Voskevaz - Taraz Haghtanak Milagh Red Dry Wine 2019

Since its juice and pulp have an intense red colour, Haghtanak is an important par of many blends (mainly with Kakhet), but it is also suitable for making high-quality varietal wines with good aging potential. Richly complex wines are crafted from Haghtanak, that transfer the rapture of triumph and are indeed a victory for winemakers. Rich in tannin structure, Haghtanak wines are simultaneously granted a subtle purple hue and fruity aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, cherry, as well as vanilla and cloves. Occasionally, the bouquet may be present with pepper and hints of coffee and chocolate.

Haghtanak is a local grape varietal with a late maturation period. The name “Haghtanak” means “victory” in Armenian. Haghtanak is primarily spread in the Ararat plateau.

 

Haghtanak is characterized by medium-sized, medium density, cylindrical-conical bunches and medium-sized, round berries. The skin is of medium thickness, covered by a layer of bloom, the pulp is juicy with intense red colour. Time of ripening is the beginning of October. Yield per plant is eighteen to nine kilograms (20 pounds). Haghtanak has relatively high resistance to fungal diseases. Frost resistance is average.

The winery purchases 694 tons of grapes from other vineyards around the country. The vineyards are mostly very rocky with a high level of mineral and volcanic soils and with a high percentage of clay.

 

In the fermentation process, they use selected dry yeast from France. Apart from the Karasi Collection wines, which are fermented in the traditional Armenian clay amphorae, the alcoholic fermentation is completed in stainless steel tanks with temperature control. Malolactic fermentation happens in Armenian oak barrels or stainless-steel tanks. Depending on the wine, they conducts pre and post-fermentation maceration.

Voskevaz Winery produces high quality wines from only Armenian grape varietals, which have not been crafted on American rootstocks. Voskevaz Winery is situated in the Aragatsotn region in Armenia close to the mountain Aragats (highest mountain in Armenia) in the village Voskevaz.

 

Voskevaz Winery was founded in 1932 and is one of the oldest still producing wineries in Armenia. The connection of modern innovations and ancient Armenian winemaking traditions is their pride. They work hand in hand with numerous small winegrower families from different regions in Armenia and vinify their grapes in over hundred-year-old, classic Armenian clay amphorae (karas) and Armenian oak barrels (takar) as well as in modern stainless-steel tanks.

 

They have a large selectin of wines from young, fresh white wines, rose or aged red assemblages to limited edition single block single varietal wines. These varietals come from very special regional terroirs, some of which are from a altitude of over 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) above sea level with vines from sixty to over 120 years of age. Voskevaz Winery proudly carries on the over six-thousand-year-old tradition of Armenian winemaking.

Voskevaz Winery is a family owned company, and it is currently operated by Davit Hovhannisyan. The winery is a unique castle with Armenian architecture. The main goal of Voskevaz Winery is to work with ancient Armenian grape varieties, to recreate and keep the heritage of traditional Armenian winemaking.

 

Currently, Jean-Paul Berger and his wife Tatevik Gabrielyan are the winemakers of Voskevaz Winery. Born and raised in northern Germany. Winemaker Jean-Paul Berger moved to Switzerland by the age of 23 and fell in love with winemaking. He worked in numerous cellars and vineyards in the Lake Geneva region and decided to take courses at the Ecole d’ingenieurs de Changins for a deeper understanding of wine-cultivation and processing. That’s where he met his future wife Tatevik, who was studying there too. After some years of working in Switzerland and Germany, they decided to move to her home country of Armenia to both work together and advance Armenian winemaking.