History of Azerbaijan Winery
The Azerbaijan winery history goes back a long way. From ancient times, the shores of the Caspian Sea have been known as areas where viticulture is widely developed. As a result of archeological excavations in the territory of Azerbaijan, it was discovered that winemaking has been one of the main occupations of the local population since ancient times.
Sources from the pre-Islamic period of Azerbaijan’s history prove that grapes have been cultivated in this country since ancient times, both fresh and for use in the processing industry.
One of the well-known scholars of ancient Rome, Pliny (79-23 BC), was delighted with the immeasurable wealth of the territory of present-day Azerbaijan, the agricultural culture of the local population and wrote: he is able to cultivate. ”
However, the foundation of the industrial development of viticulture and winemaking was laid in the middle of the XIX century. The German colonies and Russian businessmen played a role in this. At the beginning of the last century, Azerbaijani wine was one of the rare products of interest to foreign guests and merchants.
The rich nature and climatic conditions of Azerbaijan create a unique opportunity for the production of high quality wine products in the country. Taking this into account, we are restoring and modernizing the wine traditions in Azerbaijan. Red and white wines made from Azerbaijani grape varieties such as Bayan Shira and Madrasa, as well as the famous Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz, Muscat and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties are already very popular in the world.
The main winery regions of the country are Ganja-Gazakh, Shamakhi-Ismailli-Gabala, and Absheron area. Currently, there are nearly 10 wineries and vineyards producing wine in the country.
