The launch highlights Van Ardi Bazalt, a rare limited-edition wine that brings an ancient Armenian basalt winemaking tradition to the present.
SASUNIK, ARMENIA – Van Ardi Winery has launched three new wines: Van Ardi Bazalt, Tor-Tori Rosé, and Tor-Tori Reserve, at its “From Tradition to Innovation” launch event at the Van Ardi estate in Sasunik. The event also marked the debut of the Van Ardi Wine Club, a new membership experience created for people who appreciate wine and want a closer connection to the winery and its experiences.
The central highlight of the launch was Van Ardi Bazalt, a limited-edition wine fermented and aged for approximately six months in specially hand-carved basalt stone vessels. The wine is Van Ardi’s modern interpretation of an Armenian winemaking tradition dating back approximately 5,000 years.
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The launch event brought together Van Ardi’s partners, loyal customers, friends and members of Armenia’s wine community for the official unveiling and tasting of the new releases. Guests experienced each wine’s unique character at the estate where they were created, surrounded by the certified organic vineyards from which they were derived and by the volcanic landscape of the Aragatsotn region.
Reviving an Ancient Armenian Winemaking Tradition
Van Ardi Bazalt was inspired by the existence of a 5,000-year-old complex of basalt winemaking vessels discovered in Agarak, near Sasunik. Drawing on this forgotten winemaking heritage, Founder and Winemaker Varuzhan Mouradian commissioned local Armenian artisans to create handcrafted basalt vats for Van Ardi. The wine was fermented and aged in these vessels for six months, combining ancient Armenian techniques with modern winemaking. To the best of Van Ardi’s knowledge, it is the only winery in the modern world producing wine fermented and aged in basalt vats on this scale.
Produced from estate-grown Haghtanak and Milagh Armenian grape varietals, the first batch of Van Ardi Bazalt wines is limited to fewer than 1,000 bottles.
“With Bazalt, I wanted to create something that feels deeply Armenian while introducing a completely new experience to today’s wine world,” said Varuzhan Mouradian, Founder and Winemaker of Van Ardi. “Armenia has one of the oldest wine stories in the world. Our goal is to keep that story alive through quality, creativity, and experimentation.”
The wine reflects Van Ardi’s broader philosophy of honoring Armenia’s winemaking heritage while continuing to explore new techniques, local grape varieties, and distinctive expressions of terroir.
Introducing the Van Ardi Wine Club
Alongside the new wines, the family-run winery introduced the Van Ardi Wine Club, a membership program designed for wine lovers who want to discover more of the winery throughout the year.
Members will receive four curated wine packages annually, including selected Van Ardi wines, new releases, and exclusive offerings. Membership will also provide access to member-only tastings, special events, early access to selected releases, and special offers across Van Ardi’s products and experiences.
“The Wine Club is our invitation to come closer,” said Ani Mouradian. “Van Ardi has always been more than a winery. It is a place where wine, food, music, art, and culture come together. Through the Wine Club, we are creating a more meaningful way for people who love Van Ardi to become part of that family.”
Explore the Van Ardi Wine Club packages at www.vanardi.com/wineclub
The New Releases
Van Ardi Bazalt is a bold and highly unique wine style produced from the Haghtanak and Milagh grapes. Deep ruby in color, the wine presents layers of dark fruit, pine forest, cocoa, coffee, and restrained spice, supported by its most distinctive, stony character. The palate is concentrated yet well composed, with a powerful yet balanced structure and a long, persistent finish.
Tor-Tori Rosé is a vibrant blend of Syrah, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir. Its deep, rose-gold color is followed by aromas of raspberry, strawberry custard, and red orange. Refreshing acidity, a light creamy texture, and a pronounced minerality create a rosé that is expressive, textured, and playful.
Tor-Tori Reserve is a rich blend of Zinfandel, Areni, and Syrah, aged for 12 to 14 months in French oak. Deep ruby in color, it opens with aromas of dark fruit, leather and coffee, followed by notes of plum, pomegranate, dark chocolate-covered raspberry, and subtle hickory. Soft tannins lead to a long and persistent finish.
“Together, these wines represent three different sides of Van Ardi,” said Ani Mouradian. “Bazalt is our boldest experiment, Tor-Tori Rosé is fresh and expressive, and Tor-Tori Reserve is deep and structured. All three characteristics that have always been found in the Van Ardi portfolio.”
About Van Ardi
Founded in 2008 by Varuzhan Mouradian and his family, Van Ardi is one of Armenia’s pioneering boutique wineries and one of the driving forces behind Armenia’s modern wine renaissance.
Located in Sasunik, in Armenia’s Aragatsotn region, Van Ardi is surrounded by organic estate vineyards planted on rocky, volcanic soils. The winery follows a minimal-intervention approach, focused on expressing the character of Armenian grapes and their place of origin.
Van Ardi’s mission is to strengthen Armenia’s position on the global wine map by honoring the country’s ancient winemaking heritage with contemporary Armenian wine that is expressive, elegant, and world-class.
Beyond winemaking, Van Ardi creates a place where visitors experience Armenia through wine, hospitality, art, music, and culture.
