Bayan Shirey

Bayan Shirey is one of Azerbaijan's most historically significant grape varieties, indigenous to the Ganja-Dashkasan Zone, a region recognized as an ancient center of viticulture. The variety's deep roots are confirmed by the sheer breadth of its synonymy: approximately 40 recorded alternate names, including Bayanshira, Ag Chirai, Ag Üzüum, Banants, and Spitak Khagog, among others. Such extensive synonymy is a reliable marker of age and geographic spread across centuries of cultivation.

• Indigenous to the Ganja-Dashkasan Zone of Azerbaijan
• Approximately 40 synonyms document its ancient origins and wide regional spread
• Also known as Bayanshira, Ag Chirai, Banants, and Spitak Khagog, among others

Bayan Shirey is a late-ripening Vitis vinifera variety with a growing season of 164 to 165 days and a requirement for accumulated active temperatures of 3500°C from bud opening to harvest maturity. Its standout agronomic trait is strong resistance to drought and climate stress, making it well suited to the arid conditions common across the Caucasus and Central Asia. Yields are generous, ranging from 120 to 200 s/ha and reaching as high as 350 s/ha under optimal conditions. Cultivation extends well beyond Azerbaijan, with successful plantings established in Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

• Late-ripening variety with a 164 to 165 day growing season
• Requires 3500°C of accumulated active temperature through harvest
• Strong resistance to drought and climate variability
• Grown across seven countries beyond Azerbaijan, spanning Central Asia and Eastern Europe

Bayan Shirey produces white wines characterized by moderate alcohol content, crisp acidity, citrusy aromas, and a notable mineral character. The resulting wines are described as light, lively, and well-defined. Beyond table wine, the variety serves multiple purposes: it is cultivated as a table grape for fresh consumption, pressed for grape juice, and used in the distillation of wine spirit. The variety is known for producing large, round fruits, a quality that supports its versatility as both a wine and table grape.

• White wines show crisp acidity, citrus aromas, and mineral character
• Moderate alcohol content across all expressions
• Also used as a table grape, for juice production, and wine spirit distillation
• Known for large, round fruit clusters

Several Azerbaijani producers work with Bayan Shirey, reflecting its status as a commercially and culturally significant variety within the country. Active producers include Ganja Sharab-2, Staryj Baku, Djeyran, Azgranata, Absheron-Sharab, Ismailli Wine, and Sharg Ulduzu. These producers represent the primary commercial outlets for varietal and blended Bayan Shirey wines in Azerbaijan's domestic and emerging export markets.

• Ganja Sharab-2 and Ismailli Wine are among the key producers
• Staryj Baku, Djeyran, and Azgranata also bottle varietal expressions
• Absheron-Sharab and Sharg Ulduzu round out the producer landscape