Karas

Estate

Karas Wines is the wine project of Tierras de Armenia CJSC in the western part of Armenia's Armavir region, in the Ararat Valley between Mount Aragats and Mount Ararat. The project was founded in 2003 after the Eurnekian family identified the area for its mineral-rich soils and winemaking potential. The vineyards were planted from 2007, following several years of land preparation, and the first commercial Karas wines were released in 2010. The name Karas refers to the large Armenian clay vessels traditionally used for aging and storing wine.

Climate

Armavir has a continental highland climate, with hot summers, cold and dry winters, and a marked diurnal temperature range. The vineyards are situated at approximately 3,395 feet above sea level, with the highest areas reaching around 3,608 feet. The region is very dry and can experience severe winter cold and hail. Vines are therefore covered during winter, while almost half of the vineyard area has anti-hail netting. These conditions, together with the altitude, are important elements of Karas' approach to vineyard management.

Soil

The soils are predominantly volcanic in origin, with loam, clay, abundant stones, basalt, carbonate, limestone, and alluvial stones. The very rocky, low-organic-matter soils are considered well-suited to cultivating both international and Armenian varieties. The winery has also used stones removed from the vineyard land to construct its first facilities and fences.

Vineyards

Karas owns more than 400 hectares of vineyards within the wider Tierras de Armenia property, which covers approximately 2,300 hectares. More than 32 grape varieties are cultivated, with approximately 70% of the planted area allocated to red varieties and 30% to white varieties. The vineyards include international grapes such as Syrah, Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Montepulciano, Ancellotta, Chardonnay, and Viognier, as well as Armenian varieties including Areni, Khndoghni (Sireni), Kangun, and Rkatsiteli. Manuel Gomez has been the project's viticulturist since 2004.

Cultivation

The vineyards are managed with a strong emphasis on sustainable and organic practices. Karas does not use chemical sprays; instead, it uses pheromones for pest control. Green harvesting is widely used to control yields, with lower yields reserved for Karas Reserve and Grand Karas. Harvesting is exclusively manual, generally beginning in August and continuing through mid-October. Drip irrigation is supplied from two reservoirs fed by the Akhurian reservoir and is managed through an automated system.

Winery

The winery combines modern German and Italian equipment with an experimental approach to vinification and blending. Individual grape varieties are aged separately before the final assemblage. The estate uses both French and Armenian/Artsakh oak, including 225-liter barrels and larger 400-liter vessels for experimentation. Karas has also developed wines from Armenian varieties and continues research into local grapes. The range includes red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines, with production capacity reported at up to 3 million bottles.

Family

Karas was founded by Eduardo Eurnekian, whose family has a long-standing connection with wine production in Argentina. Eduardo Eurnekian and his niece, Juliana Del Aguila Eurnekian, are also associated with Bodega del Fin del Mundo in Patagonia. The Armenian project was conceived to reconnect the family with its Armenian roots while supporting the development of the local wine industry. Juliana Del Aguila Eurnekian has served as the owner and president of Karas Wines and has described the project's social and local development mission.

Winemaker

Gabriel Rogel, from Mendoza, Argentina, has been Karas' head winemaker since 2013. He studied enology at the University of Juan Agustin Maza and had prior experience in an analytical laboratory, as well as in sparkling and premium wine production in Argentina. He leads the production team together with Armenian enologist Zara Khechechyan. Michel Rolland has served as consulting winemaker, working with the estate on production and, in particular, the assemblage of wines such as Karas Reserve, Grand Karas, and Syrah Reserve.

Focus Point

• Armenian terroir interpreted through both indigenous and international grape varieties. • High-altitude vineyards on volcanic, rocky soils. • The Eurnekian family's Argentine wine experience brought to Armenia. • Sustainable and organic vineyard practices. • Development and experimentation with Armenian varieties such as Areni, Sireni, Kangun and Rkatsiteli. • Combination of French and Armenian/Artsakh oak.

Overview

Estate

Climate

Soil

Vineyards

Cultivation

Winery

Family

Winemaker

Focus Point

Portfolio

Sparkling Extra Brut

White Blend

Reserve Red Blend

Red Blend

Marketing materials

A tailored experience

Cookies used

Necessary technical cookies

Prima parte2

maggiore_eta

cm_cookie_viaswine

Google2

_ga

_ga_