Ararat

Two-sided, extinct volcano (Turkish Agri Dagh, Armenian Masis) in the Anatolian plateau in the far west of Turkey on the border to Armenia and Iran. The main peak (Goßer Ararat) is with 5.165 meters the highest mountain of Turkey (Kleiner Ararat 3.925 m). The area is part of Transcaucasia (south of the Caucasus) and borders on the northern part of the Near East landscape Mesopotamia. These two areas are considered to be possible cradles of wine culture. According to the latest research, the exact origin of the cultivated grapevine is said to lie in south-east Anatolia (arrow).

According to the Old Testament account of the Bible in the book of Genesis 9.21, at the end of the flood of rain Noah landed with his ark on the summit (or near it) of Mount Ararat. After he had left the animals on land, he watched a billy goat snacking on grapes, planted vines and became a winegrower. By the way, this story led to the still cultivated custom of carrying the grapevine goat to the harvest festival. The Noah story apparently confirms at first glance the thesis that the origin of viticulture lies in the Caucasus. But since Noah already brought the vines with him on his ark, the actual origin cannot be deduced or is unknown, at least on the basis of the Old Testament. For the home of Noah, where he built the ark, is not evident from the story.