The wine is bright ruby red in colour, with complex aromas of red fruits. Subtle spice notes, hints of pepper, and a delicate toasted character add further dimension. On the palate, it is balanced, with silky, ripe tannins. A wine of elegance and depth, with impressive aging potential. – Zorik Gharibian

Categories: Areni Noir, Armenia, Vayots Dzor
Tags: Areni Noir, Armenia, Juicy, Red, Vayots Dzor, Zorah

Areni Noir is Armenia's signature, ancient red grape, renowned for producing elegant, complex, and fresh wines with red fruit, spice, and herbal notes, often called the "Armenian Pinot Noir". Thriving in high-altitude, volcanic soils of the Vayots Dzor region, it's one of the world's oldest grape varieties, with links to some of the earliest known winemaking sites, making it central to Armenia's rich viticultural heritage.

Zorah Karasì Areni Noir features possibly one of the oldest grape varieties in the world. Areni has been present in Armenia for millennia. Never grafted and on its own roots, it is 100% indigenous to this land and has a unique DNA profile that does not match any other. Extremely resistant to disease and with a very thick skin, Areni Noir has developed the unique capacity to adapt perfectly to the extreme climate of Vayots Dzor, its natural habitat. The pinnacle of high-altitude viniculture, Zorah’s vineyards are at 1400m above sea level. This is a phylloxera-free terroir with low-vigour, sub-alkaline, sandy soil rich in limestone and large stones.

The 2022 vintage began with a mild winter and significant snowfall that continued into March. Spring was unusually cold and wet, while summer brought warm, dry days. In September, cold nights were followed by warm days, with day–night temperature variations of around 20°C. Harvest took place in early to mid-October. All grapes were hand-harvested, with only the best bunches selected.

Fermentation took place in rough, temperature-controlled concrete tanks using only natural yeast. The wine was then aged in large, traditional clay amphorae—known locally as karasì—buried three-quarters underground in keeping with ancient regional practices. This was followed by an additional six months of bottle aging.

The wine is bright ruby red in colour, with complex aromas of red fruits. Subtle spice notes, hints of pepper, and a delicate toasted character add further dimension. On the palate, it is balanced, with silky, ripe tannins. A wine of elegance and depth, with impressive aging potential. Zorik Gharibian, Zorah