VOSKENI 2017 Sardarapati Reserve Areni Limited Edition Ararat Armenia

• Origin: Sardarapat, Ararat Valley
• Grape variety: Areni
• Characteristics: Ruby color with purple hue, aromas of mulberry, cherry, blackberry, hints of vanilla, and chocolate. Balanced, medium bodied wine, with elegant ripe tannins, refreshing acidity. Long finish.

This wine is dedicated to the battle of Sardarapat made by the Voskeni Winery. The winery is located in Sardarapat, Ararat Valley. This is a limited production wine made by the winery from time to time. They select the very best Areni grapes from their vineyards, and after aging it for 24 months in new Armenian/Artsakh Oak barrels, the result is an exquisite wine worthy of its namesake. We were able to get few cases of this wine and we’re happy to sharing it with you.

VOSKENI winery is a special winery with a unique history. It took an expat American Armenian from Boston, the Communist revolution in Russia and a family’s insistence on taking back what once was theirs to realize their great grandfather’s dream of making world class wines.

VOSKENI winery is a family owned and managed winery located at Sardarapat, Ararat Valley. The estate vineyards were once owned by Smbat Mateossian, the great grandfather of the current owners. Smbat (that’s him), a successful businessman from Boston, moved back to Armenia in the early 1920s with dreams of buying vineyards and making great wines. Unfortunately for Smbat, his newly acquired lands were confiscated by the Communists and Smbat died without realizing his dreams.

In 2008, the family was able to buy back the lands once owned by their great grandfather and are making world class wines.

The diverse Ararat valley microclimate with its extraordinary terroir create unique conditions for cultivating exquisite grapes and producing elegant wines reflecting the 6000-year old rich authentic wine making tradition of Armenia.

Areni is the indigenous red grape varietal of Armenia.

Aged 24 months in new Armenian/Caucasian Oak barrels, it is bright, well structured, well balanced with a rich flowery nose, more perceptible fruit flavors in the mid palate and a long finish.

Characteristics of Armenian/Caucasian Oak are such that the wine develops the aromatic nature of the grape varietal. It brings tannins which help the structure of the wine. Its aromatic contribution is low in lactones, thus the wine develops less intense woody character and more fruity flavors.