Ancient Grapes and Modern Wines: Journey of Juliana Del Aquila

When at Wine Paris, I visited the booths of many countries. Catching up with old friends, and forging new relationships to help move the needle in wine. 

As I visited the Armenian wine booth, there was a bustle in the air. If there is an old guard in the Armenian wine trade, it would be Vahe Keusguarian. He forged much of what is the modern wine industry there. But before Vahe, there was Karas. In fact, Vahe's first job as he picked up his life and moved to Armenia...was at Karas. 

At the helm at Karas, an incredibly capable young woman; Juliana Del Aguila. Not only does she responsible for this pioneering winery in Armenia, she is at the helm of Bodega Fin Del Mundo in Argentina. Can you imagine that travel log?

She spyed me in the corner of her eye and quickly came to say hi. You see, Wine Talks was one of her first podcasts...if not the first. Hear her here.

Juliana de la Guila brings more than wine knowledge—she brings continents together in a single conversation. You’ll quickly realize that when it comes to Karas Wines and the Armenian wine revival, her passion is as layered as a rare vintage, with roots reaching from the arid soils of the Ararat Valley to the windswept vineyards of Patagonia. In this episode, you’ll discover how Juliana and her family became pioneers in resurrecting Armenia’s ancient winemaking tradition after decades lost to brandy production under the Soviet Union. You’ll learn why the rebirth of Armenian viticulture is more than just an economic opportunity—it's about community, sustainability, and rekindling magic in a bottle that Armenians can send around the world as a piece of home. Juliana de la Guila will reveal how indigenous varietals like Areni are reclaiming their historical seat at the world’s wine table and why international grapes such as Malbec and Cabernet Franc are being invited to the Armenian party, all in the search for terroir and expression. Along the way, you’ll pick up surprising insights about irrigation from Turkish reservoirs, organic certification, and the delicate balance of tradition and innovation, as well as the emotional and existential connection that makes a glass of Armenian wine taste like home. From the shifting Los Angeles wine market to China’s nascent curiosity, from new cuisine in Yerevan’s wine bars to the soul of sustainable farming, you’ll walk away with a story that’s as much about family, identity, and evolution as it is about grapes. Prepare to taste history, experience emotion, and understand how wine truly connects land, legacy, and the modern world—one bottle at a time.

Three things you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why Armenian wine disappeared for decades, how it’s being reborn, and what it takes to reestablish a nation’s grape legacy.

• The challenges and triumphs of introducing Armenian and Patagonian wines to international markets—and the surprising reactions from both sommeliers and consumers.

• How the culture around food, wine, and celebration is evolving in Armenia, from modern wine bars to the interplay of ancient tradition and diaspora influences.

https://youtu.be/TuE7Lb8x68E