Fine Wines Direct

Lebanese Wines

The Middle East might not be the first place to spring to mind as a wine producing region, yet there are plenty of Biblical references to the drinking and making of wine in this area, and over the last decade the wines of Lebanon have made a remarkable comeback. Cinsault, in particular has thrived in the Lebanon due to its ability to stand up to the rigors of dry, hot weather.

Lebanon’s Christian population laid the foundations for the area’s modern wine industry when, in 1857, a group of priests founded a winery at Ksara in the Bekaa Valley, to produce wine principally for ceremonial purposes. More than 150 years later, the Bekaa Valley continues to be at the heart of Lebanese wine production, with 90 per cent of Lebanese wine emanating from this long and narrow valley, 3,000ft above sea level.

While Chateau Ksara is recognised as Lebanon’s oldest vineyard, the wines produced by Chateau Musar have been gaining a loyal worldwide following. Reds are, without doubt, the specialty of the area, with classic French grape varieties such as Cinsault, Carignan, Grenache, Merlot and Syrah, the most commonly plated, but both rose and white wines are now being produced.

The French influence on the wines of Lebanon has been extensive, stretching back to a time when Lebanon was under French rule. Hence Lebanese vineyards are known as chateaux and in 2000, the Lebanese introduced laws to govern the production of wine, influenced by the French AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlee).

The Lebanese wines produced by Musar are surely amongst the ones to watch. Quality offerings are already emerging from this part of the world and there are numerous hopeful signs that Lebanon will continue to improve and expand upon its long history. Try the Chateau Musar wines and we're sure you'll agree.