Winemaking has historically played a significant role in the development of the national economy, being one of the leading sectors. In general, local wines have always stood out for their exquisite, inimitable aroma and quality. For this reason, winemaking is considered one of the most important sectors of the food industry in Azerbaijan, holding great significance.

Vilayet Mammadov, an “ABAD” artisan, is a winemaker. He was able to turn this occupation, inherited from his father, into his own business after retirement. Mr. Mammadov’s childhood years were spent in the Gazakh district. In addition to being an accountant, his father produced wine in his personal farm and even exported it.

Our “ABAD” artisan is a petroleum engineer by profession and dedicated a significant part of his life to this field. He worked as a petroleum specialist for over 10 years on Sakhalin, Russia’s largest island.

“After retiring, I was searching for ways to spend my free time productively, exploring the secrets of winemaking and seeking high-quality, headache-free fruit brandies. During this time, a friend gifted me homemade fruit brandy. Generally, in many regions of Azerbaijan, fruit brandies are produced at home. However, since they are not filtered through special filters, they contain high levels of fusel oils, which can be harmful and dangerous to human health. I researched and obtained nanofilters to purify the fruit brandies given to me, began filtering them, and achieved excellent results. Then, I started producing fruit brandies for myself and my friends. Those who tried them liked them very much, and many people recommended that I sell these drinks.

Since 2016, I have been producing fruit brandies. From 2017, my products have been available for sale. Initially, I started with the production of quince, pomegranate, cherry, and raspberry brandies under the name ‘V45.’ Later, I produced red sour wine from the Madrasa grape.”

Before “ABAD,” Vilayet Mammadov sold his products in large supermarket chains and duty-free shops:

“Later, I began exploring ways to export abroad and contacted organizations that facilitate the sale of Azerbaijani products internationally. During discussions with these organizations, they told me about ‘ABAD.’ After joining, my market reach expanded, and exports were realized. Now, my products such as wines, fruit brandies, grappas, schnapps, petnats, and more are sold under the ‘AVEY’ brand and have gained popularity.

I am currently conducting ongoing research, and my goal is to produce higher-quality, more flavorful drinks. Additionally, I aim to increase the variety of drinks, expand production volume, and promote the Azerbaijani brand abroad.”