Jun 26, 2026
An exploration of Armenia's wine from an ancient cave, to a mountain, through wars and occupations to the present, and how events over millennia are fermented and aged into something beautiful that tells its story in the glass today.
Resources from this episode:
Books:
The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023)
Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)
Websites:
Absolute Armenia: Areni-1 Cave: How to Visit the World’s Oldest Winery (+ Tips), Varanyan, A. (Updated 11 September 2025) https://absolutearmenia.com/areni-1-cave-winery/
AP News: Turkey removes a restriction on direct trade with Armenia to improve ties (updated 13 May 2026) https://apnews.com/article/turkey-armenia-trade-restriction-lifted-c09e5d21617d45e524268eea1a2ff70b
Areni Cave: Areni-1 Cave: https://www.arenicave.am/en
The Armenia Project: Wine https://www.armeniaproject.org/wine
Britannica: Armenia https://www.britannica.com/place/Armenia
Caucasus Watch: EU Says Armenians Chose Europe and Peace, Pledges More Support Amid Russian Trade Curbs (19 June 2026) https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/eu-says-armenians-chose-europe-and-peace-pledges-more-support-amid-russian-trade-curbs.html
Caucasus Watch Iran’s Ambassador Khalil Shirgholami on Armenia-Iran Relations, TRIPP, and Regional Security (22 June 2026) https://caucasuswatch.de/en/interviews/irans-ambassador-khalil-shirgholami-on-armenia-iran-relations-tripp-and-regional-security.html
Eat This Tours: Armenian Wine - Everything You Need to Know Before You Go, https://eatthistours.com/armenian-wine-everything-you-need-to-know-before-you-go/
Eurovision: Eurovision Young Musicians 2026 - All You Need to Know (1 June 2026) https://www.eurovision.com/stories/eurovision-young-musicians-2026-all-you-need-to-know/
Hatis: Areni Cave https://www.hatis.am/en/areni-cave
Karas Wines: Armenian Winemaking Regions https://karaswines.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Scrolled_Website_030222.pdf
Keush: https://keush.com/
The Moscow Times: From Cognac to Apricots - These Armenian Products Are Now Off-Limits in Russia (3 June 2026) https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/03/from-cognac-to-apricots-these-armenian-products-are-now-off-limits-in-russia-a92912
Punch: One Winemaker’s Fight to Preserve Armenian Wine, Sauers, C. (15 January 2025) https://punchdrink.com/articles/armenia-wine-kataro/
Support Armenian: Armenian Wine: 6,000 Years of History in Every Glass (14 April 2026) https://www.supportarmenian.com/blog/armenian-wine-6000-year-history
Vinography: Kingom of Wine - Drinking the Past, Present, and Future in Armenia, Yarrow, A. (17 April 2025) https://www.vinography.com/2025/04/kingdom-of-wine-drinking-the-past-present-and-future-in-armenia
Wine Enthusiast: 9 Grapes to Help You Understand Armenian Wine, Kingwall, K. (11January 2024) https://www.wineenthusiast.com/basics/grapes-101/armenian-wine-grapes/
Wine Enthusiast: A Guide to Armenia, One of the World’s Oldest Wine Regions, Mowery, L. (8 May 2023) https://www.wineenthusiast.com/basics/region-rundown/armenia-wine-guide-grapes-regions/?customer_id=812-391-9340&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=6514397729&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwvKtBhDrARIsAJj-kTgD9btcvPBBef9shniv9UFmLuKo7f1Zely1HxYt9IPfIRrsaT7uyMkaAjIHEALw_wcB
Wine Enthusiast: As Uncertainty Still Looms Over Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia’s Wine Industry Hangs in the Balance, Mazzeo, J. (23 April 2024) https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/nagorno-karabakh-wine-armenia-war/
Wine Enthusiast: In Armenia, a Wine Renaissance Takes Root Against Odds [podcast transcript], Kettmann, M. (6 March 2024) https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/podcasts/armenian-wine-renaissance/
Wine Travel Awards: Areni -1 Cave: the Oldest Full-fledged Winery in the World https://winetravelawards.com/stories-of-the-nominees/areni-1-cave-the-oldest-full-fledged-winery-in-the-world/
World Atlas: Armenia https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/armenia
World History: Tushpa, Cartwright, M. https://www.worldhistory.org/Tushpa/
World History: Urartu, Cartwright, M. https://www.worldhistory.org/Urartu_Civilization/
WSET Global: A guide to Armenian Wines (9 February 2026) https://www.wsetglobal.com/knowledge-centre/blog/2026/a-guide-to-armenian-wines
Yerevan Wine Days: https://www.yerewinedays.am/en/?doing_wp_cron=1782490923.3031840324401855468750
Videos:
Somm TV: Cup of Salvation [documentary] (2023) https://tubitv.com/movies/100033083/somm-cup-of-salvation
Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET): Introduction to Armenian Wines <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_BDmAbamSc>
Glass in Session Episodes Referenced in this Episode:
S3E3: Wine Caves - Dishing the Dirt https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e3-wine-caves-dishing-the-dirt
S8E3: Once Upon a Wine Grape in Afghanistan https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s8e3-once-upon-a-wine-grape-in-afghanistan
S10E4: Wines of Ukraine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s10e4-wines-of-ukraine-yesterday-today-and-a-hopeful-tomorrow
S22E1: Wine in Lebanon - Wine, War, and Rising https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/wine-in-lebanon-wine-war-rising
S22E3: Wine in Albania - In the spirit of eagles … and flamigos? https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/wine-in-albania-in-the-spirit-of-eagles-and-flamingos-s22e3
Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session
Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.
Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)