Harvesting Efficiency: A Wine-Maker’s Journey

Nestled amidst the stunning landscapes of Armenia, the Vedi-Alco winery is one of the nation’s largest and most esteemed wine-making enterprise established in 1956. Across the sprawling vineyards, spanning a generous 120 hectares, 70 hectares were exclusively dedicated to nurturing the treasured indigenous “Areni” grape variety dating back 4,000 to 6,000 years, a testament to the company’s devotion to tradition.

While spirits flowed from their hands, wine coursed through their veins, constituting 65% of their craft. Soviet-era equipment had still been used diligently tended to by skilled professionals. But progress called. The company, with its vision for sustainability and innovation, upgraded their grape-receiving and processing machinery, dedicated to refining their wine production.

An investment of US$ 547,187 breathed new life into this endeavor, delivering an annual energy saving of up to 80 MWh, accompanied by over US$ 10,000 in yearly savings and a 20-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.

The general manager beamed with pride, highlighting the profound impact of investing in high-performance technologies. “Not only did the company witness financial gains and environmental impact, but it also benefited from better product quality, continuous operation, variable capacity, and an extended service life of new equipment.”

This project was supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Climate Investment Funds (CIF).