one of the best open-air markets in the world. It is called Vernissage (varnishing, from French) - a term used for a preview of an art exhibition. A visit to the market will make the day more beautiful. It offers various kinds of nice national souvenirs, jewelry and other traditional items. The Vernissage is the right place to get little taste of Armenia and a special spot to witness the fusion between national traditions and modern taste.

Dinner and wine tasting will be organized at “Norki Keghar” Winery.

The old and narrow streets of Nork tell stories about potters, tanners, blacksmiths, gardeners and winemakers, who lived there a century ago. Distinguished by the architecture of the old Norkites, the houses here stand out with cellars with handmade wooden doors.

Once upon a time, every second house had its own cellar, where people made wine from their own garden grapes in huge clay jars. Today, only few of these cellars retain their former appearance. Norki Keghar Winery is one of these historically valuable cellars that has survived, It is a 150-year-old cellar belonging to the Derdzakyan family, where wine is still being produced and delicious food is served.

Accommodation

• Overnight in Yerevan. 

Included Activities

• Wine tasting at Norki Keghar Winery

Meals Included 

• Breakfast at the hotel

09:00 - Breakfast at the hotel
10:00 - Starting the tour

We will start our day by visiting one of the cradles of Armenia's ancient winemaking - Agarak 3 Wine Presses. Here Armenian archaeologists found several large wine presses and karas vessels dating back to 4th-3rd centuries BC.

The large number of rock-cut wine presses and storage vats discovered in Agarak’s excavations, show its predominant role of viticulture and winemaking in Armenia.

Our next stop is “Voskevaz” Winery where we will taste delicious Armenian wine. Voskevaz Winery is located in the village by the same name, “Voskevaz,” which in Armenian means "golden bunch." The wines are produced only from local grape varieties growing on the amazingly beautiful and diverse foothills of the highest mountain in Armenia-Aragats. For wine aging rare high-quality Armenian oak barrels are used. In the production of sweet wines in Armenia "Voskevaz Winery" has pioneered the use of wine withering technology.

Our next stop is “Armenia Wine” Winery where we’ll have nice lunch and wine tasting. Wine tasting is carried out in a professional tasting room. “Armenia Wine” Winery is one of the leading companies in the Armenian market, as its production process meets the modern standard by means of its innovative technologies which are used by the world-famous companies that produce wine, brandy and other alcoholic beverages. Today, it offers the assortment of high-quality “Armenia” wines to the most demanding local and foreign buyers.

After we will visit Wine History Museum of Armenia - located in the territory of "Armenia Wine" factory. The museum represents the rich history of Armenian winemaking from ancient times till nowadays.

Dinner will be organized in a very cozy and pleasant place – ZipWine. This eco-village is a real paradise for those who want to combine ecotourism, fine wine sampling, adventure, and more! Here you can enjoy not only rich variety of wine, but also taste delicious food and have a very enjoyable time. ZipWine is located right at the beautiful Amberd River Canyon, giving you a breathtaking view to the beautiful gorge, green landscapes, and the river.

Back to Yerevan.

Accommodation

• Overnight in Yerevan․ 

Included Activities

• Wine tasting at Voskevaz Winery
• Armenia Wine Winery
• Wine History Museum of Armenia
• ZipWine Winecube

Meals Included 

• Breakfast at the hotel

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel

We strongly recommend to fill your free time with a unique experience by visiting Wine and Grapes Spa Center in the heart of Yerevan. This SPA will give you an opportunity to feel the magic strength of the Ararat valley sweet grape. After you sink into the wine made of these fruits, you will feel the magic properties of the Armenian drink, feel hale and hearty, strong and young. The wine bathing, steaming, skin peeling with the grape seeds and fresh blend, the massage with the grape stone oil and many other procedures will take you to another world of Paradise. You will taste the grape honey juice and wine made of it, which is a Divine drink.

Everyone is an artist and everyone can paint and be creative, even those who do not know how to!

Farewell Dinner will be organized at Gouroo Club and Garden accompanied by one of the most popular wine and art experiences in Armenia - Art Wine Party, a unique and thematic event, which takes place in a pleasant atmosphere, full of emotions. Participants of Art Wine party can discover their inner artist by painting beautiful art pieces with step-by-step guidance from the host of the event, accompanied by delicious wine and cheese tasting and music.

You will be able to take with you the impressions from Armenia not only in your hearts, but also in the form of a canvas.

Accommodation

• Overnight in Yerevan․

Meals Included 

• Breakfast at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel and checkout. 

See you soon in Armenia. We hope that while looking at Armenia pinned in your travel map, will bring back unforgettable memories and experience during your trip with us!