Armenian Grape Varieties

There are about 400 indigenous grape varieties in Armenia.

Throughout millenniums long history of winemaking and viticulture, Armenia received a quite a significant heritage of both indigenous and selected grape varieties.

There are about 400 indigenous grape varieties in Armenia. However, the majority of them are poorly studied: at the moment only 20 of them are used in production. Many grape varieties became a history; it is said that the wines from these grapes were unique and very interesting.

Today, some winemakers try to revive the forgotten varieties: they search for separate vines in private vineyards, trying to give them the second life. Of course, not all the plants found are indigenous; some of them are artificially selected varieties during Soviet times.

Today’s innovators of Armenian viticulture and winemaking are to be commended, as they are every day busy with increasing the popularization of Armenian winemaking with their hard work. Their head goal is to acquaint the world with Armenian grapes varieties, prove the uniqueness of Armenian terroir and its huge potential in general as a reviving winemaking country with centuries-long experience in grape cultivation and ancient national traditions.

Khndoghni

Sireni

The berries of Khndoghni have great deposits of colour and tannic agents, giving deep coloured and full body wines, with significant astringency, at the same time smooth and velvety. The notes of dogwood, cherry, pomegranate in the bouquet are characteristic for wines from Khndoghni. In case if the wine is aged on the must, the thick colour is added with significant astringency. The colour intensity and extract of the variety are so high that Khndokhni is often used in blends to improve the properties of wine. The formation of the beautiful bouquet demands a long term ageing.

Areni Noir, Black Malahi

Areni is a unique grape variety not only for its truly big age but also for its natural potential. It quite looks like Pinot Noir: it can show up in a full-body structure, brightly expressed tannins, as well as, coming from different regions of Armenia, it can demonstrate different colours in wine. Areni is a very flexible variety, and everything depends on the winemaker’s approach. Areni produces the most diverse styles of wine: bright, sparkling wines, light rose wines and powerful reds, with long ageing potential. Typical aromas of the variety are cherry, black pepper, black tea.

Areni

Kakhet

Sev Milaga

Kakhet is used in mono-varietal wine production, as well as in blend with Areni, Haghtanak and other red varieties. It is mainly used for the production of table wine, dessert wine and fortified wine; as well as Kakhet is used in the preparation of wine material for brandy, and grape juice. The real Kakhet is distinguished with dark, concentrated colour, delicate aromas of flowers, forest berries, and long, tannic aftertaste. At high levels of sugar, Kakhet maintains significant acidity. The accumulation of sugar is quite intense, at the same time, the acidity changes little, making it possible to produce high-quality wines for long-term ageing.

Haghtanak

Selection number: № 2-18-23

Haghtanak is a red grape variety. Wines from Haghtanak have long ageing potential, expressed aromas of dark berries and peppery notes. The variety ages well in the oak: in the result, it gains aromas of coffee, chocolate and cocoa. As well as the ageing gives roundness and particular nobility in flavours. The variety is used in the production of high-quality red table wines of different style – dry, off-dry, sweet, fortified and even sparkling wines; as well as grape juice. The skin of Haghtanak is quite thick, which helps to get well coloured and tannic wines with rich aromas. It is considered to have some similarities with Cabernet Sauvignon: the latest also gives the wine deep and intense colour, and provides excellent structure and tannins.

Voskehat

Kanachkeni, Katvi Achk

Voskehat is an ancient autochthonous Armenian grape variety, also called the queen of white varieties. Some of the Voskehat vines in Armenia are more than 150 years old and still bear fruit. Voskehat is used for wine, grape juice, resins production, as well as it is consumed freshly as a table grape. The variety allows producing wines of diverse styles and types. Those can be fortified wines like sherry, in case of late harvest – dessert wines. In the highland areas of Armenia it is possible to produce nice dry wines from light and fresh style to buttery and complex one, as well as lively sparkling wines. The dominant aromas of this variety are pier, melon, flowery notes. The variety has gor a very good aging potential.

Kangun

Selection number: № 2-17-22

Kangun was initially created and cultivated for the production of brandy. The variety was so well settled in the Armenian terroir that nowadays it excellently demonstrates its sustainable character in white dry and dessert wines; it is under the strict attention of large producers. Kangun partners well in the blend with other grape varieties also in sparkling wines. Perfect Kangun wines impress with light straw colour with the notes of white fruits, valley flowers, honey and quince: a wine with abundant freshness and prolonged aftertaste. Kangun grape variety was created during Soviet times, by crossing Sukhalinskiy Beliiy and Rkatsiteli; the latest is a result of crossing Chardonnay and Moldavian variety – Plavay. This means that Kangun is the child of three grape varieties. Kangun translates to “resistant”.

Khatun Kharji

No other names are known

The variety produces wonderful fresh wines, with noble aromas and high quality. Its unique bouquet of aromas delivers a great pleasure. In fine wines Khatun Kharji demonstrates alpian flower aromas, citrus notes and gentle pineapple. It is possible to enjoy the wonderful wines from this variety more, paired with salads, as well as nice aromatic dishes with sea food and chicken. Khatun Kharji is a rare Armenian autochthonous variety, which belongs to eastern ego- geographical group of technical varieties. The variety is rare in the territory of Armenia; there are small plots of this variety in the region of Vayots Dzor. Khatun Kharji has the meaning as “Madam Kharji”. Number of clones of this variety was discovered and currently are in the process of investigation.