A wine story: World’s oldest winery sits in a cave in Armenia!

There’s no denying that wine in any form or colour is pure love! If you are someone who loves a glass of fine wine, this piece of information will definitely interest you. Did you know that the world’s oldest winery dates back to 4100 BC and is situated inside a cave in Armenia? Fascinating, right?

You’ll be amazed to know that there are numerous theories around the wine’s origin and first preparation. Out of them all, Armenia remains the oldest-known winery in the world!
Let’s know more about this ancient cave winery.

The common beliefs
Some believe that winemaking is much older than this. It is said that wine was being made before cultivation of crops began. Ancient people believed that wine was nature's gift to humans and that it was a magical drink.

About Areni-1 cave winery

Areni-1 cave in Vayots Dzor, Armenia is the oldest-known winery dating back to 4100 BC. The site is known for its wine press, fermentation vats, jars, and cups. The world archaeologists found V. vinifera seeds and vines too inside this ancient cave. The existence of this winery suggests that winemaking back then was already a well-developed process, and that the technology probably goes back much before.

A team of Armenian and Irish archaeologists discovered the Areni-1 winery in 2007 in the Areni-1 cave complex in Areni village. Situated close to Areni village is a well-preserved, over 5500-year-old leather moccasin, where a wine press, fermentation and storage vessels, and withered grape vines, among others were discovered.


As per the famous archaeologist Gregory Areshian of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), this is the oldest and most reliable evidence of wine production ever found. He also mentioned that for the first time, they have found a complete archaeological picture of wine production dating.

The winery unearthed in the West Bank in 1963 remains the second oldest-known winery in the world.

If you like a trip full of quirks or are a lover of wine, this is that one place that’s just right for you. Time to bookmark!