HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

State index: 1.6.7

1887-1910, architect: Mikhail von der Nonne

1937-1961, architects: Rafael Israelyan, Gevorg Kochar

Constructor: A. Martirosyan

1980, architect: Rafael Israelyan,

Sculptor: Ara Harutyunyan

Located on the left elevated bank of the Hrazdan River gorge, on the territory of the former Yerevan fortress, at 9 Argishti Street.

In 1877, the famous merchant and philanthropist Nerses Tairyan began wine production on a plot of land he bought on the fortress territory, and in 1887 - cognac production, which in a short time became the industry leader. In 1887, Tairyan received financial support for the construction of the factory building from his relative - the great Armenian marine painter Hovhannes Aivazovsky. In 1899, due to export difficulties, Tairyan leased the factory to one of the leaders of the Russian trade and industry sector - the company “Nikolai Shustov and Sons”, which a year later bought the factory and expanded it, creating a large production complex.

In 1887-1910, the Tairyan-Shustov winemaking complex was built (architect Mikhail von der Nonne).

The oldest preserved structure on the factory territory is the cellar (1877).

The main products were wine, vodka, and cognac, which were exported to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Persia, Japan, European countries, and were highly renowned. At international competitions, some of them won gold and silver medals. At the beginning of the 20th century, the company was granted the privilege of supplying cognac to the court of Tsar Nicholas II. In the late 1910s, Shustov’s enterprise production accounted for 90% of all wine, cognac, and spirits produced in the Yerevan province.

In 1912, the complex, along with the buildings from the Tairyan period, included more than twenty structures. Outside the factory, there was a hydroelectric power plant that provided energy to the factory and part of the city.

In 1920, the complex was nationalized, and in May 1921, it was renamed to the Yerevan “Ararat” Wine-Cognac-Vodka Combine (“Ararat Trust” association), which included all wine and cognac factories of Soviet Armenia.

In the 1930s, the construction of the cellar building began on the site of the Sardar’s Palace. The construction took place in two stages: in 1937 (architects Rafael Israelyan, Gevorg Kochar) and in 1961 (architect Rafael Israelyan, sculptor Ara Harutyunyan). The building, with its flat roofs, had the appearance of a fortress wall rising above the rocks of the Hrazdan gorge and reminded that the formidable Yerevan fortress was once located here.

As a result of the 1948 reorganization, the Yerevan Wine Combine and the Yerevan Cognac Factory were separated. The final separation took place in 1953 when the construction of the new cognac factory building was completed.

The complex was also reconstructed in 1980.

In 2002, the “Ararat” association complex was included in the “Multi Group” concern owned by Gagik Tsarukyan, renovated, and equipped with the latest technical means. Sloping roofs were added to the buildings.

The sculptures of the wine combine are dominated by national themes, depicting episodes from Armenian fables.

The complex has an impressive architectural solution and historical value.

 “Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO

Yerevan Municipality