Armenia joins World Wine Festival in Switzerland

Armenia has taken part in the 2015 World Wine Festival in Féchy, Switzerland in the status of an honorable guest.

The international event, being held annually since 1996, was this year organized on September 27. Four sorts of Armenian vine-stocks, taken to the country under the Agriculture Ministry’s support, were planted in a solemn ceremony in the yard “World Wines” just next to other vine-stocks from France, Italy, Argentine, Spain and other countries. Not far from the yard, is an 11th century church.

Speeches at the official event were delivered by the head of Féchy’s municipal council, the festival’s president and a representative of the Armenian Embassy to Switzerland, Hasmik Tolmajyan.

“It is very symbolic that likewise Noah is known from the Biblical tradition to have planted the world’s very first vine-stocks at the top of Mount Ararat in Armenia, these vine-stocks brought from Armenia which, according to archaeological records, has 6,000 years’ history of vine-making, are now being planted in the Swiss soil, in this yard symbolizing peace, solidarity and diversity,” Tolmajyan said.

The Armenian choir Arax and the dance ensemble Sanahin later entertained the guests, including both residents of Féchy and people from other cities and towns of Switzerland.

An exhibition and sampling of ten different sorts of wines was later organized for the participants.