ARENI VILLAGE TO HOST WINE FESTIVAL

YEREVAN, October 14, /ARKA/. On Saturday the village of Areni in the southern Vayots Dzor province will host a wine festival. The first Areni Wine festival was held in 2004 by USDA and Tufenkian Hospitality with the aim to introduce an ancient Armenian tradition of winemaking to the World.

Mekhak Apresian, head of an economy ministry’s department dealing with tourism and regional development, said today this year’s festival is to promote tourism development of the region. Zhirayr Yeghian, head of Areni community, said the festival was held only twice, in 2004 and 2007, but added they want to make it annual.

He said apart from being a showcase for great wine, the festival is a major event for traditional food making and tasting. The event program includes traditional dancing, singing, food-making and tasting, wine-making and tasting, traditional games, contests and so on.Villagers will sell home-made products- cream, honey, nuts and walnuts, vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, baked goods, lavash, home-made jams and jellies, sweet sujukh, herbal teas and all the other products that a typical Armenian household usually prepares for its members.

Zhirayr Yeghian said U.S. ambassador to Armenia,. Marie Yovanovitch and several Armenian ministers, as well as members of a Ukrainian government delegation are expected in Areni village. -0-