ACCORDING TO HRACH BERBERIAN, ARMENIAN GRAPE JUICE WITH ITS HIGH SUGAR CONTENT CAN BE COMPETITIVE BOTH IN EUROPE AND RUSSIA

Noyan Tapan
June 19, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN. There are great prospects of
developing the wine-making sector in Armenia, but the free market
and business have their own rules so the state should intervene in
this business. Chairman of the Agrarian Farmer Union Hrach Berberian
expressed this opinion at the June 19 press conference. At the same
time he said that the wine-makers cannot regulate their market and
it is necessary to find some other ways in terms of ensuring high
quality production and export. "The state assistance is not necessary
for export, this issue is related to manufacturers’ marketing, which,
unfortunately, is at a low level in Armenia," he noted.

In his opinion, the grapes grown in Ararat Valley have a 30% sugar
content and for that reason the wines made from such grapes are strong
or "heavy" and are not in demand in European markets where many prefer
light wines.

Whereas, according to H. Berberian, grapes with a high sugar content
can be used in the production of grape juice, raisins and grape honey,
which is similar to natural honey in its quality. "It surprises me that
the local manufacturers do not develop this direction. For example,
grape juice is much in demand in Europe, and the Armenian grape juice
with its high sugar content will be competitive both in Europe and
Russia," H. Berberian said, adding that in the Soviet time there was
a brisk demand for Armenian grape juice in Russia.