Zulal Areni Red Dry Wine Reserve 2020

Areni is an ancient red grape variety indigenous to Armenia. Zulal, meaning ‘pure’ in Armenian, was created to express the purest characteristics of Armenia’s indigenous grape varieties such as Areni. The barrel aging of the 2018 Areni Reserve adds a round mouthfeel and deep spice note to the expressive red berry flavors of the Areni grape.

The grapes are hand harvested and sorted, fermented in stainless steel, and aged in Caucasian Oak barrels.

The result is a lovely homage to an ancient grape variety only recently introduced to the global stage. It is the culmination of 6.100 years of winemaking history and one bold woman’s dream.

Home to the earliest discovered winery (4000 B.C., in the Areni-1 cave), Armenia has a storied history of winemaking. With high elevations, dynamic climate, and volcanic soil, the Armenian terroir is one of drama and intensity. Its many indigenous varieties (Zulal has catalogued 400) have been used for winemaking over millennia and are only now being rediscovered. It is Zulal’s privilege to share them with the world.

Zulal Areni Reserve is made from ungrafted 40-60 year old vines grown in volcanic soil at 1,500 meters above sea level. The grape, Areni, is highly nuanced and thrives in the high elevation and extreme climate of Armenia, growing in character with each frigid, snowy winter and scorching, dry summer.

Raised in Tuscany around her family’s vineyard, Aimee Keushguerian repatriated to Armenia in 2016 to join her father in the Armenian winemaking Renaissance and to fulfill her dream of launching her own wine brand. Soon after, Zulal was born. Meaning “pure” in Armenian, Zulal was founded to craft wines that express the purest characteristics of Armenia’s indigenous grape varieties.