Disconnect in Azerbaijan’s Ismayilli District, where farm-to-table is just standard living

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Disconnect in Azerbaijan’s Ismayilli District, where farm-to-table is just standard living  Discover how Azerbaijan’s Ismayilli District is reinventing itself, welcoming new residents and artisans without compromising its authentic rural identity.  In partnership with Azerbaijan Tourism Board  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/10/07/disconnect-in-azerbaijans-ismayilli-district-where-farm-to-table-is-just-standard-living  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00In Europe, most of us live in urban areas where life moves fast. I came here to Ismaili to enjoy

00:10a slower pace and some of life's finer things. Good food and wine, gorgeous nature, and quiet.

00:17Join me on this weekend trip through Azerbaijan's countryside. We won't get anywhere fast,

00:22but I promise you'll enjoy the ride.

00:30Welcome to Ivanovka, home to what was once the last cocos in the Caucasus. Now

00:36labeled as an agro-park, Ivanovka remains a collective farm, where farmers share their

00:41crops and earnings. This village has a fascinating history, and a good place to

00:45learn about it is the Molokin Cultural Center.

00:50This remarkable collection of personal memorabilia tells the story of the

00:58Molokins, a Russian Christian minority whose religious views got them banished

01:03to the Caucasus. They founded Ivanovka in 1847, and the community still maintains its strong identity.

01:09In our museum, there are more than 2,000 exhibits. But it's still more and more. It's been

01:16more and more. Every time it's been filled with our old exhibits, which give us a look at how our ancestors lived,

01:26how they worked, and in this case, to leave a memory of the history of the village of Ivanovka.

01:32But Ivanovka isn't living in the past. Its contemporary culture is very much alive,

01:38in this beautiful auditorium that hosts dance troupes and concerts, and the newly renovated

01:43Dimir Art House, where young artists from Baku come to create in an idyllic setting.

01:52New residents are settling in, opening guest houses and cafes for tourists,

01:57like the Ohio Inn & Cafe run by Hasan.

02:01So this is getting popular, this village getting popular. People come here, they love the quietness

02:08of this place. Nice food, organic foods.

02:13I've heard a lot about the quality of the local products in this region,

02:16so I'm off to meet a farmer to taste some of Ivanovka's famous honey.

02:22Andrei Antifev is a third-generation beekeeper in Ivanovka. His honey has won awards at

02:27international competitions. The secret is the wide variety of fragrant plants and flowers that his

02:32bees pollinate, made accessible by these giant portable beehives. He organizes tours and tastings for visitors.

02:39Here are two types of honey. This is May's honey and the beginning of the summer.

02:47They are different flavors, smells different, and colors. Let's do a test.

02:56Yeah, I really like this one. It tastes different.

03:02Agro-tourism is thriving in the East Miley region. In September, harvest time is one of the most

03:08exciting times to visit. I'm getting in on the fun at Chabiant Winery, which invites visitors to help

03:13with the grape picking and stomping. It's a convivial moment that brings consumers and producers

03:19together. Now it's my turn. I've got my basket. I've got my clippers. I've got my boots. Let's pick

03:24some grapes. Chabiant's grapes benefit from Chirvon Valley's unique microclimate and the volcanic nature

03:31of the soil. Italian winemaker Marco Catalani is the mastermind behind Chabiant's unique philosophy.

03:37Our philosophy is to bring our knowledge and adopt them to the world at zero.

03:46The world at zero means traditions, landscapes, discover people who can give us all the

03:54spunti possibili per aumentare il potenziale della viticoltura. Marco gave me a peek at the production

04:03process. The grapes mature in stainless steel tanks and oak barrels, which give the wines a complex

04:09aroma and taste. I couldn't leave before enjoying the fruits of my labor, poolside at Chabiant's guesthouse.

04:16We have our own grapes, 2,050 hectares, and six varieties. And we want to take off the local varieties,

04:24such as Bayan Shara and Madrasa. Bayan Shara has a lot of the fruity, maracuja, citrus aromas,

04:31and vanilla. The second one is Madrasa. This wine is a deep intensity color, deep like a garden,

04:38deep ruby. Local dishes pair perfectly, highlighting delicious late summer produce from this mountainous

04:44region. There was even cheese made in Ivanovka. It feels like farm to table is just standard living

04:49out here. And it's been a delicious journey learning how to enjoy the slow life in East

04:54Miley and Ivanovka.

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