Welcome to the wineland Armenia!

Imagine that you have the opportunity to discover a fascinating, unknown, new, old, and contradictory wine country with the right people by your side who know and love the country, its people, and its wines. Are you excited to embark on this unexpectedly fascinating journey of discovery with us?
Throughout the trip, either Isabelle or Rainer Rüttiger will be your personal contact. Both studied viticulture and oenology in Geisenheim and lived in Yerevan from 2017 to 2021 after various professional stations. Isabelle taught wine chemistry for the Society for International Cooperation at the EVN Wine Academy. Her husband Rainer has been advising various oenological and viticultural projects during this time, such as establishing a grape nursery and providing consulting services for several wineries. 
Armenia is referred to not only as the cradle of Christianity but also of winemaking. Wine has been produced in the Areni region for at least 6,100 years. Today, we know about 350 indigenous grape varieties that are increasingly being rediscovered for wine production.
During our journey, we will explore the 5 wine regions of Armenia and taste wines, sparkling wines, as well as beer and brandy/fruity spirits.
Additional tourist highlights besides the capital Yerevan include the religious center of Ejmiatsin, the monasteries of Khor Virap, Noravank, and Haghpat, Mount Aragats, the wine-archaeological site of Areni, and the Yerevan Wine Days festival at the end of the stay.
The history, beautiful landscapes, warm hospitality, and cultural-historical monuments will also touch your hearts.
 

Day 1 - 30.05.2025: Your individual flight  to Yerevan,  transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 - 31.05.2025: Yerevan
We start with a walk through the capital visiting the following sights: The Cascade, a massive stair complex made of light travertine stone that stretches up a hillside in the center for 572 steps. It currently houses the Museum of Contemporary Art. From the top, we have a fantastic view of the opera house and the entire city extending to Ararat. We will continue walking and visit the Matenadaran, the institute of ancient manuscripts with one of the richest collections in the world. We’ll have lunch at the Nor Aleppo restaurant. Afterwards, we will visit the Ararat Brandy Factory including the museum and a brandy tasting. Then we head to the Dargets Brewery. For dinner, we will go to the old district of Norqui Keghar to the winery of the same name. 
 

Day 3 - 01.06.2025: Yerevan-Ejmiatsin-Zvartnots-Yerevan
We start towards the archaeological site of Agarak for a visit. Next, we visit the young winery Stork, where we will tour and taste their wines. The next stop is the Museum of Armenia Wine, which is unique in its kind. Here we will taste wines and have lunch. We will continue on to Ejmiatsin, located west of Yerevan. We will visit the Etchmiadzin Cathedral (5th century). It is the oldest church in the world and is home to the seat of the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. All sights of this day are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Armavir region is also famous for its different indigenous grape varieties and, accordingly, for its large and small wineries. We will visit the Alluria winery, which currently produces exclusively "organic wines." Afterwards, we will visit the ruins of the former palace church of Zvartnots (7th century, UNESCO) and learn why this place is connected to wine history. Now we return to Yerevan and enjoy local dishes at Pandok Yerevan. 

Day 4 - 02.06.2025: Ararat and Vayots Dzor Regions
After breakfast, we leave Yerevan and head south, visiting the Tushpa winery on the way to Khor Virap. After that, we visit the Chor Virap Monastery at the border with Turkey, which means "deep pit." This monastery is often called the cradle of Christianity as Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as a national religion. On a clear day, some of the best pictures of the Holy Mountain Ararat (5137 m) can be taken from the monastery. We then travel to the Vayots Dzor region, the most famous wine-growing area in Armenia. The history of wine began here about 8000 years . We will visit the impressive archaeological excavations in the Areni 1 cave, where the oldest winery in the region was discovered. Afterwards, we will take a detour to the reddish shimmering rocks of the Amaghu gorge, which provide a unique backdrop to the picturesque Noravank monastery from the 13th century. After the visit, we will get to know a wine cellar in this area. We will be expected for dinner and overnight stay at the Arevi Hotel in Yeghegis.

Day 5 - 03.06.2025: Vayots Dzor-Tavush 
Today we will go off-road to the ruins of the Smbataberd fortress and visit the vineyards of the Maran winery, which are located at over 2000 meters. There, we will enjoy our lunch break with the appropriate wines. Afterwards, we will drive over the Selim Pass into the Tavush region. At the pass, we will visit a medieval caravanserai. Upon arriving at Lake Sevan, we will discover the fascinating burial site with impressive stone carvings in Norartus. On our way to the Tavush region, we will take a look at the small Sevan Monastery from the 9th century. In Yenokavan, we will end the day at the Berkri Gastroyard winery with dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6 - 04.06.2025: Lori Region 
After driving to Dilijan, a famous health resort, especially during Soviet times, we will stroll through a traditional quarter and taste the wines and sparkling wines of the Hovaz winery. Next, we will travel to the Lori region to visit the Haghpat Monastery (UNESCO) and the medieval Akhtala Cathedral. We will enjoy dinner at Debed Life, an extraordinary concept in a small village that helps integrate local women into the workforce. For overnight stay, we will head to the nearby mountain village of Dsegh.

Day 7 - 05.06.2025: Aragatsotn - at the Foot of Aragats 
In the morning, we will travel to the Aragatsotn region, walk the Armenian alphabet, and search for our initials. Before conquering the Amberd fortress, we will indulge ourselves at the Van Ardi winery. After visiting the medieval Amberd fortress at the foot of Mount Aragats (4095 m), we will head to Lake Kari, located at 3200 m at the foot of the Aragats peak. Our overnight stay at the Amberd Hotel, with beautiful views of the Aragats and Ararat mountains, will round off the day.

Day 8 - 06.06.2025: Armavir 
Back in the Armavir region, we will visit more wineries. The first stop will be the Djraghatspanyan winery, where we will have lunch after a wine tasting. The next tasting awaits us at the Arataschen winery, which offers a breathtaking view of the Aragats and Ararat mountains. On the way back to Yerevan, we will also visit the Midjnaberd winery and fruit distillery. After an exciting tasting, we will return to Yerevan to have dinner at the WineArt winery.

Day 9 - 07.06.2025: Yerevan Wine Days 
We will enjoy the day visiting the Vernissage - the (art) craftsman mile - and the Blue Mosque. We will have lunch together in the cozy courtyard of the Dalan restaurant. The afternoon is free for us, before we dive into the hustle and bustle of the Yerevan Wine Days in the evening, where we can taste all remaining wineries (around 60 more). KENATZ ????

Day 10 - 08.06.2025: Return Flight 
Transfer to the airport, return flight.