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Vayotz Dzor (Valley of Woes) is considered the countries prime wine making province with its ‘noble’ Areni grape. Travelling south east from the capital Yerevan, leaving behind the fertile Araratian plain, watched over by the omnipotent Mount Ararat, the landscape becomes increasingly mountainous. Cultivated on small plots by local growers, using traditional farming methods, most of the regions vineyards are peppered across the villages around Yeghegnadzor (the capital of the province). Areni is the most famous of these villages and has given its name not only to the signature grape of the country, but also to the fascinating archaeological discovery nearby; the ‘world’s oldest winery’ dating back 6000 years: the “Areni One Cave”

The road from Noravank follows the Gnishik River Canyon, eight kilometers of stunning terrain and spectacular rock formations, which appear from the abundant volcanic deposits in the region

The canyon area is famous for its numerous caves (Bird, Mageli, Archeri and Mozrov Caverns), its Flora (Wild Yellow Rose, pistachio, wild pear, herbs and berries) and fauna

This area has been recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) hosting some globally threatened bird species

It also hosts extensive colonies of endangered bats and one of the country's most treasured and endangered animals, the Caucasian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor)

Restaurant in a cave in the narrow gorge made by the Arpa river

The Arpa river

The Areni Cave

Areni” Wine Factory is located at the entrance of Areni village, Vayots Dzor Province. The winery was founded in 1994 by Rafik Simonyan with the aim of continuing and enriching ancestral winemaking traditions

Talking about the country of wine and about the history of wine-making in Armenia it should be mentioned that according to the Biblical legend, the winemaking dates back to the grape planted by Forefather Noah in the slope of Mount Ararat (Bible, Genesis 8:3, 4; Genesis 9:20, 21)

The pomegranate is one of the main fruits in Armenian culture (the others being apricot and grapes). Its juice is famous with Armenians in food and heritage. The pomegranate is the symbol of Armenia and represents fertility, abundance and marriage. For example, the fruit played an integral role in a wedding custom widely practiced in ancient Armenia: a bride was given a pomegranate fruit, which she threw against a wall, breaking it into pieces. Scattered pomegranate seeds ensured the bride future children

For Armenians in Karabakh, it was customary to put fruits next to the bridal couple during the first night of marriage, among them the pomegranate, which was said to ensure happiness. It is likely that newlyweds also enjoyed pomegranate wine. The symbolism of the pomegranate is connected with insemination. It protected a woman from infertility and protected a man's virile strength. Currently, pomegranate juice is popular with Armenians in food and heritage. The Color of Pomegranates (1969) is a movie directed by Sergei Parajanov. It is a biography of the Armenian ashug Sayat-Nova (King of Song) which attempts to reveal the poet's life visually and poetically rather than literally

Sayat Nova

Pomegranate flowers

In the south-eastern region of Armenia, in Vayots Dzor, 1800m above sea level in the gorge of the Arpa at the village of Areni, a centre of Armenia's wine industry, grows one of the world’s oldest sorts of grape – Areni. Few grape varieties can thrive in Armenia's climatic extremes, but the Areni grape does. Most of the country's vineyards are on the Ararat Plain, but the valleys from the village of Areni up to Yeghegnadzor comprise a quality wine-growing region

The remoteness of the area, the absence of Phylloxera and the isolation from modern agriculture during the Soviet era, has retained virtually intact the original genome of this ancient vine variety: the Areni Noir grapes (originating from the abandoned vineyards of a nearby XIII century monastery)

Surb Astvatsatsin of Areni (meaning the "Holy Mother of God Church) is a single-nave two-aisled domed church completed in the year 1321. It is located atop a plateau overlooking the Arpa River and the village of Areni in the Vayots Dzor Province

According to inscriptions the architect for the church was Momik Vardpet. He is best known for his high-relief carvings at the monastery of Noravank, located approximately 6 kilometers southeast from Areni

An effigy of the Virgin Mary is carved upon the tympanum in high-relief above the lintel of the west portal. This carving and many others that may be found on the church are considered to be masterpieces of artwork done by Momik Vardpet

Areni gives its name to an indigenous grape variety mainly used for making dry red table wines. Roadside stalls in the Areni area prominently display for sale large bottles labelled Coca-Cola. Should you be feeling thirsty and tempted to buy one, then prepare for a shock. The usual purchasers are Iranian truck drivers and they are taking home to alcohol-free Iran a beverage with considerably more body and flavour than Coca-Cola

And here’s the Ararat valley, where the ancient grapes full of bright sun and Mt. Masiss (Mt. Ararat) again entered a sail, will revive the fantastic cognac and wine and will tell: “Drink me, for I am your ancestors’ earth’s blood, embrace me with your palms, for communicating with the heavenly world, which is called Armenia”

Little Ararat (with an elevation of 3,896 m)

Sound: Charles Aznavour - Sayat Nova Yes Qo Ghimete; Samvel Yervinyan - Quiet Love(Charles Aznavour)

Text: Internet

Pictures: Sanda Foişoreanu

Internet

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

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