“Goygol Wine Plant” OJSC is an establishment in Azerbaijan which still uses ancient wine-making traditions. The Company is located in Goygol, a clean and unpolluted region of Azerbaijan, far away from industry, between the Kurakchay and Ganjachay rivers. The Kurakchay, with its source in the Muovdagh range at 3100 metres, irrigates the company’s 512 hectares of vineyards. Goygol Wine Plant prepares its wines and cognac products from different grape varieties including, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Muscat, Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Syrah, Madrasa, Bayanshira and Sauvignon-Blanc. Ancient traditions combined with modern technologies have brought Goygol accolades in a number of international wine and cognac competitions. The Company has won more than forty medals and diplomas in recognition of the quality its products. The history of Goygol Wine Plant dates back to the 1860s following the resettlement policy devised by General Yermolov in 1817 under which German families were settled in the Goygol region. Swabian Germans who moved during that time to the area called Yelenendorf started to cultivate local grape varieties and viticulture soon became the main field of industry. Every German family had a well-stocked cellar. The wine was stored in barrels made from local oak trees. Christopher Forer, a German immigrant involved in the winemaking business, took advantage of the developing commerce and trade in Azerbaijan and introduced the wine to European markets for the first time. European traders who came to Azerbaijan to buy Shaki silk soon wanted to know where they could buy the Azeri wine and cognac. They were duly despatched to Christopher Forer, the wine-maker in Goygol. The European traders visited Forer at his home in Goygol and tasted the wines. The traders were very impressed, in particular those from France. They bought up Forer’s stocks of wine and returned to Europe with them. Each year the European traders returned to Azerbaijan and bought more wine. Over time Forer’s wine became recognised and renowned in Europe. The trade built up year by year. Such was the demand, Forer needed to buy more land and establish new vineyards. His four sons became involved in the business and in 1860 “Forer brothers” Joint Stock Company, already famous in Europe, was established. That marked the beginning of the Goygol Wine Plant that exists today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnmLtexl0v0&t=229s