Market Challenges: Breaking Into the Wine World with James Tufenkian

Bringing energy independence to Armenia’s rural regions

Partner content. As Armenia works to strengthen energy independence and climate resilience, especially in rural areas, new efforts are targeting high energy costs and reliance on fossil fuels. In this episode of CivilNet Business, Olga Weigel of the SE4Resilience project, co-financed by the European Union and Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and implemented by GIZed, explains how renewable energy and efficiency initiatives are being rolled out across the country. The conversation looks at their impact in their regions of focus: Syunik, Shirak, Gegharkunik, and Tavush, from solar-powered public buildings to support for vulnerable households.

Market Challenges: Breaking Into the Wine World with James Tufenkian

James Tufenkian, founder of the Tufenkian Foundation and a pioneer in Armenian hospitality, shares his journey from carpets to boutique hotels and now to winemaking. Filmed in one of his Yerevan hotels, he explains how wine, like carpets and local crafts, is a form of cultural expression — a way to share Armenia’s history, traditions, and excellence with the world.In this conversation with Paul Kalemkiarian, host of the podcast ‘Wine Talks with Paul K’, Tufenkian discusses the challenges of building a global brand, preserving artisanal techniques, and creating wines that reflect Armenia’s unique heritage.Also watch:It Takes Generations: Keushguerians and the Wine Trade https://youtu.be/BOrt_wF1N2MIn Vino - Risk & Resilience: Building Yerevan’s Wine Scene https://youtu.be/5gtEJFYlsmcVoskevaz Winery and Armenia’s Wine Revolution https://youtu.be/ILkLqam97t4#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

Armenia and Turkey hold new talks on reopening railway

📍 Armenia and Turkey have discussed the possible restoration of the Kars–Gyumri railway as part of broader normalization efforts. 📍 A new analysis from APRI, a Yerevan-based think tank, argues that the TRIPP is a useful but insufficient step for South Caucasus connectivity, and that full regional prosperity depends on opening the Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Turkey borders. 📍 Business Week Armenia- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiWQrxtzNRk #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

Russia bans Armenian Jermuk mineral water in latest trade restriction

📍 Moscow has temporarily banned the sale of Armenian Jermuk mineral water, as tensions grow over Yerevan’s deepening ties with the European Union. 📍 Armenia has denied unsourced media reports that it plans to hand over the border village of Jiliza to Georgia as part of ongoing demarcation talks. 📍 Armenia has unveiled a new biometric passport design aligned with EU standards, featuring updated cultural imagery. The design sparked debate over the omission of Mount Ararat in an illustration of the nearby Khor Virap Monastery. 📍 Will Samvel Karapetyan’s party be banned before Armenia’s election? https://youtu.be/W1y7zmVM8Qg #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

Pashinyan aide named in alleged media manipulation scheme

📍 Moscow has accused Armenia’s civil society of undermining bilateral relations with Russia.📍 The European Union is not backing Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party in the parliamentary election scheduled for June, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vasilis Maragos told CivilNet. Full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqCzkezi7Gs 📍 CivilNetCheck found that the name of a senior aide to Armenia’s prime minister is linked to a pro-government media network that amplified fake or coordinated social media content to shape online political narratives. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia