From Ancient Roots to Modern Bottles Armenia's Journey to World-Class Wine Status

Wine Talks with Paul K.

The Armenian wine trade, like the rest of the wine world, has headwinds and maybe a bit more than the more established countries and regions where wine is well known and respected. You have to add to the mix of struggles; unknown grape varietals, no port of entry, unknown regions and 75 years of Soviet oppression.

Enter Zara Muradyan; a wine romanticist and proud Armenian vintner. She is fast becoming the one to know in the wine trade out of Armenia and possibly single-handedly recruited the famed and infamous Concours Mondial de Bruxelles International wine tasting to Yerevan, Armenia in May of 2026.

It took a bit, but Wine Talks sat with Zara to hear her perspective.

Zara Nuradyan can hardly believe it herself: in just fifteen years, Armenia has gone from a forgotten wine outpost—where the post-Soviet legacy meant brandy trumped wine—to a vibrant, world-class wine region inviting international acclaim. In this episode, you'll discover how Zara, the dynamic director of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia and founder of Zara Wines, is not only championing Armenia's ancient winemaking heritage but also steering its modern renaissance. You'll hear how the country, armed with indigenous grapes like Areni and Voskahat, is shaking off its low-profile past to carve out a place on the international wine map—and why you might just see Armenian bottles on the tables of Tokyo, Los Angeles, or at your next masterclass. From government investment and educational initiatives to the role of diaspora and global tastings, Zara pulls back the curtain on how Armenia unites old-world traditions and new-world ambition, even courting major international competitions right in Yerevan. You'll get an insider's look at the challenges and headwinds, the heady joys of a growing industry, and the story of how passion, terroir, and a can-do spirit have created not just better wine, but a new cultural touchstone for Armenians at home and abroad. If you've ever doubted that a "brand new ancient" wine country could dazzle the global stage, Zara's journey will leave you uncorking more than a few assumptions—and maybe reaching for a bottle of something you've never tasted before.

1. Zara Wines (founded by Zara Nuradyan)

   • Website: Not specifically listed in the transcript, but based on the company name, the most likely official site is: https://zarawines.com/

2. Geisenheim University (collaborator in founding the Wine Academy in Armenia)

   • Website: https://www.hs-geisenheim.de/

3. Karas Wines (a key Armenian wine producer mentioned)

   • Website: https://karaswines.com/

4. Alexandria Winery (producer in Armenia)

   • Website: https://alexandriawines.com/

5. Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia (Zara is the director)

   • Website: https://armeniamwinefoundation.com/ or https://vwfa.am/

6. Icare Foundation (collaborator for the Wine Academy)

   • Website: https://icare.am/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/4hLWvOPDjZw

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