Van Ardi Winery

History of the winery

In 2008, an unwavering belief in the art of wine led Varuzhan Muradyan and his family to leave their life in Los Angeles and set out on a journey into Armenian wine culture. That is how Van Ardi was born. Located in the ancient winemaking region of Aragatsotn, Van Ardi is the first boutique winery in Armenia and a key player in its wine revival. It is a passionate project in which our dreams of music, art, culture, dance, and wine came together to spread an understanding of wine as a lifestyle, to awaken a wine lover in every Armenian and a lover of Armenian wine in every traveler around the world. Our vision of placing Armenia on the global wine map is a work in progress.

Growing conditions

The terrain at Van Ardi is endowed with rocky volcanic soils, rich in minerals and ideally suited to wine. The vineyards lie on a south-southeast slope at 1,050 m above sea level. The microclimate here is dry and windy, warm by day and cool at night — which is why we hardly ever encounter disease in our vineyards. These foothills of Mount Aragats have a historical calling to winemaking that goes back more than 5,000 years. Our commitment to working with the land and to using the enormous potential of Armenian grape varieties has proven as fruitful as the unique terroir of Syunik.

Winemaker and company

Varuzhan Muradyan is the dreamer behind Van Ardi. In 2008 he decided to leave his life as a certified accountant and follow a rapidly growing passion. Years of reading on viticulture, enology, production, and winery management, along with courses at the University of California, Davis, were among his first steps. Fortunately, his wife and four children were just as taken with Armenia and with working the land. Varuzhan often wears several hats: he is founder, director, winemaker, head of exports, and often creative director. His wife, Anahit, is the chef of the Van Ardi culinary experience. Whether it is our wine and food pairings, private parties, cooperatives, or weddings, Anahit has found a place for her passion for pairing foods and her creative approach to recipes. Ani, Varuzhan's eldest daughter, led the development of the Van Ardi tour and tasting. She also oversees the winery's marketing and communications.