4 day cognac & wine tour in Armenia

Day 1 – Airport | City Tour in Yerevan | Brandy factory “Ararat”

Arrival and meeting in Zvartnots airport

The tour starts with a walking trip through the city. Architecture of capital is original and distinctive. Today, Yerevan is a city where there are a variety of architectural styles, with green alleys, numerous fountains. You will be able to see the sights in Yerevan: the square of France, the Opera and Ballet House, Northern Avenue, the Republic Square.

Lunch at a restaurant with tasting of national dishes.

We shall then proceed to the Grand Cascade (open-air museum). It is a 500-meter high staircase (522 steps) with fountains and flower beds, as well as an open air museum, which presents about 30 sculptures by famous masters. Inside the complex Cafesjian Center of Arts is located on 5 tiers.

After that we continue our wine tour in Armenia and visit Yerevan Brandy (cognac) Factory, where we will taste 3 types of brandies – “Akhtamar”, “Nairi” and “Dvin”.

Transfer to the hotel / Check in

Day 2 – YEREVAN | KHOR VIRAP | WINE FACTORY “ARENI” | NORAVANQ | YEREVAN

This day trip starts with a visit to the sanctuary of Khor Virap – one of the signs of Armenia. The Monastery is a fort found just 40 kilometers distant from Yerevan, and less than a kilometer from the republic’s boundary with Turkey. Khor Virap is a place of travel, which is connected with the legend of Gregory the Illuminator (Grigor the Illuminator). According to church tradition, Gregory was jailed on the order of King Trdat III for evangelizing Christianity and spent there 13 years. You can further and go down to the jail, which has a depth of 6 m and a diameter of 4.4 m. Right in front of you, very, very close, and in all its beauty you will see the symbol of Armenia – Mount Ararat.

Then we continue our way to the village of Areni of the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia. We visit the “Cave of the birds”, where the oldest winery in the world and the world’s oldest shoe, which was more than 5500 years old, were found. The village of Areni is well-known for its wines till now. Every year in October the annual festival of wines takes place there.

After lunch, we will visit “Areni” wine factory and taste Armenian wine in the tasting room of the factory. The wines of this producer vary in their unique flavors. The bouquet of the fragrance is revealed gradually leaving a pleasant aftertaste.

Lunch at a restaurant with a tasting of national dishes.

Next, we go to Noravank monastery complex, built in the XIII-XIV centuries, which is located 1.5 kilometers east of the village of Areni. The complex is located on a narrow ledge winding gorge tributary of the Arpa River. The gorge is famous for its steep red cliffs, towering behind the monastery.

Back to Yerevan.

Day 3 – Central Market | Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory “Noah” | Garni | Geghard | Yerevan

Breakfast in the hotel

A visit to the central market in Yerevan. Dried fruits – a national treasure and the usual accompaniment to cognac. In Armenia, it seems, they can make them of anything you wish. Including watermelon, cantaloupe and even tomatoes!

Afterwards we visit Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory “Noah”. After the factory tour, we taste various types of brandy and wine.

Next is the pagan temple of Garni. Garni Temple built in the 1st century by the Armenian King Tiridates I and dedicated to the God of the Sun Areg (Mihr). The temple is at the edge of a triangular cliff, which overlooks the ravine of the Azat River and the Gegham mountains.

Lunch + masterclass of baking lavash in tandoor

Next stop is Geghard monastery complex (IV century), which is included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO. Its full name is Geghardavank, literally it is translated as “Monastery of the spear”. The name of the monastery complex comes from Christ Spear (Spear of Longinus), which the Roman soldier Longinus thrust in Jesus Christ. The spear is now kept in the treasury of Echmiadzin Cathedral.

Back to Yerevan

Day 4 – Vernissage – Zvartnots – st. Echmiadzin – “Armenia” Wine Factory – Airport

Breakfast in the hotel

Check out

A visit to Vernissage – the market of folk art products. Here you will find hand-made chess and backgammon made of wood, ceramic pots, made in national style, handmade ornaments, traditional musical instruments, silverware, paintings and many more things.

Next we visit the St. Echmiadzin – the center of the Armenian Gregorian Church, where the residence of the Catholicos is located. We will visit Echmiadzin Cathedral (301-483 AD), which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, the museum and the treasury of Echmiadzin, which houses the Spear of Longinus (Spear of Destiny, Spear of Christ), a part of Noah’s Ark, the patella John Baptist,etc.

We visit the ruins of Zvartnots temple, which was destroyed in the earthquake. In 2000, the ruins of the temple and the archaeological area around it are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Next we visit “Armenia” Wine Factory. The factory retains and strengthens its positions in the Armenian and international markets, while maintaining the best traditions in the production of cognac and wines.

Lunch at a restaurant on the territory of the winery

Transfer to airport