All grape varieties · Grape variety

Areni noir

Origin

Armenia — Vayots Dzor region, village of Areni. Considered one of the oldest grape varieties in the world: Areni seeds were found in the Areni-1 wine cave, dated to ~4,100 BC.

Growing regions

Very limited — estimated at fewer than 1,000 ha, almost exclusively in Armenia (Vayots Dzor, Ararat Valley, Aragatsotn). A few experimental plantings in Georgia and among the Armenian diaspora (France, United States).

Also known as

Areni, Areni Sev (sev = black in Armenian), Karmrakhuyt

Armenia's quintessential indigenous variety, Areni Noir produces wines of a unique character, marked by naturally high acidity and firm tannins that give it outstanding ageing potential.