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The prestigious French publication Les Echos, one of the most influential in the economic and business sectors of Europe, has recently featured Armenian winemaking. The publication presents Armenia as one of the world's oldest winemaking civilizations, which is currently experiencing a revival. The article titled “Arménie, la vigne pour patrie” - “Armenia, the homeland of the vine” discusses the millennia-old heritage of Armenian wine, its modern renaissance, as well as leading companies and specialists in the field.
The publication conveys an important message to the international audience:
“Armenia's first vineyards are undoubtedly the oldest in the world. With a thousand-year history, they are being revived thanks to the efforts of local entrepreneurs and the diaspora.”
The Renaissance of Armenian Wine: From National Idea to International Recognition
Armenian winemaking and wine culture are successfully returning to the international winemaking map.
The article notes that the rise of Armenian winemaking is driven by several factors: private investments, diaspora involvement, application of international experience, and growing interest in local indigenous grape varieties.
The authoritative publication specifically highlights Armenia Wine, which is presented as a leading company in the sector.
Les Echos Week-End writes:
“The country's leading producer with annual sales of 8 million bottles.”
Vahagn Mkrtchyan
/Owner of Armenia Wine/
“We started from scratch”...
The article also features an interview with Vahagn Mkrtchyan, co-founder of Armenia Wine, revealing the philosophy behind the company's creation.
“We started from scratch, and I think we have come a long way today.”
He explains why winemaking was chosen:“When my co-founder Vardges Vardanyan and I thought about how we could be useful to Armenia, wine became an obvious choice because we have a rich and long history in this field.”
At the same time, he emphasizes personal aspirations:“Vardges and I have never wanted to leave our country.”
This philosophy is now one of the foundations of the company's development, making Armenian wine not just a product but a means of representing the country's history and identity.
Why was Jean-Baptiste Sula invited as the company's French chief consultant?
The article also highlights French winemaker Jean-Baptiste Sula, who has been collaborating with Armenia Wine since 2009.
Vahagn Mkrtchyan discusses this decision:“We needed a specialist who could train our team and help us move away from the legacy of the Soviet era.”
Today, Sula is considered one of the leading consultants in modern Armenian winemaking.
Jean-Baptiste Sula: “A new history is being written in Armenia”
In the article, Sula shares his experience of working in Armenia:
“It is a great pleasure for me to pass on what I know, even if sometimes I have to repeat myself…”
Speaking about working with grape growers, he notes:
“When trust is established, you become a family member.”
Sula believes that Armenia's advantage lies in its uniqueness, not in the desire to resemble others.
“For me, it is important to create the best Armenian wine that can compete at the international level.”
According to him, the future of Armenian winemaking is based on local heritage.
“A new history is being written. We want to tell the world about it, and the best way to do this is through our indigenous grape varieties.”
Sula also highlights the richness of Armenian viticulture:
“Armenia has 40 indigenous grape varieties. The most important are Areni for red wines, and Kangun and Voskehat for whites.”
Les Echos Week-End confirms that Armenian winemaking is increasingly attracting interest from the international professional community. The prestigious French publication speaks of Armenia not only as an ancient winemaking cradle but also as a country that is confidently shaping its new story of international success today.
