Molana Rasheh, Armenia & Iran 2021

Rasheh 2021 is one of the most fascinating and historically significant wines released in recent years, believed to be the first modern commercial wine made from Iranian-grown grapes in nearly 50 years. Crafted from the ancient indigenous Rasheh grape grown in the mountainous Sardasht region of western Iran, the grapes were transported to neighboring Armenia and vinified there by Armenian winemaker Vahe Keushguerian due to Iran’s prohibition on commercial alcohol production.

Named after the Persian poet Rumi (“Molana” meaning our teacher), the wine carries enormous cultural symbolism in addition to its rarity. The vineyards sit at roughly 1,480 meters elevation on volcanic soils, giving the wine freshness, minerality, and aromatic lift. Production was extremely limited around 12,000 bottles globally.

This is the legendary new wine featured in the new Somm 4: Cup of Salvation documentary.