Armenian brandy
The legally protected term Armenian Brandy (English Armenian Brandy , Russian Армянский коньяк , Armjanski konjak) describes high-quality brandy from Armenia . The most common name for this brandy in the Eastern Bloc was "Armenian Cognac", but since the term Cognac is only reserved for French brandies from this region of France, protected by a worldwide trademark registration, the international name is now used.
The production of Armenian brandy is strictly controlled by the government of Armenia . Also by law, only grapes from Armenian production may be used. These wines are called Rkaziteli , Mskhali, Garan Dmak, Kangu and Voskehat.
history
The production of wine and brandy in Armenia has a long tradition. Historians have found that the history of viticulture goes back over 3000 years. The dry and warm climate, the nutrient-rich soil of the Ararat valley and the soft water from the mountains provided favorable conditions for this. Brandy has been distilled in Armenia for over 150 years. In 1887, the industrialized production of brandy began in Armenia: Nerses Tairjan founded the Yerevan Brandy Company . During his time, brandy and wine production increased a lot. He also improved the quality by having new vines and brandy cellars built. Then, six years later, in 1898, Schustow & Sons, a very large alcohol distributor at the time, began to sell the brandy in Eastern Europe. Under Shustov, the distillery continued to grow, so that in 1903 half of the brandy consumed in Russia came from Armenia.
Armenia became one of the Soviet republics in 1922, thereby nationalizing brandy production and all other branches of industry. The Yerevan Brandy and Wine Factory had a manufacturing monopoly in the Armenian SSR and brought the government high tax revenues for over 70 years. During the Soviet Union , Armenian brandy was the preferred alcoholic drink for diplomats.
After the fall of the USSR and the re-establishment of the state of Armenia in 1991, the factory lost its monopoly on high-quality brandies. In 1998 the former state enterprise was privatized. Today's Yerevan Brandy Company in Yerevan , which also sells the well-known Ararat brandy, forms the largest part of the former state-owned company . During the Soviet era, the company was supplied by the surrounding winegrowers. After the upheaval, the small wineries turned into several smaller brandy factories, all of which work according to the Armenian tradition, each of which gives the brandy its own note.
