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GOOD PRICES, BAD WINE: HIGH DEMAND FOR GRAPE PROMPTS EARLY HARVEST
By Sara Khojoyan
ArmeniaNow
07.11.11 | 16:26
Village grapes had a higher price this season, due to increase domestic
and foreign demand.
On National Wine Day, November 7, Avag Harutyunyan, Head of Armenian
Winemakers Union, said the demand for wine in Russian increased by
65 percent. After the world economic crisis overall export of cognac
(which accounted for about 96 percent of grape sales) decreased by
about 70 percent he said.
Enlarge Photo Avag Harutyunyan
The increased demand for wine prompted major brandy companies to
start developing wine production and obtain new and modern equipment;
as a result grape prices rose from about 32 cents per kilo, to about
35-45 cents.
Harutyunyan says, however, that the price increase led some villagers
to take grapes to processing before the grape was ready.
"Cognac production has always harmed the development of wine-making
in Armenia. Cognac requires vine grapes with 17-19 percent of sugar
[of its total nutritious value], which ripen up in Ararat Valley from
September 10. Meanwhile, wine needs 22-23-percent sugar containing
grape and that level of sweetness cannot be reached unless grapes are
left to ripen till October 5-10, however, villagers don't wait until
the due time," Harutyunyan says, hoping that the problem will gradually
be solved as brandy companies start producing high-quality wine.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia, as of November 1,
128,504 tons of grapes were purveyed (as compared to 135,000 tons last
year), whereas the demand was 140,000 tons. According to Harutyunyan,
because of the wine demand prices will keep growing next year too,
which will, in its turn, lead to higher prices for wine.
By Sara Khojoyan
ArmeniaNow
07.11.11 | 16:26
Village grapes had a higher price this season, due to increase domestic
and foreign demand.
On National Wine Day, November 7, Avag Harutyunyan, Head of Armenian
Winemakers Union, said the demand for wine in Russian increased by
65 percent. After the world economic crisis overall export of cognac
(which accounted for about 96 percent of grape sales) decreased by
about 70 percent he said.
Enlarge Photo Avag Harutyunyan
The increased demand for wine prompted major brandy companies to
start developing wine production and obtain new and modern equipment;
as a result grape prices rose from about 32 cents per kilo, to about
35-45 cents.
Harutyunyan says, however, that the price increase led some villagers
to take grapes to processing before the grape was ready.
"Cognac production has always harmed the development of wine-making
in Armenia. Cognac requires vine grapes with 17-19 percent of sugar
[of its total nutritious value], which ripen up in Ararat Valley from
September 10. Meanwhile, wine needs 22-23-percent sugar containing
grape and that level of sweetness cannot be reached unless grapes are
left to ripen till October 5-10, however, villagers don't wait until
the due time," Harutyunyan says, hoping that the problem will gradually
be solved as brandy companies start producing high-quality wine.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia, as of November 1,
128,504 tons of grapes were purveyed (as compared to 135,000 tons last
year), whereas the demand was 140,000 tons. According to Harutyunyan,
because of the wine demand prices will keep growing next year too,
which will, in its turn, lead to higher prices for wine.