Maran Noravank White Dry Wine 2023

This wine is made from a blend of three grape varietals, they are  Kangun, Khatun Kharji, and Aligote. The first two grapes are indigenous to Armenia, and the latter is a French grape grown in the Tavoush region of Armenia.

Kangun was initially created and cultivated for the production of brandy. 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 is one the most common Armenian white varieties, and in translation the name means “resistant”. The main regions where Kangun is cultivated are Aragatsotn, Armavir and Ararat Valley.

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 Vayoc Dzor. Khatun Kharji has the meaning as “Madam Kharji”. 

Aligoté is a white grape used to make dry white wines, especially in the Burgundy region of France where it was first recorded in the 18th century.The grape ripens early with moderate yields and produces wines high in acidity that can be drunk young. Its aroma includes elements of apples and lemons.

The winery own thirty-two acres of land, all of which is under vine. The soil is pale brown with immature humus horizons with a mechanical composition of mixed clay, sand and carbonates.

The origins of Maran Winery date back to 1828 and 1830, when Sargis, son of Eynat and his wife Maran repatriated from Persia to the Armenian province of Vayots Dzor. In 1860, Harutyun, Sargis’s son, expanded the vineyard his parents had planted and called it Maran as a tribute to his mother. With a semi-industrial approach, the family was making wine up until the Soviets took the power and seized production. On the eve of the Soviet collapse, a descendent of Maran, Avag Harutyunyan, finished his studies in winemaking, obtained his PhD degree abroad and committed himself to revitalize the family traditions. After almost 200 years, the tradition of Maran winemaking is still alive, encapsulated in their beloved wines Noravank, Bagratuni, Areni Marani and many others.

The Company vineyards are located in the mountainous southern region of Vayots Dzor, at altitudes of 1,350 meters (4,400 feet) to 1,450 meters (4,800 feet) above sea level. The oldest winery in the world, Areni Cave 1, which dates back to 4000 B.C., is situated nearby, just across the gorge. The most prominently cultivated varietals include Areni Noire, Voskehat, Khatoun Kharji and more. Growing only in this region of Armenia, they are considered the forefathers of international varietals. The exquisite wines of Maran, not only grape but also pomegranate, can be found in Armenia as well as in Russia and Europe.

Avag Harutyunyan is the owner and director of the winery. Avag Harutyunyan and his son Frunz Harutyunyan both hold PhD degrees in winemaking technologies and are the winemakers responsible for the entire workflow.