Adam A. Kablanian is the winegrower from Alexandrea Winery in Armenia. He is an Armenian-American entrepreneur whose journey from Aleppo to Silicon Valley reflects his passion for science, innovation, and community. After earning degrees in Physics from UC Berkeley and Electrical Engineering from Santa Clara University, he co-founded Virage Logic in 1996, followed by several other high-profile tech ventures. Virage grew into the global leader in embedded memory solutions before its acquisition by Synopsys. His decision to open operations in Armenia during a time of economic hardship put the country on the global tech map, with his engineers contributing to the development of the first-generation Apple iPod.
In 2017, Kablanian turned his focus to Armenia’s wine industry, founding Alexandrea Winery to create jobs, support agriculture, and produce award-winning wines that blend international and indigenous grape varietals. A dedicated philanthropist, he helped raise $3 million for UC Berkeley’s Armenian Studies program, established scholarships at the American University of Armenia, and founded Friends of the Armenian Soldier and Family (FASF.org) to support veterans and their families. Media Inquiries: gstepanyan@alexandreawinery.com | https://www.alexandreawinery.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
“This winery is a passion project not just to wine, but to a life rebuilt.” I didn’t grow up dreaming of vineyards. I built my life in Silicon Valley, surrounded by entrepreneurship, innovation, and a relentless pace. My world was made of Silicon chips and boardrooms. But somewhere along the way, amidst IPOs and product launches, I felt something was missing — something genuine, grounded, ancestral. That something led me back to Armenia.
My roots run deep in a land where winemaking predates written language. And yet, for most of my life, that heritage was distant — a whisper. Founding this winery was my way of honoring that legacy. It wasn’t easy. I’m not a winemaker. I didn’t inherit vineyards or a family winery. I had to start from scratch — building not just a winery, but a philosophy: that wine can be a bridge between generations, between lands, and between parts of ourselves we often silence for too long.
Our winery is built on ancient soil, but it’s shaped by modern resurrection. Every bottle is a paradox: old soul, new spirit: global vision, deeply Armenian heart.
Today, I’m not just making wine — I’m telling a story. Of return. Of reinvention. Of what happens when a technologist remembers what it means to build something that doesn’t scale fast, but ages slowly, beautifully. That’s our mission. And that’s what I hope people taste in every glass.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
If nothing held me back—no limits on time, money, or land—I would turn our winery into a living bridge between Armenia’s ancient winemaking traditions and the global future of wine. I imagine a world-class wine and cultural estate nestled among ancient vines, where every visitor tastes not just wine but the story of survival, legacy, and reinvention. It would honor 6,000 years of vinicultural history while speaking to the modern world in a bold, unforgettable way.
This vision would include a wine academy for education and storytelling, a global flagship tasting venue where every glass carries a narrative, and a cinematic series documenting Armenia’s wine journey and my own path from Silicon Valley to the vineyards of my ancestors. At its heart would be a foundation to support young Armenian farmers, preserve rare indigenous grapes, and give Armenia a stronger voice on the global stage. In short, it would be more than a winery—it would be a legacy. Something that endures a hundred years from now.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
Our White Cuvee is just our signature wine — it’s our soul in a bottle.
This wine was born from two worlds: it’s made from the blending of two world-renowned White varieties, Chardonnay, the queen of old-world white wines, and Voskehat, meaning ‘golden berries’ in Armenian. Indigenous Varietal grown in the high-altitude vineyards of Armenia’s Vayots Dzor — a place where winemaking has been happening for over 6,000 years, and where the land itself remembers every generation that came before.
This wine is a dance between the east (Armenia) and the west (France). Chardonnay dominates the nose, and the finish is complemented by Voskehat. You can enjoy this wine at any time of day, with or without food.
If you want to understand what our winery stands for — the fusion of ancient legacy, modern vision, and a deep respect for the land — this is the wine to taste. One glass, and you’ll understand not just the flavor of Armenia, but the fire that fuels everything we do. Read my wine review here.