Vayots Dzor, Armenia
“The soul of a wine is when it speaks to a place. If you don't have that, then you've missed everything. And that quest is why we're so fired up to be here.” - Paul Hobbs
Internationally renowned winemaker Paul Hobbs and the Yacoubian family journey to the Birthplace of Wine to craft modern, world class wines from the indigenous varieties found in the high altitude, mineral-rich soils of Vayots Dzor, Armenia. Their newly planted vineyards grow a stone’s throw away from the Areni-1 cave, the oldest known winery dating from over 6,000 years ago. With their local team, Paul and the Yacoubians are growing and crafting wines that confirm Armenia’s part not only in the ancient history of winemaking, but in its very relevant present and future amongst the great wine regions of the world.
Winery Details
REGION
Vayots Dzor, Armenia
VINEYARDS
With vineyards at elevations exceeding 5,000 feet, this mountainous region is one of Armenia’s most sparsely populated, and is home to only about 10% of the country’s vineyards. It is also home to the Areni-1 cave, site of the world’s oldest known proto-winery, dated to 4,100 BC.
Here in the mountainous Vayots Dzor, extremely rocky soils of volcanic origin and limestone, and an extended growing season provide unique terroir for indigenous varieties such as the country’s emblematic red grape: areni.
VARIETIES
areni, white blend (voskehat, khatuni, qrdi, garan demak)
Press Highlights
• Decanter, “Armenia: A Wine Lover’s Guide” (May 2024)
• Full Pour Magazine, “Rock the Cradle” (March 2024)
• Forbes, “‘Somm’ Series Debuts Fourth Documentary, ‘Cup of Salvation’” (Oct 2023)
• Origins Magazine, “Paul Hobbs: An Iconic Partnership” (April 2022)
• Wall Street Journal, “In Search of the World’s Oldest Wine” (March 2019)
PORTFOLIO
White Blend
The high altitude vineyard sites of Aghavnadzor, Vayots Dzor allow these four indigenous varieties to ripen perfectly while maintaining a remarkable freshness, resulting in thrillingly unique layers of aromas and flavors.
VARIETIES
voskehat, khatouni, qrdi, garan demak
Areni
In the village of Rind, the Areni grape thrives in rich volcanic and limestone soils. Hot summers are tempered by cooler temperatures at these high elevation sites, and water is provided by the melting snow caps atop Mount Ararat.
VARIETY
areni
‘Sarpina’ Areni
Selected as the finest Areni from the high elevation vineyards of Rind, Vayots Dzor, this wine exemplifies the future of Yacoubian-Hobbs wines.
Aged in French oak, and produced in small quantity, the ‘Sarpina’ is named for the posts used to train vines as is recorded in Armenian agricultural history books. With the name ‘Sarpina’ we honor Armenia’s rich, ancient wine history.
VARIETY
areni