For more than a quarter of a century, the Khalatyan family has been faithfully producing wines from the Armenian endemic grape varieties Areni and Voskehat, striving to turn them into the signature of Armenian winemaking. Visitors taste “Old Bridge” wines at the Old Bridge Winery-Restaurant located in Yeghegnadzor Community, Vayots Dzor Region
“My father founded the winery back in 1998, after we planted our first vineyards. We started with the most important thing—growing high-quality grapes. Then, with small but deliberate and calculated steps, we began to develop our business. Since then, our entire family has been involved in this work,” Mushegh Khalatyan, co-owner of the winery, noted in his interview with EcoLur.
The “Old Bridge” brand was named after a 13th-century historical and cultural bridge monument located in the field across from the winery. “Locals used the bridge to cross the river, but later it was closed to vehicles to protect it. That bridge is depicted on our labels and brand image because we see winemaking as a unique bridge between different eras. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors were doing the same work right here—making wine. We hope future generations will continue this tradition in this very place,” Mushegh noted.
In 2024, with support from “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) project, Old Bridge received a new breath of life. A tasting hall was created to connect the winery with the restaurant. Now, after touring the winery, guests can move directly into the tasting hall.
Previously, wine tastings were held inside the production area. “We used to place a large barrel in the winery and arrange our dishes on it. Over time, the number of guests kept increasing, and we had to think of something to serve as a dedicated tasting hall. Most guests, during or after the tasting, would ask about the possibility of having a meal,” Mushegh Khalatyan explained, adding, “The support from LILA project was a huge help. Now we can host more guests and accommodate larger groups.”
Starting with only two employees, “Old Bridge” now has a team of ten—all residents from Vayots Dzor Region. “If even one family can live a prosperous and dignified life in their homeland by working here instead of leaving the community or the country, that's already a huge achievement for us,” Mushegh Khalatyan said proudly.
“Old Bridge” produces around 20,000 bottles of wine annually. About 80% of its production is exported to Russia, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
The Khalatyan family firmly believes that wine made from endemic grape varieties is much more interesting to consumers than wine from globally recognized non-Armenian grapes. “Even if I make a high-quality wine from a foreign grape variety, it won’t have the same competitive edge as wine made from Areni. Areni is the most widespread grape variety in Armenia and one of the oldest in the world cultivated for winemaking. We always do our best to make our wine represent Armenia. We chose Areni for our red and rosé wines and Voskehat for the white ones. Until 2018, we only produced aged red wines. In 2018, we made our first white wine from Voskehat grapes, because the demand for white wine has been growing in Armenia,” Mushegh Khalatyan explained.
According to him, they’re not trying to dramatically increase production volume, since all their wines are made only from their own grapes—and expanding volume takes time. “It takes about five years for a vineyard to start producing grapes ready for winemaking. When expanding our vineyards, we try to ensure the land is in the same location, with the same climate and similar soil. The soil and climate here are ideal for Areni grapes, which have been growing in this area for thousands of years,” he said.
Mushegh Khalatyan noted that in the past 10–15 years, wine tourism in Vayots Dzor Region has developed significantly. “The wine tourism potential in Vayots Dzor is much greater than what we're currently utilizing. There's still a lot of work to be done—by service providers, producers, the government, and tour operators. I think we’re only tapping into about 10% of the potential. If, when people hear ‘Armenia,’ foreigners still don’t associate it with great wine tours, it means there's much more to be done,” he stated.
“Old Bridge” is not just a business, but a place where everyone is welcome—whether it's neighbor Artak or the Prime Minister of France. “It’s very important to us that everyone—tourists, locals, or passersby—feels good here, receives excellent service, quality food, and leaves with a great mood.” The same principle applies to their wine production. For years, many companies used to differentiate between wine meant for export and for the local market. “The wine on this table now is the same wine sold in Paris and London,” he noted.
Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia (LILA) project is funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by the WWF Caucasus and Armenia offices in partnership with Strategic Development Agency NGO.
April 14, 2025 at 13:07