From businessman to adviser to the President of Artsakh. The story of the repatriate Vahe Keushgeryan

02.03.2021

Armenian Diaspora businessman  Vahe Keushguerian moves to live in Artsakh:

From Syria to Lebanon, from Lebanon to Italy, then to America, and the final stop in Armenia. Although he was born and raised in an Armenian family, for Vahe Keushguerian his homeland seemed to be something inaccessible until the moment he first came to Armenia and never wanted to leave it again.

“I didn't know what it was until I came to Armenia. We had Ararat, Armenian music in our minds, we studied, read but there was no real connection with culture and our land. You come to Armenia, go out for a walk in Yerevan early in the morning, look at Ararat and amaze”.

Young Vahe was interested in the world of wines. His experience and knowledge in the field of winemaking will soon serve the Motherland; he will participate in the revival of the wine industry in Armenia.

“While in San Francisco, I started importing Italian and French wines to California. Four years later, I decided to go to Italy and start making wine: I found a garden, a factory and started making wine. I first came to Armenia in 1997 and immediately fell in love with it. It was like some kind of virus that remained in me, and I bought land and planted a garden”.

Vahe Keushguerian returned to Armenia with many ideas, started various projects, one successful, the other not. However, he always continued his efforts with boundless optimism and in 2011 founded WineWorks. Remembering his journey to Armenia from abroad, he realizes that it was not so easy but the desire to fulfill his dream was stronger.

“It was not a problem, it was a risk. I remember that day well. We came to Italy with my wife, 11 month old twin children who could not walk yet, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 10 suitcases. I told my wife that we need to forget about that day, as it was hard, we were with children, etc., and such moments are quickly forgotten when you strongly believe in a dream”.

Karas, Kataro, Zorah, Kyosh, Zulal, Oshin. Vahe Keushguerian took part in the creation of various winemaking projects but in addition to winemaking, he participated in a number of other projects: EVN Report magazine, Impact Hub, Yerevan Wine Academy. Now he has another important mission. He will participate in the implementation of a number of development programs as an advisor to the President of Artsakh.

“On the one hand, there are different organizations that want to make investments, donations, charity, on the other hand, there are people in different villages and communities of Artsakh who have different needs. It's my job to bring it all together”.

Now the daughter is engaged in the family wine-making business, the son is a future winemaker. Both are in Armenia and will continue living and working in their homeland, and Vahe Keushguerian will soon move to Stepanakert. He says there is still a lot of work to be done but the most important is that people keep believing, there is no time to despair.