Areni wine cluster to put Armenia’s ancient winemaking heritage in the spotlight

The establishment of a wine cluster in Areni, Vayots Dzor Province, is set to attract significant investment as part of a major tourism and regional infrastructure development program. The €120 million initiative aims to develop tourism clusters in Goris, Areni, Jermuk, Yeghegis, Dvin, Gyumri, and Dilijan, with a focus on promoting wine, wellness, adventure, cultural, educational, and ecotourism.

Of the total investment, €12 million is earmarked for nine settlements within the Areni community.

In recent months, discussions surrounding the establishment of a wine cluster in Areni have gained momentum. A few days ago, Lusine Gevorgyan, Chair of the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, and Zaruhi Muradyan, CEO of the Vine and Wine Foundation, visited Areni, where they met with Areni Mayor Husik Sahakyan to discuss the progress of the “Areni Wine Cluster” investment project and upcoming initiatives.

The project aims to develop wine tourism, improve local infrastructure, and strengthen Areni’s position as one of Armenia’s leading winemaking and tourism destinations.

Speaking at a press conference, Susan Margaryan, Director of the Areni Community Development Fund, said that numerous ideas are being discussed as part of the “Areni Wine Cluster” investment project, with the aim of implementing investment initiatives across each of the community’s settlements.

“Since many of the ideas are still under discussion, I will share more details once certain aspects have been clarified. However, I can say with certainty today that a major wine museum will be established in the Areni community, designed to meet international standards in every respect. We are confident that this will be an important investment for the community and will attract significant tourist flows. We have a lot to showcase, after all, Areni is one of the world’s oldest winemaking centers,” Margaryan said.

The museum will showcase the history of winemaking in Armenia, with a particular focus on Areni, including the Areni-1 Cave and its significant archaeological discoveries. The museum complex will also feature a sommelier center and a retail space showcasing a selection of the finest wine products from producers across the Areni community.