Old Bridge Winery

Old Bridge Winery sits in Yeghegnadzor, the main town of Vayots Dzor province, within the Arpa Valley appellation. Vineyards occupy hillside positions at 1,200 to 1,250 meters above sea level, where sandy-clay soils enriched with volcanic minerals form the foundation of the estate's character. The high-altitude continental climate delivers hot, arid summers with cool nights and cold winters, conditions that preserve natural acidity in the grapes and extend the growing season.

• Elevation: 1,200 to 1,250 meters above sea level
• Soils: sandy-clay with volcanic mineral content
• Climate: hot, arid summers; cool nights; cold winters
• Vineyards planted on Arpa Valley hillsides, aged 6 to 10 years at time of reporting

The estate focuses on two grape varieties: Areni Noir for its red wines and Voskehat for its whites. Areni Noir, the most celebrated indigenous red variety of Armenia, produces full-bodied reds with firm tannins. Voskehat, a native white variety of Vayots Dzor, yields aromatic whites. All wines are aged in Armenian oak barrels, a production choice that connects the wines to local tradition and imparts distinctive character.

• Areni Noir: Armenia's leading indigenous red grape, producing full-bodied, tannic reds
• Voskehat: native white variety of Vayots Dzor, known for aromatic character
• All wines aged in Armenian oak barrels
• Total estate: 5 hectares under vine

Old Bridge Winery was founded in 1998 by the Khalatyan family, making it one of the first boutique wineries established in Armenia following the country's post-Soviet transition. The estate was built from the ground up as a premium producer, combining winemaking with hospitality through its on-site restaurant and bed-and-breakfast. Its early establishment and consistent focus on indigenous varieties positioned it as a reference point for Armenian fine wine.

• Founded 1998; among the first boutique wineries in modern Armenia
• Family-owned and operated by the Khalatyan family
• Combines winery, restaurant, and bed-and-breakfast on a single estate
• Won multiple international awards for its wines

Old Bridge Winery produces approximately 15,000 bottles per year, a scale consistent with its boutique classification. The wines are exported to six countries: the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Sweden. This distribution across major wine-consuming markets reflects the estate's international recognition and the growing global interest in Armenian indigenous varieties.

• Annual production: approximately 15,000 bottles
• Exports to UK, USA, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Sweden
• Multiple international awards received
• Boutique scale maintained despite international distribution