Yerevan Ararat Wine Factory
Encyclopedia
Officially Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory, also known as "Noy" (est. in 1877) is a company owned by Gagik Tsarukyan's "Multi Group Concern"*. The factory is located on the left bank of Hrazdan
river in the heart of Yerevan
city, occupying the area of the historic great Yerevan Fortress.
In 1898 Nerses Tairyan leased the factory to Nikolay Shustov, who purchased it a year later for 50,000 roubles. Having established his own business in Moscow in 1863, Shustov became one of the first producers of brandy in Russia. Already in 1870-s «Shustov and Sons» company managed to take into its hands 80% of brandy-wine-vodka-liquer production in Russian Empire
.In 1901 Nikolay Shustov incognito sent samples of brandy to an exhibition in Paris. The judges, venerable French tasters, unanimously granted Gran Prix to the unknown brandy-maker, but after they found out he was not French and the brandy was sent from Armenia, they were so astonished, that made an exception for [Nikolay Shustov] and granted him the privilege to put the word “cognac” on his labels, instead of “brandy”, as it should naturally be. Thus, Shustov became the first and the only foreign wine-maker all throughout the history of brand- producing, who was honoured with this privilege.
In 1899 Shustov invited Kyrill Silchenko, who had just finished Nikitin’s school of winemaking, to work at the factory. He worked at the factory devotedly and dedicated all his life to the development of production of wine and brandy. This is why Armenians called him “the great Ukrainian son of Armenian people”.
The period when Margar Sedrakyan worked at the factory, was called the “Star Time”. It was then that the most famous Armenian brandies, based on his technology, were created. In 1945 at a conference in Yalta
, Stalin offered Winston Churchill
a glass of Armenian brandy. Since then experienced in noble beverages British leader each month would receive a box of that brandy from Stalin. Once Churchill noted that the taste of the brandy had changed a bit – it became worse. Stalin’s reaction was immediate, having learned that Margar Sedrakyan -the author of this blend- was exiled, the Soviet leader ordered to set him free, to reinstate in his position of chief technologist of the factory and to give him back the party ticket. So the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
continued to receive his favourite brandy and drink up to a bottle of this beverage in a day. Later, Margar Sedrakyan received the medal of a Hero of Socialist Work.
In 2002, the factory entered Multi Group Concern. Some 50 million USD were invested into restoration and constructions, acquisition of new bottling line and oak barrels. A number of recipes and technologies were restored by crumbs. With the help of old papers, museum exhibits, family archives, specialists and technologists of the factory assembled and classified the whole invaluable experience, accumulated throughout the period of plant’s functioning, and, consequently, the lost and forgotten glorious name of Armenian Brandy was restored.
Currently there are several claims pending at Armenian and international courts. A German investment fund accuses Multigroup of having deprived them from their right of ownership in a minority stake. See list of sources below.
The factory currently produces several types of Armenian famous brandies including "Noy" and "Araspel". "Noy" is a worldwide well known brandy especially in CIS
, Europe
and Australia
with its 25 year old "Brandy Noy Tirakal".
Hrazdan
Hrazdan is the capital of the Kotayk province of Armenia. The name Hrazdan is derived from the Middle-Persian name Frazdan. Farzdan is connected to the Zoroastrian mythology. With a population of 52,900 it is the fifth-largest city in Armenia by population. It has lost significant population since...
river in the heart of Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
city, occupying the area of the historic great Yerevan Fortress.
History
Nerses Tairyan was a well-known merchant and philanthropist. In 1877 he started industrial production of wine, in 1887 - of brandy at the territory of the former Erivan Fortress. Hovhannes Aivazovsky, who was a relative of Tairyan, helped him to build the factory.In 1898 Nerses Tairyan leased the factory to Nikolay Shustov, who purchased it a year later for 50,000 roubles. Having established his own business in Moscow in 1863, Shustov became one of the first producers of brandy in Russia. Already in 1870-s «Shustov and Sons» company managed to take into its hands 80% of brandy-wine-vodka-liquer production in Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
.In 1901 Nikolay Shustov incognito sent samples of brandy to an exhibition in Paris. The judges, venerable French tasters, unanimously granted Gran Prix to the unknown brandy-maker, but after they found out he was not French and the brandy was sent from Armenia, they were so astonished, that made an exception for [Nikolay Shustov] and granted him the privilege to put the word “cognac” on his labels, instead of “brandy”, as it should naturally be. Thus, Shustov became the first and the only foreign wine-maker all throughout the history of brand- producing, who was honoured with this privilege.
In 1899 Shustov invited Kyrill Silchenko, who had just finished Nikitin’s school of winemaking, to work at the factory. He worked at the factory devotedly and dedicated all his life to the development of production of wine and brandy. This is why Armenians called him “the great Ukrainian son of Armenian people”.
Yalta
Yalta is a city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea.The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore on which to land. It is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black...
, Stalin offered Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
a glass of Armenian brandy. Since then experienced in noble beverages British leader each month would receive a box of that brandy from Stalin. Once Churchill noted that the taste of the brandy had changed a bit – it became worse. Stalin’s reaction was immediate, having learned that Margar Sedrakyan -the author of this blend- was exiled, the Soviet leader ordered to set him free, to reinstate in his position of chief technologist of the factory and to give him back the party ticket. So the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
continued to receive his favourite brandy and drink up to a bottle of this beverage in a day. Later, Margar Sedrakyan received the medal of a Hero of Socialist Work.
In 2002, the factory entered Multi Group Concern. Some 50 million USD were invested into restoration and constructions, acquisition of new bottling line and oak barrels. A number of recipes and technologies were restored by crumbs. With the help of old papers, museum exhibits, family archives, specialists and technologists of the factory assembled and classified the whole invaluable experience, accumulated throughout the period of plant’s functioning, and, consequently, the lost and forgotten glorious name of Armenian Brandy was restored.
Currently there are several claims pending at Armenian and international courts. A German investment fund accuses Multigroup of having deprived them from their right of ownership in a minority stake. See list of sources below.
The factory currently produces several types of Armenian famous brandies including "Noy" and "Araspel". "Noy" is a worldwide well known brandy especially in CIS
CIS
CIS usually refers to the Commonwealth of Independent States, a modern political entity consisting of eleven former Soviet Union republics.The acronym CIS may also refer to:-Organizations:...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with its 25 year old "Brandy Noy Tirakal".