Krya

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Krya 2022 'Poqr Krya' Red Blend, Vayots Dzor	Login	—
Krya 2021 Sev Areni, Vayots Dzor	Login	—

Kyra Wines is a family-owned boutique winery located in the village of Vernashen in Armenia's Vayots Dzor region, one of the world's oldest winegrowing areas. Founded by wife-and-husband team Tatevik Gabrielyan and Jean Paul Berger, the winery is dedicated to preserving Armenia's indigenous grape varieties and expressing the unique character of its high-altitude vineyards.

The couple met while studying winemaking in Switzerland and returned to Tatevik's native village with a shared vision of creating wines rooted in Armenia's rich viticultural heritage. In 2017, with the help of Tatevik's father, they began acquiring vineyard parcels in and around Vernashen. The process was far from straightforward. Following the privatization of agricultural land in 1991, ownership of many vineyards became highly fragmented, with individual plots and even rows of vines divided among multiple owners.

Their perseverance was rewarded when they acquired a small vineyard containing 55- and 75-year-old vines. Although many advised them to remove and replant the neglected vineyards, they chose a different path. Determined to preserve the historic plantings and native varieties, they carefully restored the vineyards and uncovered the remarkable potential of the old vines. Today, that commitment remains central to the identity of Kyra Wines.

The estate works primarily with indigenous Armenian grape varieties, including Areni Noir and five native white grapes: Voskehat, Mskhali, Chilar, White Areni, and Khatun Kharji. In addition to farming their own vineyards, Tatevik and Jean Paul collaborate closely with local growers who share their dedication to quality and sustainable viticulture.

The name Kyra, which means "turtle" in Armenian, was chosen as a symbol of longevity, vitality, fertility, and patience—values that guide both their farming and winemaking philosophy. Respect for nature is at the heart of their approach. The vineyards are farmed without herbicides and according to biological principles, with treatments kept to an absolute minimum.

In the cellar, intervention is equally restrained. Fermentations rely on native yeasts, fining is avoided, and sulfur additions are kept to modest levels. The goal is to allow each vineyard and variety to speak clearly, producing wines that are authentic reflections of Armenia's ancient wine culture and the rugged landscapes of Vayots Dzor.

Through their dedication to indigenous varieties, old-vine preservation, and thoughtful farming, Tatevik Gabrielyan and Jean Paul Berger have established Kyra Wines as one of the most exciting voices in Armenia's modern wine renaissance.