— Nicolas Montagne, Vineyard Visionary

A Toast to the Divine

“A great wine is like a wise mentor—bold yet refined, teaching you 
something new with every encounter.”

Where it All Started

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In the heart of Armenia’s Vayots Dzor region rests the hilltop village of Aghavnadzor. There, the Kutque vineyards nurture our Areni Sev grapes with volcanic soil, rich minerality, and elevations up to 1,500 meters above sea level.

Across 46 hectares (115 acres), Armenian tradition, biodynamics, and universal forces shape our Areni Sev. At the heart of this land lies a single, extraordinary hectare—home to century-old vines infused with crisp air and incomparable serenity.

Stretching back over 6,100 years, the Areni Sev grape is native to the Vayots Dzor region, where the world’s oldest known winery was uncovered in the Areni-1 cave. This discovery is more than a milestone in history—it is a testament to Armenia’s enduring winemaking legacy.

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For Kutque, the Areni Sev grape is the heartbeat of our wines. Its thick skin and late ripening perfectly suit the Vayots Dzor terroir, emboldening the wine with rich flavors and earthy complexity. This ancient grape variety represents the heritage of Armenian winemaking, and we honor it with our biodynamic practices.

Through biodynamics and dry farming, we work in tune with the land, preserving its vitality for generations to come.

Guided by Vision, Fueled by Expertise

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Areg Khojoyan, Kutque’s chief winemaker, bridges Armenia’s viticultural heritage with modern, sustainable practices. He puts a wealth of knowledge and an ancestral connection to Armenian winemaking traditions into practice. His dedication to biodynamic principles reflects a deep commitment to crafting wines honing Armenia’s soil, sun, and spirit.

Under his guidance, Armenian winemaking is experiencing a revival, connecting the essence of its heritage to the potential of modern, eco-conscious innovation.

Areg Khojoyan

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Our esteemed chief consultant, Jean-Michel Comme, brings an international perspective honed over years of dedication in France’s finest vineyards. For 31 years, Jean-Michel played a pivotal role in transforming the estate into a benchmark for biodynamic viticulture, developing and refining practices that set new standards for the industry. To be involved in this project, Jean-Michel learnt about local varieties and Armenian culture (history, viticulture, but also ancient religions, traditions, …).

We can only love and help what we know and respect.

Jean-Michel Comme

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The Unifying Vision

The Beginning of Biodynamic Craftsmanship

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When Areg and Jean-Michel first crossed paths, it was more than a meeting of minds; it was the convergence of shared values—an appreciation for tradition, a love for the land, and an unspoken commitment to nature.

Jean-Michel arrived as a consultant, bringing years of experience and a strong belief in biodynamic farming. In Armenia, he found something truly rare: a land largely untouched by the industrialization that has altered so many wine regions worldwide. To Jean-Michel, Aghavnadzor was a sanctuary of potential for great biodynamic Armenian wines.

In Areg, he found an eager ally—a native winemaker who had always felt a profound connection to Armenia’s soil and viticulture. Together, they began to envision a vineyard that would honor the land and its winemaking legacy.

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In their early conversations, Areg and Jean-Michel discovered something almost mystical that resonated with them both. It was the connection between the Armenian solar symbol–a powerful emblem representing life, continuity, and the interconnected cycles of nature–and the theory of biodynamics. This symbol echoed the very principles of Rudolf Steiner’s biodynamic theories. To Areg and Jean-Michel, this was more than a coincidence; it was a sign that biodynamics wasn’t just a method but a natural extension of Armenian heritage.

Biodynamics follows lunar and solar cycles to guide farming, bringing agriculture into harmony with celestial movements, much like the ancient Armenian interpretations of nature’s cycles. The solar symbol became a reminder of their commitment to work with, rather than against, the forces of nature. It was a shared vision that brought them closer, forming a partnership built on trust, respect, and a touch of cosmic destiny.

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Now, after more than three years of dedication to biodynamic and dry farming, their vision has blossomed into a wine that is as rooted in Armenian tradition as it is forward-looking. Together, they’ve crafted a wine that carries the taste of Vayots Dzor’s terroir, shaped by natural forces and untouched by synthetic chemicals or artificial interventions.

Kutque celebrates the land, the cycles of nature, and the artistry of two individuals who, through serendipity and shared dreams, created something truly remarkable.

Kutque

Vayots dzor, Areni place