Wine cellar, wine tour in Armenia (7 days /6 nights)

Wine origin is disputed by many countries, including Armenia. It is known that the oldest winery in the world was found in the village of Areni, located on the banks of the Arpa River in the cave Areni-1. It produced wine for over six thousand years ago.

Cognac and wine are part of Armenian heritage - a national treasure, a symbol of rebirth and wealth, and wine tour in Armenia is becoming more and more popular every year.

Wine tour in Armenia - tasting holidays in Armenia - is a great opportunity to enjoy cognac and wine where they are produced. During the wine tour in Armenia you will not only get acquainted with the traditions of their production, wine cellars, storage and drinking, but also you will learn about a country with rich historical and cultural heritage. You will visit cultural and historical sites, which are under protection of UNESCO, and enjoy the unique and original architecture of Armenia.

We draw your attention to the fact that everything that is described in the tour program is included in the price.ExploreArmenia.am

Wine Cellar, wine tasting holidays in Armenia (7 days / 6 nights)

Day 1 - Airport - A walk in Yerevan - Brandy factory "ArArAt"

The tour starts with a walking tour through the city. Yerevan architecture is original and distinctive. Today, Yerevan is a city where there are a variety of architectural styles, with green alleys, numerous fountains. You will be able to see the sights in Yerevan: Grand Cascade (open air museum), the square of ​​France, the Opera and Ballet House, Northern Avenue, the Republic Square.

Lunch at a restaurant with tasting of national dishes.

After we continue our wine tour in Armenia and visit Yerevan Brandy (cognac) Factory, where we will taste 3 types of brandies - "Akhtamar", "Nairi" and  "Dvin".

After we visit the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and the Genocide Museum.

Day 2 - Yerevan - Khor Virap - Wine  factory "Areni" - Noravank - Yerevan

This day trip begins with a visit to the monastery of Khor Virap - one of the symbols of Armenia. The Monastery is a fortress located just 40 kilometers far from Yerevan, and less than a kilometer from the republic's border with Turkey. Khor Virap is a place of pilgrimage, which is associated with the legend of Gregory the Illuminator (Grigor the Illuminator). According to church tradition, Gregory was imprisoned on the order of King Trdat III for preaching Christianity, and spent there 13 years. Those interested can go down to the prison, which has a depth of 6 m and a diameter of 4.4 m. Right in front of you, very, very close and in all its beauty you will see the symbol of Armenia - Mount Ararat.

Then we continue our way to the village of Areni in Vayots Dzor region of Armenia. We visit the "Cave of the birds", where the oldest winery in the world and the world's oldest shoe, which was more than 5500 years old, were found. Village of Areni is famous for its wines till now. Every year in October the annual festival of wines takes place there.

Lunch in a restaurant with tasting of national dishes.

After lunch, we will visit "Areni" wine factory and taste Armenian wine in the tasting room of the factory. The wines of this producer differ in their unique tastes. The bouquet of the fragrance is revealed gradually leaving a pleasant aftertaste.

Next, we go to Noravank monastery complex, built in XIII-XIV centuries, which is located 1.5 kilometers east of the village of Areni. The complex is located on a narrow ledge winding gorge tributary of the Arpa River. The gorge is famous for its steep red cliffs, towering behind the monastery.

Back to Yerevan.

Day 3 - Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Sevan - Ijevan - Yerevan

The day starts with a trip to the pagan temple of Garni, built in the I century by Armenian king Trdat I and dedicated to the god of sun Mihr. According to history, the temple was built on the money of the Roman Emperor Nero.

Next stop is Geghard monastery complex (IV century), which is included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO. Its full name is Gegardavank, literally it is translated as "Monastery of the spear." The name of the monastery complex comes from Christ Spear (Spear of Longinus), which the Roman soldier Longinus thrust in Jesus Christ. The spear is now kept in the museum of Echmiadzin Cathedral.

Lunch in a restaurant with tasting of national dishes.

After lunch, we continue the tour to the city of Ijevan, where we will have an excursion to the Ijevan winery, built in 1951. The factory is located between the rivers Aghstev and Spitak Jur. Being located in the north-eastern part of Armenia its organic vineyards have favorable climatic conditions for the growth of European grapes. Ijevan winery is one of the leaders in the export of Armenian wines and brandy. And, of course, after the tour we will have wine tasting of 6 varieties of Armenian wines.

Afterwards we go to the pearl of Armenia - blue Sevan. Lake Sevan is a freshwater lake in the Armenian highlands. It is the largest lake in the Caucasus. It is guaranteed to be the largest source of fresh water in the region. We will also visit the Sevanavanq - a monastery in the north-west coast of Lake Sevan. The monastery is located on a peninsula, which was once a small island.

Back to Yerevan.

Day 4 - Yerevan - Saghmosavank - Amberd - "Armenia" Wine Factory - Yerevan

 

On this day we start the tour with a visit to the monastery  Saghmosavank (XII-XIII c.). Located on the right bank of the picturesque gorge of Kasakh River, opposite the mountain Arailer (2600m.). These monasteries provide an opportunity to feel the power and antiquity of Armenian architecture.

Stop at Square alphabet. This is a monument to the Armenian alphabet, which consists of the 39 letters of the Armenian alphabet. There are monuments to Mesrop Mashtots and his disciples.

Then we continue our trip to Amberd fortress (Fortress of clouds, VII-XIII century), which is located on the southern slope of mount Aragats, at an altitude of 2300 m above the sea level.

Lunch in a restaurant with tasting of national dishes.

Next we visit "Armenia" Wine Factory. The factory retains and strengthens its positions in the Armenian and international markets, while maintaining the best traditions in the production of cognac and wines.

Back to Yerevan.

Day 5 - History Museum of Armenia - Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory "Noah" - Echmiadzin - Zvartnots temple 

After breakfast, we visit the center of Yerevan – the Republic Square. Here is the country's main museum - the Museum of History of Armenia. The museum has collected about 400,000 exhibits. The museum exposition is divided into several departments: archaeological, ethnographic, numismatic department, historic architecture department, and the Department of Modern and Contemporary history of Armenia.

Afterwards we visit Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory "Noah."

After the factory tour, we taste various types of brandy and wine.

Lunch at a restaurant with tasting of national dishes.

Next we visit the St. Echmiadzin - the center of the Armenian Gregorian Church, where the residence of the Catholicos is located. We will visit Echmiadzin Cathedral (301-483 AD), which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, the museum and the treasury of Echmiadzin, which houses the Spear of Longinus (Spear of Destiny, Spear of Christ), a part of Noah's Ark, John Baptist’s patella,etc.

We visit the ruins of Zvartnots temple, which was destroyed in the earthquake. In 2000, the ruins of the temple and the archaeological area around it are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Day 6 - Parajanov Museum - Proshyan Cognac factory - Vernissage - Central Market

   

We will visit the Sergey Parajanov Museum. Sergei Paradjanov is a great director, who created a new language of cinema, an artist, whose art has no analogues in the world of art. Fellini said: "His contribution to world cinema is primarily in the fact that he created a unique cinematic language. Parajanov's films’ world is a magical combination of color, plastics, music and words. In his films there are  an encyclopedic knowledge of Eastern culture and art, a riot of fantasy ... ".

Next we visit "Proshyan" Cognac Factory. The factory retains and strengthens its positions in the Armenian and international markets, while maintaining the best traditions in the production of cognac and wines.

Lunch at a restaurant with tasting of national dishes.

Next we  visit the Vernissage - the market of folk art products. Here you will find hand-made chess and backgammon made of wood, ceramic pots, made in national style, handmade ornaments, traditional musical instruments, silverware, paintings and many more things.

A visit to the central market in Yerevan. Dried fruits - a national treasure and the usual accompaniment to cognac. In Armenia, it seems, they can make them of anything you wish. Including watermelon, cantaloupe and even tomatoes!

Day 7 - Yerevan - Tsagkhadzor - Kecharis - Arinj - Yerevan

   

Pleasant pastime in Tsaghkadzor. A visit to monastery Kecharis which consisting of four churches and two chapels. The main church of St. Gregory was built in 1013. There is a small chapel on the territory of the monastery. It is the tomb of the founder of the monastery Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni.

Lunch in a restaurant with tasting of Armenian beer (beer brands "Kilikia", "Kotayk", "Gyumri", "Erebuni").

On the way back we will visit the wonderful cave, located in the village of Arinj. Once one residents of the village saw a vision that he would build a temple near his house all alone, which he soon forgot about. And how it ended and what happened you will see for yourself.

Return to the hotel, check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport.

Armenia is a country to fall in love with!

Prices on tour to Armenia (price per person)