Zulal Wines

Step into the world of our latest release, , spotlighted in Երևան ամսագիր • evnmag, and discover ’s journey of winemaking as Aimee Keushguerian continues her pursuit to revitalize and experiment with almost lost Armenian grape cultivars.

Read the complete article: https://evnmag.com/articles/zoulal-karmir-kot-haykakan-ginegorcoutyan-patmoutyouny-nor-veryntercmamb.html

Embracing the beauty of ; as the leaves change with the season so does our perspective. At , we pay homage to the hard work and dedication of our farmers by transitioning from the art of to the craft of . It's a season of intense care and meticulousness as we bring to life our signature grape varieties like and and transform them into the we all enjoy.

Delighted to present our second vintage of Zulal Karmir Kot 2019. Thought-provoking and elegant, we produced a beautiful expression of this rare grape.

Released in hand-selected locations throughout , we invite you to enjoy this new exciting wine.

Join us at In Vino EVN and Decant.winery wine bars for the first few drops.

Behold the mesmerizing stage of flowering, a masterpiece of nature's rhythm, and a testament to the meticulous journey from bud burst to this moment of fruition.

With each 'berry button,' we embrace the artistry that springs forth from consistent warmth and tender care.

Embrace the spirit of heritage with every sip! At , we cherish and share the distinct flavors and traits of 's native grape varietals, honoring our vibrant viticultural legacy.

Zulal Sireni, a wine intertwined with a tale of war, resilience, and triumph. This limited release tells the story of a grape variety that defied all odds and has thrived in Artsakh.

Armenian wines possess a distinctive character that harmoniously combines contemporary elements with rich historical roots. They embody modernity by embracing cutting-edge vinification techniques, while staying true to their historical essence. This essence is derived from the authentic terroir of Armenia, with its indigenous grape varieties meticulously hand-harvested from the soil and grown in the very climate where our ancestors cultivated bountiful fruits for countless generations.

Thank you for awarding 91 points to our Zulal Voskehat Classic 2020. A lovely write up below.

"Zulal is the Armenian word for pure. Aimee Keushguerian, who founded Zulal Wines in 2017, is one of the driving forces in the Armenian wine industry. She believes in producing authentic wines. This wine rocks with excellent clean rustic flavors of faint floral notes, chalk, dried earth, and bright apples. Its medium weight and firm deliver a wine perfect for a grilled shellfish platter."

Wonderful article in The New York Times highlighting the significance of wine’s impact on defining nationhood. Announced here is "Somm: Cup of Salvation" and release soon. A captivating new documentary exploring the profound role of wine in the cultural identities of Armenia and Iran.

Eric Asimov writes “ Throughout history, authoritarians have sought to suppress cultural expressions that deviate from the party line, whether books, film, music, religion or wine. It is no less true in our own times.” Stay tuned for updates on the release date, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable cinematic journey into the world of wine. And follow the inspiring journey of Aimee Keushguerian and her father Vahe Keushguerian as they navigate the complexities of winemaking in our region.

When Wine Becomes Crucial to Cultural Identity Throughout history, and even now in politically unstable regions, autocrats seek to control wine. For many people, it is worth defending.

Since the beginning, our mission has been to rediscover historic grape varietals.
we're proud to see our family of wines grow as we continue our mission to rediscover historic rare grapes.

With a slightly cooler Spring, we're enjoying this rainy season, finally turning everything green.

Meaning 'pure' in Armenian, Zulal was founded to craft that express the purest characteristics of indigenous grape varieties. By careful vineyard selection, stainless steel micro-vinification, and selective use of local Caucasian oak, Zulal has been the first brand to experiment with seven almost lost grape varieties.

Thank you Winery Reflections®] for this insightful review

“Dusty dark cherry, dried tarragon, wild blackberry. Organic strawberry, cool tar, blood orange flesh. An intriguing and unconventional procession of crushed pomegranate, foraged black raspberry, and red plum radiates expressive and untamed energy as complicating notes of bramble, anise, sagebrush, and juniper impart distinctly rugged herbal underpinnings. Wafts of dehydrated rose, cactus flower, and red hydrangeas provide higher-toned floral aromas while hints of caraway seed, paprika, crushed red pepper highlight an eclectic range of exotic spices. Impressions of iron, parched soil, and volcanic earth reveal complex reflections of terroir before bitter coffee and an interesting gamey note round out the exciting attack. Exceptionally savory and earthy on both the nose and the palate while maintaining excellent freshness and drinkability; exhibiting a thoroughly unique and unconventional flavor profile that is as fascinating as it is delicious. Medium plus in body with moderate tannin and balanced acidity. This 2017 Appi Valley Areni Reserve by Zulal Wines is an authentic and captivating red from Armenia. 

Widely considered to be one of the world's oldest known varieties of high quality wine grapes, Areni is an ancient thick-skinned grape native to Armenia that produces rugged yet expressive and complex wines. This bottling, crafted by Zulal Wines using 100% Areni sourced from a single high elevation old-vine vineyard in the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia, magnificently captures the incredible character of this absolutely legendary region and variety. This wine effortlessly emits a range of pleasantly wild and dusty berry fruits interlaced with brambly herbal qualities, intriguing spices, and iron-rich earthiness. It possesses a certain delicious uniqueness that is truly hard to define, and is an absolute pleasure to taste and enjoy. Wow.”

Photo credit Winery Reflections®]

What’s on the menu this weekend?
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Ancient variety Voskehat [pronounced vo-skay-hot] means “golden berry” in Armenian

The grapes for ' Areni Reserve come from Aghasafi, a small village in the Arpa River Valley. Coming from a single south-facing plot, the grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in stainless steel before spending 12 months in neutral French and Caucasian oak barrels. ⁠
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Caucasian oak trees are the same genetic material as French and Hungarian oak, but due to Armenia’s elevation, the trees grow even more slowly – resulting in a tighter wood grain and higher level of oak tannin.⁠
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Repost by NYC Wine & Spirit Shop]

“Looking for an exotic alternative to Cotes du Rhone? Consider this rich Armenian--yes, Armenian!--red. From a village that has been making wine for several millennia, the experience shows in this satisfying, spicy red with ripe cherry notes. Aged in French and Caucasian oak barrels for 12 months.”

Photo credit NYC Wine & Spirit Shop]

Armenia has historic records of more than 300 indigenous varieties barely 40 of which are used nowadays. Zulal puts great effort in locating, and experimenting with these rare grapes. Each year, a limited number of bottles are released within our Zulal Alpha collection, of these rare and almost lost varieties.

Thank you for the lovely insight and spotlight on our indigenous grape Areni.

“The Zulal Areni showcases how terroir-driven winemaking and indigenous grape varieties are putting Armenian wine on the map” - ,


Photo credit

Thank you for the lovely insight and spotlight on our indigenous grape Areni.

“The Zulal Areni showcases how terroir-driven winemaking and indigenous grape varieties are putting Armenian wine on the map” - Caitlin A. Miller, SevenFifty Daily

A Benchmark Example of Armenia’s Most Popular Red Grape | SevenFifty Daily The Zulal Areni showcases how terroir-driven winemaking and indigenous grape varieties are putting Armenian wine on the map…

Thank you Ethan Fixell] for this lovely and informative review
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"What up, ?? Yeah, I wasn't aware of their rich wine culture, either -- but as it turns out, one of the oldest producing regions of the world still makes great stuff today. In particular, this deeeeelightful 2018 Areni Reserve from , grown by in the province from 100% grapes. I'd never tasted wine made from the thick-skinned, indigenous variety before, either, which is known as the “Pinot Noir of Armenia” for its red fruit aromas, fresh acidity, and silky tannins. While dry, this bottle is fruity as all get-out, and 12 months in neutral French and Caucasian oak barrels rounds out the mouthfeel and adds a touch of spice. Fans of or Austrian -- take note! This one's a crowd pleaser, hard not to love at $30."

Photo credit Ethan Fixell]

Reposting this beautiful review from Storica Wines

Zulal Areni Reserve 🇦🇲🍷⁠
"Has a structure similar to a Côte-Rôtie Syrah or a Burgenland Blaufrankisch with lovely velvety tannins and a delightfully prolonged finish." — ⁠
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"On the nose this reserve has hints of cassis with splashes of red and black fruits that intertwine with a dusting of spices. On the palate cherry flavors take the lead with a peppery plum note following closely behind."⁠

📸Photo credit Storica Wines

It has been our mission to push our knowledge through experimenting with our indigenous grapes. By working meticulously in the vineyards with farmers to identify grapes that have yet to be made singularly, we have come a long way to understand our soils and micro climates.
But we are still are reminded and humbled every time we find a new discovery.

A peak into old vines that we work with… they are a token of resilience, and a testament to all the good work that has been done.

“This wine rocks with excellent clean rustic flavors of faint floral notes, chalk, dried earth, and bright apples.” Thank you. for awarding our Voskehat 91 points.

Sun setting on the drive through Ararat Valley with a typical hue announcing the arrival of Fall.