A border location with abundant natural raw materials, including native cereals and grains, Vayots Dzor has been continuously settled by humans for thousands of years. The world’s oldest discovered wine production center is located in Vayots Dzor at the Areni-1 Cave Complex. Some of Armenia’s best-known wines and winemakers carry on this tradition in the region today.
Spend a day or two exploring one of Vayots Dzor’s winemaking facilities, taking a tour of the production process, and tasting local wines. If you are in Vayots Dzor in the fall, be sure to check out the Wine Festival, where regional vineyards—established and boutique producers—showcase their wines. Spend the festival winetasting, enjoying delicious Armenian foods, and joining traditional Armenian dances.
Wine Festival in Areni (Photo by Stephanie Moore, My Armenia Program, Smithsonian Institution and USAID)
Wine Festival in Rind (Photo by Stephanie Moore, My
Armenia Program, Smithsonian Institution and USAID)
Vayots Dzor’s Cultural Offerings
A vineyard in Vayots Dzor (Photo by Ara and Sossi Madzounian, My Armenia Program, Smithsonian Institution and USAID)