Whether you’re new to the fascinating world of wine or are a bonafide oenophile, this 1-day experience will take you from Yerevan to the heart of Armenian wine country, where you’ll taste some of Armenia’s top local wines and learn about the country’s rich 6,000-year-old winemaking heritage. You’ll visit two local wineries during your day-long tour, one medium-sized and the other a small family production, as well as two of Armenia’s most iconic historical sites: the monastery of Khor Virap, where the story of Armenia’s conversion to Christianity began, and Noravank Monastery, a medieval Armenian architectural wonder. You’ll also visit the world’s oldest known winery, discovered in a mysterious cave in 2011 near the village of Areni. Finally, your day will end with a 5/5 star-rated outdoor dining experience in a local family vineyard. You’ll experience an authentic 3-course menu created by your hosts and a local food historian among the vines of your host’s family vineyard while sipping on local wines as the vineyards glow golden with the setting sun. You won't just learn about Armenia's rich culinary and winemaking traditions; you'll be a part of them.
Pick up and drop off in Yerevan is included in the price of your booking, along with a professional, local storytelling guide who will accompany you throughout your journey. All you have to do is show up!
Here’s a summary of what your day on this trip will look like:
Pick up from Yerevan
Stop 1. Khor Virap Monastery, where the patron saint of Armenia, Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned for 14 years because of his Christian faith
Stop 2. Tushpa Wine Cellar, a premier local winery where you’ll taste some of their best wines, including their new line of natural sparkling wine made with indigenous Armenian grapes
Stop 3. Areni-1 Cave, also known as Bird’s Cave, an active archaeological site where the world’s oldest known winery, dated to be 6,100-years-old, was recently discovered
Stop 4. Noravank Monastery, a 13th century architectural wonder located at the end of a winding canyon known for its stunning red cliffs and biodiversity
Stop 5. Winemaker’s Table: Areni Vineyards, a 3-course authentic dinner experience that takes place among the vines of a local family vineyard
Drop off in Yerevan
If you or someone in your group has any food allergies or other travel-related requirements, please do let us know during the confirmation process after completing your booking on this platform. Our team will reach out over email to confirm your booking and finalize all the details.
Here’s why this experience stands out:
Cultural heritage preservation: This experience is all about Armenia’s cultural heritage. Your 1-day trip shows other travelers and local people that the sites you’ll visit are worth preserving and sharing.
Cultural exchange and education: You’ll learn a whole lot about the religious and cultural significance of the sites you’ll visit during this experience directly from a local, professional storytelling guide, who will help you connect to local ways of life and the history of Armenia.
Local, seasonal ingredients: All the dishes you’ll enjoy on this experience are cooked using seasonal ingredients sourced from local communities.
Native, authentic recipes: With the support of an expert Armenian food historian, the hosts of your dinner have created a menu that is true to the culinary and cultural traditions of the Ararat region, where the Yeranos Mountains are located and where you will experience a staple of the Armenian kitchen, BBQ in a traditional underground oven called a tonir.
Expertly trained community hosts: Your guides, chefs, and hosts have all been trained in hospitality, storytelling, first aid, the culinary arts, food hygiene, waste management, and environmental protection, so that you can enjoy your experience in comfort.
Untouched natural landscapes: Dinner will take place in an area of outstanding natural beauty. A donation of 2,000 AMD from your trip will go to the Caucasus Nature Fund, who will double that amount and send it to the nearby Arpa Protected Landscape, a community-managed protected area and one of the most biodiverse areas not just in Armenia but in the entire Caucasus region! Your donation, included in the price of booking, will ensure that the Reserve team is able to continue doing their valuable conservation work. Additionally, your hosts have been trained in environmental protection and waste management to keep these landscapes untouched.
Transforming the lives of local people through meaningful and sustainable experiences like this one is why we do what we do at 2492. We believe that Armenia can be a wonderful place to both visit and live in, which is why each of the experiences on this platform were thoughtfully built not only to connect you with local people and ways of life, but also positively impact the lives and communities that you encounter. Learn more about how we do this by visiting ONEArmenia, our nonprofit arm advancing sustainable travel in Armenia.
