Hin Areni Winery
Hin Areni Winery along with the Areni-1 Cave was a very educational and fun day trip. I’ll explain in a bit in why I’m including the Areni-1 Cave into this blog post. One main thing is it’s something I recommend doing as a combination since you’ll appreciate this whole experience more. Fun fact, it is the oldest winery in the world, over 6,000 years old, discovered during the excavations in the Areni Complex in Armeni!
I have to admit I didn't know Armenia had a long wine history until I came here for a wedding. When I first tasted the white wine we bought from a nearby grocery store, I was shocked by how good it was! I started to search online about Armenian wine, it’s history and wanted to explore more.
Our Armenian friend told us about the tour packages they offer at the agency in Armenia, and we stumbled to the tour that would take us to different historical spots and this one included the Areni-1 Cave and the Hin Areni Winery.
Based on their website, in 2007, a small archaeological project began that became one of the most significant discoveries in ancient winemaking and Neolithic cultures. Areni winery has been a central and pivotal part of Armenian wine culture for thousands of years, playing a significant role in the development and tradition of winemaking in the region.
Areni winery has been a central and pivotal part of Armenian wine culture for thousands of years, playing a significant role in the development and tradition of winemaking in the region. Visiting the Areni-1 Cave first, which happens to be the oldest discovered winery in the entire world, and then doing the wine making process tour and tasting at the Hin Areni Winery truly enhances your appreciation of the entire experience. I highly recommend doing both together if possible. They are also close by to each other.
Note: You can drive there but I highly suggest just going with a day-trip tour package because you will also get to see other sites along the way as well as a guide that explains the historical significance and educational aspects of each site. I am not always a tour package kind of girl but for this one I found it done well, organized and I left feeling like I learned a lot.
You can easily book a tour package online or in-person when you get to Yerevan.