Varuzhan Mouradian is the winegrower at Van Ardi in Armenia. The winery was born from the passion of an expat LA-based CPA, Varuzhan Mouradian. After nearly 15 years of research and preparation, Varuzhan became a repat when his newly planted vineyards gave their first harvest in Armenia. Founding Armenia’s first family-owned and operated boutique winery with a unique bio-natural approach has turned Van Ardi into the household name it is today for any wine lover. Combining roots, heritage, and the bustling new wine industry in the old wine world.
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What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
There are a lot of intangibles involved in winemaking. Usually, good wines are not made only by the book. We concentrate on preparing and nurturing a good environment for the vine that can inherit the characteristics from the terroir. So when the time comes, it intentionally sacrifices itself and is resurrected within the wine, taking with it the information from the life of the grape. This is the whole philosophy of Van Ardi.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
Usually, we differentiate ourselves from just a wine facility, as wine is a lifestyle for us. We would incorporate other components in our day-to-day life, making it more of a lifestyle rather than a production. Our plans include a horse ranch, a lake, and mini vinifications with old, forgotten Armenian varieties. As well as actually finding those varieties wherever they are. We have much more detailed plans, they just require more time to be checked off the to-do list.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
The Van Ardi Reserve Haghtanak has turned out very well for us and wine lovers, especially appreciated by the American consumer. Besides the Reserve Haghtanak, from our classic line, we have the Van Ardi Estate Blend, a fan favorite. This blend is truly becoming the blend of the appellation. Read this wine review here.
Bonus Question: Why Winemaking?
Winemaking contains within it the cycle of life.