Armenia: History

The Transcaucasian region, including Armenia, is one of the world’s oldest centres of viticulture. Ancient Armenia was much bigger than modern Armenia and in classical times included much of eastern turkey, azerbaijan, and georgia in the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The vine was an indigenous plant in the valleys of Armenia, where the climate was particularly suitable for it. The wild vine Vitis vinifera silvestris (ancestor of the cultivated vinifera vine species) was established there over a million years ago. Carbonized or petrified grape pips have been found at several neolithic sites in the Caucasus.