YEREVAN, October 6. /ARKA/. Twenty-one wineries from Armenia and Artsakh (formerly known as Nagorno-Karabakh) as well as 100 local winegrowers will be showcasing their products at the traditional wine festival hosted each year this time by the village of Areni in the southern Armenian province of Vayots Dzor.

Nune Manukyan, the director of Areni  Wine Festival, told a news conference today that  they expect some 20,000 people to visit the festival, scheduled for October 7.

The  deputy head of the State Committee for Tourism Mekhak Apresyan noted that the festival contributes to the development of the Armenian winemaking industry. 

"Producers of wine from Areni and other communities not only get an opportunity to present their products, but also find markets. Many of them sign contracts with restaurants, cafes and  hotels," said Apresyan.

This year the special guests of the festival are journalists from China and Germany as well as  sommeliers from Germany, Cyprus and France.The Areni Wine Festival is an annual All-Armenian event, traditionally held from 2009 on the first Saturday in October.-0-