Author: Nyrie Kalashian

By David Williams

What kind of wine were they making 5,000 years ago? These wines may not get close, but they do hint at the colourful and unique history of winemaking in this part of the world

Zorah Karasi Areni Noir, Armenia 2013:  An idle question prompted by the vivid opening chapter of A Natural History of Wine, a fascinating new book by American academics Ian Tattersall and Rob Desalle: what kind of wines were they making 5,000 years ago in the cave at the feet of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains known as Areni-1? It was here, in modern-day Armenia in 2011, that archaeologists discovered the world’s earliest winery, dating back to circa 3,000 to 3,500 BC. I may not have found an answer tasting the 2014 vintage (available in May) of Italian-Armenian Zorik Gharibian’s Karasi made from Armenia’s most planted grape variety (which, like the cave, takes its name from the village of Areni). But, as with the 2013, the sense of history brings an added frisson to a vibrant, highly polished red.

Iago Bitarishvili Chinuri Qvevri 8, Kakheti, Georgia 2013: Gharibian, who was born to an ex-pat Armenian family in Iran, but who settled and started a successful business in Italy after being sent to an Armenian school in Venice during the Iranian revolution, is one of a handful of returning members of the Armenian diaspora to play a part in the recent revival of its wine industry. And, like many, he has been drawn to the traditional winemaking technique of using clay pots (or “karasi”) to age his wines. These vessels are also used in some of the many exciting wines coming out of neighbouring Georgia, another country with a claim to being the birthplace of wine, with Iago Bitarishvili’s arrestingly chewy, honeyed white among the best of these “qvevri” wines.

Khareba Saperavi, Kakheti, Georgia 2013: You can get a hint of the tantalising mix of the red wine-like tannin, subtle herby-bitterness, and faintly coppery colour of the best Georgian “orange” qvervi wines in Marks & Spencer’s beginner’s guide to the style, Tblvino Qvevris 2013 (£9). More serious exploration would lead to the excellent Pheasant’s Tears, and the inky, grippy, earthy, sour black cherry-scented red they make in qvevri from the local saperavi variety (£17.99 for the 2013 Saperavi, Red Squirrel Wine). This is quite magnificent with lamb, either roasted or stewed, Georgian-style, with aubergine. Made in stainless steel rather than clay, Khareba’s bold but supple saperavi is not quite as complex, but with its liquorice and juicy black berries, it also pairs beautifully with lamb.

 

West called in to Los Angeles radio station Real 92.3 on Thursday morning to discuss his forthcoming album. He chatted with his friend, radio deejay Big Boi, and credited someone much larger than himself for the as-yet-untitled project.

“I’m only doing one percent, two percent of the work and God is doing the rest of the work,” he said.

The rapper also added that he believes both his late mother, Donda West, and late father-in-law, Robert Kardashian Sr., have had a hand in his recent success.

“My mom… had Teddy Riley change his flight and come back to the studio,” West said. “Robert Kardashian is making sure that all the deals is getting done. He’s still doing deals for controversial black people from up in heaven.”

President Serzh Sargsyan received today Herbert Salber, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.

The President welcomed the guest and congratulated on the extension of his mandate. President Sargsyan expressed hope that Mr. Salber will do his best in the framework of his mandate – to establish trust between the warring parties in the region, which will be conducive for the efforts aimed at the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of maintaining by the EU of its balanced position and implementation of the commitment to create an atmosphere which would be favorable for the comprehensive resolution of the issue.

The EU Special Representative assured that the European Union is interested in a speedy and peaceful resolution and is eager, within the scope of its abilities, to promote the resolution of the issue, supporting efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group which is dealing with the issue. Mr. Salber noted that it is the only agreed upon and acceptable format.

The parties spoke also about the recent developments in the NK peace negotiations conducted in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, current situation and possibilities of registering progress. The President of Armenia introduced the position of the Armenian side.

Serzh Sargsyan and Herbert Salber exchanged views on the avenues that the EU can use to assist the peaceful resolution of the conflict. The parties stressed once again that there is no military solution to the NK issue and said it can solved based on the compromise which would meet the interests of the conflicting parties and will be acceptable for them.

Photo: AP

 

Italian hospitality for the visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stretched to covering up nude statues, the BBC reports.

Mr Rouhani and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spoke at Rome’s Capitoline Museum after Italian firms signed business deals with Iran.

But several nudes there were hidden to avoid offending the Iranian president.

Italy also chose not to serve wine at official meals, a gesture France, where Mr Rouhani travels next, has refused to copy.

An Islamic republic, Iran has strict laws governing the consumption of alcohol.

Mr Rouhani is in Europe on a five-day tour seeking to boost economic ties after the implementation of a deal on rolling back Iran’s nuclear activity saw sanctions lifted.

 

Seven have been confirmed dead of swine flu in Armenia.

The Erebuni Medical Center confirmed the death of a young woman this morning.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health reports decrease in the number of patients diagnosed with pneumonia.

The Ministry said in a statement today that  fewer patients remain at intensive care units.

At the same time, the level of acute respiratory infections in children remains the same.

On December 5, nine performers and hundreds of guests gathered at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall for this year’s AGBU New York Special Events Committee (NYSEC) Performing Artists in Concert. The evening of music, entitled Melodies of Hope, was in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide centenary, and raised over $50,000 for performing arts initiatives worldwide.

The evening’s program featured musicians from Armenia, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Macedonia, Portugal and the United States, all of whom were first-time participants in the concert series. The performers were all recipients of AGBU Performing Arts scholarships, which have allowed them to study at prestigious institutions like the Cologne High Institute of Music, Mannes School of Music, Monash University of Melbourne, Manhattan School of Music and the Shanghai Music Conservatory.

The performers composing this year’s international ensemble included: Arpine Azatyan (violin), Sona Barseghyan (piano), Vasko Dukovski (duduk and clarinet), Luke Ratcliffe Khachaturian (piano), Artur Mouradian (viola and violin), Talin Nalbandian, (mezzo-soprano), Astghik Poghosyan (violin), Tamara Sevunts (actress and poet) and Amy Tcheupdjian (cello). After the concert, Sevunts reflected on the importance of bringing young Armenians together: “I cannot express how tremendous it was to be with artists of similar backgrounds from all over the world on such a prestigious stage. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and excited even more for what is to come. I think there is a profound understanding in the community now, and among our youth, that the arts and the love and passion with which we give ourselves to them will help pave the progress of the Armenian community.”

Poghosyan also served as the artistic director for the evening and opened the concert with an explanation of the significance of the gathering: “This year’s concert is particularly special, as it is in commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide. Towards the end of this significant year, we are here to mark this anniversary together, bringing positive spirit, music, and of course, hope, in the essence of all that unites us. Today, you will hear melodies of peace that each of us wishes for, melodies of pride that each of us carries out wherever we are in this world and melodies of hope that will take us to a brighter future.”

The concert was composed of an eclectic selection of Western classical and Armenian music. It was also the Carnegie Hall premiere of the 2015 Sayat Nova International Composition Competition winning piece, “Flowers of Golgotha,” by composer Hovik Sardaryan. In addition, the evening featured readings of poems by Grigor Narekatsi and Daniel Varoujan, pieces by Sharafyan, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov, Saryan and Beethoven, and an interpretation of the traditional Armenian folk song “Tsitsernak,” arranged especially for the evening’s performance by Yang Yi, a student at the Shanghai Music Conservatory, as a gift and symbol of respect in honor of the Armenian Genocide.

Hayk Arsenyan, the director of the AGBU Performing Arts Department (PAD), commented on the special theme of the concert: “This year, we wanted to introduce the audience to our ancient musical tradition, from the medieval period all the way up to the contemporary, to show the continuity of our thriving culture and encourage Armenians around the world to keep creating.”

On December 9 Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan had a phone conversation with Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

Issues related to the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan were discussed.

The Armenian Defense Minister informed Ambassador Kasprzyk about the provocations incited by the Azerbaijani side and the retaliatory measures taken by the Armenian side during the referendum on Constitutional amendments and the following days.

Mr. Ohanyan expressed his concern over the continuous attempts of the rival to destabilize the situation, emphasizing that on the eve the Azerbaijani side used a tank to fire in the direction of the Armenian positions, which threatens to raise the tension to a new level.

The Armenian Defense Minister stressed the importance of the targeted reaction of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs for keeping Azerbaijan within the limits of the logic of the negotiation process.

Ambassador Kasprzyk, in turn, voiced concern over the current situation and pledged to take relevant steps.

Photo:  AP Photo/ Alexander Kots

 

According to an army spokesperson, Syrian army has taken control of key areas in northern Syria, and is near to completing the encirclement of a key town in the Latakia province, near Turkish border, reports.

The Syrian army has taken control of key areas in northern Syria, and is near to completing the encirclement of a key town in the Latakia province still under the control of the Islamic State jihadist group, an army spokesperson said Monday.

“We have cleared the 1122 height and virtually completed surrounding the Salma town,” the spokesperson told journalists.

The spokesperson added that some 2,000 out of an original estimate of 10,000 militants remained in the region, as others had retreated or been killed.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the country’s government fighting opposition forces and radical Islamist militant groups, including the Nusra Front and the Islamic State.

The military conflict has claimed the lives of over 220,000 Syrians and displaced over 12 million, according to UN estimates.

On November 25, Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Armenia, received Bratislav Gašić, Defence Minister of Serbia.

Minister Nalbandian emphasized the dynamically developing relations between Armenia and Serbia during the recent years and outlined the need for additional steps towards further development of cooperation. In this context, Edward Nalbandian attached importance to the developing cooperation between the Defense Ministries of Armenia and Serbia.

Minister Gašić thanked for the reception and ensured that Serbia considers Armenia a friendly country and is interested in the further development and enlargement of relations with the Republic of Armenia. He expressed gratitude for Armenia’s principled stance on the Kosovo issue, which has recently been reflected also by the vote on Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO.

Edward Nalbandian presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs for the exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.