Armenia among seven wine regions to watch in 2024

In 2024, sommeliers are predicting a number of unexpected wine regions, including Armenia, will step into the spotlight, Forbes writes.

“We are starting to see wines come out of less traditional regions, whether newer to grape growing or places that haven’t shared their production worldwide in the past,” says Danielle Miller of 167 Raw Oyster Bar in Charleston.

“For example, a favorite on our current list is a Cypriot wine with incredible complexity, and it’s a grape we had never heard of,” he adds.

In his turn, Bertil Jean-Chronberg, an award-winning sommelier and owner of Bonde Fine Wine Shop, predicts that consumers will be surprised by the wine regions stepping into the spotlight in 2024.

“They’ll discover regions or states that have been snubbed or forgotten. In the coming year, you’ll see more wines from the Finger Lakes, Long Island, Vermont, Michigan, Canada, Armenia, Hungary, Japan, or Patagonia,” Forbes quotes Jean-Chronberg as saying.

“While Armenia is home to the world’s oldest known winery, the industry crumbled under Soviet rule (Georgia was designated the winemaking hub, while Armenia got brandy). Over the last two decades, a dedicated wave of producers are reviving the region’s winemaking culture.

Expect excellent bottles to start infiltrating wine menus, highlighting indigenous grapes like Voskehat, Areni Noir, Tozot (which, when made well drinks like Cru Beaujolais), and Kangun,” Forbes writes.