Wine is a great alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grape juice. And how huge the palette of grape varieties is, the same number of excellent wine varieties are presented by winemakers to the true connoisseurs of this wonderful drink. Glasses full of sun and the aroma of the vine are drained every day in different parts of the world.
In addition to excellent taste, wine is also an important component that positively affects metabolism (if taken within reasonable limits, of course). Now a huge number of manufacturers and countries supplying wine are represented on the market. The price of all products is quite affordable, and the buyer can choose a drink based on their taste preferences. Bulgarian, French, Chilean, Spanish wines are located on the shelves of supermarkets. But I would like to tell you about varieties created much closer to us. This is the fault of Armenia.
On Mount Ararat ....
The wines made in Armenia, due to the excellent climate and special natural factors, receive a high percentage of sugar in the drink, which gives a fairly high alcohol content and, therefore, is suitable for making semi-dessert and strong drinks. This makes the wines of Armenia unique.
You can find many grape varieties only there: "Mskhali", "Areni", "Sow". Nature itself has made Armenia a country of winemaking. The mention of the vine planted by Noah at the foot of Ararat is still in the Bible. Even before the 4th century BC. e., during the invasion of Nairi (a state located on the territory of modern Armenia) of the Greek troops, they drank wine in their houses, stored in special vessels - crucians. During archaeological work in different regions of Armenia, there is a lot of evidence of winemaking, in particular, a store with 480 carasses of wine was found in the Teishebaini fortress. Much later, merchants delivered Armenian wine along with weapons and horses to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Does this not mean the invariable traditions of Armenian winemaking!
Twentieth century
Those who visited Armenia during the time of the Soviet Union always brought beautiful Armenian wine as a gift to their families and friends. Beverage reviews quickly spread throughout the country. Fine wine with a bright sunny aroma and delicate taste was in demand throughout the vast state. The wines made from the unique grape varieties bore the names of those varieties from which they were grown - Mskhali, Vosevat.
One of the legendary creations of Armenian winemakers can be called “Nerkarat” red wine, which is made, according to some legends, of those grape varieties that Noah planted on the slopes of Ararat. Well, of course, one cannot fail to mention one of the best creations of winemakers. This is Areni. The taste and aroma of this masterpiece of grape art for a long time remained with those who were lucky enough to try this drink.
In the mid-80s of the twentieth century, Armenia processed about 210,000 tons of grapes per year. Almost a quarter of the cognac produced at that time in the Soviet Union was in Armenia, the share of wine was about 5%.
Everything in the gorge
The center of Armenian winemaking at the end of the twentieth century was concentrated in the "Ararat Trust". There, in the gorge, there is a winemaking museum, the collection of which is more than three thousand different types of wine. Some varieties are aged for several centuries. There are two more similar repositories in the world - in France and Italy. What has remained virtually unchanged over the past three millennia is the production process itself. In wineries, everything is still stored in oak barrels, and home winemakers, as before, use carasses to store wines. Armenian wine is made with careful observance of all traditions.
Cognac, sir!
Of course, with this development of winemaking, wine alcohol should have appeared and, as a result, cognac. The highest quality of Armenian cognacs has been repeatedly noted at international exhibitions, and to this day it holds high positions in international catalogs.
In such a rich and fertile region as Armenia, with many fruits and spices, the inhabitants themselves produce a huge variety of wines. One of the most favorite is pomegranate, made with strict adherence to technology. This dessert Armenian wine goes well with many sweets, which are rich in Armenian cuisine. An amazing union of excellent food and no less luxurious creation of local winemakers will not leave indifferent any gourmet.
Grenades what you need
Pomegranate wine is gradually gaining popularity not only in Armenia itself, but also far beyond its borders. The popularity of this drink increased after it made a splash at one of the culinary festivals in Beirut. I am glad that Armenian pomegranate wine is experiencing a new take-off on the international market.
By the way, according to many experts, the amount of antioxidants in pomegranate wine is higher than in red grape. Linolenic acid contained in pomegranate seeds inhibits the activity of substances that cause cancer. It also prevents premature aging of the body. The taste of pomegranate wine is sweet and at the same time tart, the highlight of this drink, without a doubt, can be called a long pleasant nutty finish with light notes of cherry and tobacco. Lovers respond especially warmly to him.
Even by consistency, pomegranate wine has a greater density and density. To fully open the bouquet, experts recommend cooling the wine to 12-14 ° C. Those who have tried this drink speak of its bright and unusual taste. Sweetness is not syrup at all, but it corresponds to high-quality pomegranate juice.
There is room to grow
The popularity of pomegranate wine is growing not only abroad, but also in the Russian Federation. So far, this wonderful drink cannot compete with traditional grape wine, but the number of its admirers is constantly growing. More and more customers are choosing pomegranate wines such as Frans or Armenia. And every day, all at new points of sale throughout Russia, you can buy fine pomegranate wine. The price of a bottle of this drink is quite democratic and does not have big differences with other wines of Armenia. Reviews about the drink are surprisingly unanimous in enthusiastic assessments. Armenian pomegranate wine, the cost of a bottle of which is about 500 rubles, will not hit your wallet, but it will leave not only a pleasant aftertaste.