2009 was a difficult year for Armenia’s wine makers

Avag Harutyunian, Chairman of the Union of Armenia’s Winemakers, said 2009 was a difficult year for county’s wine makers.

“Rate of Armenian cognac production decreased by 38% in 2009. The 2009 crisis threw the country to realities of 1902 and 1936; while 2008 left behind both tsarist and soviet-eras’ growth rate,” said.

According to Avag Harutyunian, the growth rate of Armenian wine production increased by 31% in 2009, in comparison with 2008’s index. Growth rate of vodka production registers 8%, while it has been increasing by 10-15% per year since 2000. Production of beer increased by 3%.

Referring to issue of exporting, Avag Harutyunian said that in 2009 there were exported less cognac by 39%, alcohol by 43% and vodka by 7%.