Still in Southern Armenia, I headed to Areni. Areni is well known for its wine production and is also the cradle of viticulture. This is where the world’s oldest winery was discovered, dating back 6,000 years ago!
From the Monastery of Novarank, I headed back from where I entered, passing by the canyon.
Many caves can be seen at the canyon walls. There are supposedly hundreds of caves here. My next destination is actually a very famous cave in Areni.
Stopped by here at a cave restaurant in Novarank. Not for food, but my guide had to stop here for direction.
Took this opportunity to take some photos. The Arpa river.
A cotton like plant.
Internal view of the Novarank cave restaurant. I was told that this place is filled with people during lunch time.
If you want to experience eating in a cave, here is the place to be. Dining will be in the cave, while cooking will be outside the cave.
After the restaurant owner gave us directions and contact number to the person in charge of the Areni cave, we headed there.
The cave is known as Areni-1 Cave or T’rchuneri (Brids) Cave. The cave is not always open and it seems that will be closed for good soon. Only archaeologist will be allowed access to the cave.
Time to explore the cave.
Trying to get the best shot.
The mouth of Areni-1 Cave.
Excavation of Areni-1 Cave was carried out from 2007-2012 and was just recently opened to the public.
Fences protecting the entrance from trespassers.
Archaeological expedition of Areni-1 Cave.
That’s me at the narrow entrance of the cave.
View from the cave.
My beau and son.
After spending many days visiting Armenian monasteries, this natural rugged beauty gave me a different view of Armenia.
No smoking and photographs allowed in the cave. Well, it was not strictly enforced, so i was happily snapping photos away.
What so special about this cave? Firstly, the earliest known shoe was found in this cave know as the Areni-1 shoe. This 5,500 year old shoe is the oldest leather shoe in the world. 400 years older than those found in Stonehenge and 1,000 years older than those found at the Great Pyramid of Giza. The shoe is now at the History Museum of Armenia which I went and saw it.
Secondly, this is the place where the earliest known winery in the world to be found. The winery was as old as 6,100 years.
Archaeologist fully unearthed a large, long wine press with remnants of grapevines and seeds found nearby.
Other than that, they also found pots and pot fragments, metal and stone artefacts, fabric scrapes and organic remnants dating back to the last quarter of the 5th millennium and the first half of the 4th millennium BCE.
The guide explaining the layer of walls dating to different periods.
It seems that the area was part of a sea thousands of years ago, as the formation at the bottom part of the cave wall is similar to what is under the sea.
The narrow passageway leading to the cave.
It is theorized that the 5,500 year old shoe found here was left here since the wine was likely made by stepping barefoot on the grape.
Thousands of years ago, people actually live here.
Family photo inside the cave.
Buried skulls of young women were discovered. These burials most probably reflect ancient ideas about fertility rituals.
Some areas are off limits.
The excavation is still on-going. Some pits are deep and have to be reached by stairs. Of course I didn’t go down.
We took nothing but photographs and left nothing but footprints.
Few chambers in the cave.
The black marks on the cave are actually bat shit or better known as Guano.
Nice experience to explore the thousands of years old relics at a excavation site.
It is believed that the cave was abandoned when its roof caved in.
I felt absolutely privileged to have visited the cave. Yay!
Areni-1 Cave surely is a remarkable cave.
Leaving the cave.
Some of the burial sites uncovered.
One last picture of Areni-1 Cave before departing.
I took this picture of Areni-1 Cave from the car, as we drove away along the main road.
Beautiful view of mountains as I travelled.
Drove for a while before reaching the winery.
Time for some wine tasting. Areni is the birthplace of wine making, I’m sure the wine must be good.
The famous Areni Winery and besides it is the Areni Wine Factory.
A church can be seen at the bottom of a cliff.
A description board about Areni.
Areni Winery was established not too long ago in 1994.
The winery’s courtyard.
Time to head in the Areni Winery.
A lot of people were waiting inside for the wine tasting session.
Headed up to the first floor of the winery.
You can have a meal or drink here at this floor.
The walls were covered with signatures and sign-offs from visitors.
Can you see my blog’s website name? The writing is in purple colour.
The bar area.
Watching the wine-making history and process on the TV.
Finally, we got to visit the winery. This is the storage area.
The giant wine barrel.
Headed out of the winery to the factory. On the the arch is the famous Latin phrase, In Vino Veritas. In wine there is truth.
A guy preparing to step on the wine.
Naw…stepping is no longer used to press the wine.
The grape juice are left in the barrel to be fermented.
The wine processing machine.
Areni Wine Vault.
One thing different from the winery I have been to is Areni Winery offers fruit wine. Apple, apricot, raspberry, blackberry, sour cherry and pomegranate wine. All the fruits are grown in Armenia and I tasted it all.
Wine tasting cost around 600 dram. You can taste all 11 variety of wines offered by Areni Winery. Other than the fruit wine, dry and semi dried wine are also offered.
The fruit and red wine was not to my liking and frankly speaking, Georgian wine taste better.
Me and my beau’s shadow.
Wander around a small vineyard across the road from Areni winery.
The vineyard grapes.
Actually there are no more grapes at the vineyard as they have mostly been harvested. The grapes you see in the picture is all dried up. Most probably they forgot to pluck it.
My son curious and eager to touch the grapes.
Sun about to set.
Passed by Ararat Plain which is famous for its fruit orchard and vineyards. Armenia is especially famous for apricot. Unfortunately, it was not in season.
I settled for a watermelon and a rock melon. It was big and inexpensive. Ate it as dinner back at hotel in Yerevan. Sure was sweet and juicy.
On the way back, I caught a glimpse of Little Ararat, the smaller mountain of the twin Ararat. Hope to see both the Ararat the following day.
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