Returning to his roots, founder Varuzhan Mouradian and his family relocated from California to Armenia, driven by a passion for winemaking that he couldn’t ignore. They named their winery Van Ardi, meaning “sun of Van,” honoring the ancient Armenian capital of Van, from which their ancestors hailed.

Van Ardi is a boutique winery situated in the historic wine region of Ashtarak, surrounded by small rolling hills with south- and southeast-facing slopes. The volcanic sandstone soil, rich in minerals and tufa, creates an ideal environment for growing high-quality grapes.

In just its second year of production, Van Ardi has garnered impressive accolades, including first place at the Areni Wine Festival and recognition for the Best Red Wine in Armenia for its Syrah Reserve. The 2014 Syrah Kakhet Reserve won gold for its harmonious blend of red berry, spice, coffee, chocolate, and oak aromas. In 2015, the Rosé received a silver medal for its balanced sweetness, minerality, and notes of red berries and dried fruits.

This year, Van Ardi participated in the prestigious international wine competition Mundus Vini for the first time. After a month of anticipation, the results revealed that “The Sun of Van” was selected as one of the top 100 wines globally by 160 wine experts from around the world. Van Ardi is not only reviving Armenia’s rich winemaking tradition but also making a significant mark on the international wine scene.