It is often forgotten, but Lebanon is one of the cradles of viticulture. It is there that the temple of Bacchus, god of vine and wine, was built in the 2nd century. And today its wine sector is booming.
One of the Cradle of wine
A brief history of the vineyard
Lebanon, is the heir of the famous Phoenicia, which dates back to 4500 years BC. The tradition of wine in this region goes back to 6000 years.
With this ancestral tradition and the many indigenous grape varieties that flourish on its territory, the country has been able to recover from many wars and produces about 8.5 million bottles per year.
sun-drenched, concentrated and generous
The main varieties to produce red wines there are Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Syrah and Tempranillo.
For white wines, there are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, but also Clairette, Merwah and Obeidi, which are local grape varieties used for Arak, a local alcohol.
The wines of Lebanon are often sun-drenched, concentrated and generous.
2,000 ha
Château Musar is a top wine estate in Lebanon that was founded by Gaston Hochar in 1930, when he was only 20 years old. This winemaker was taught in Bordeaux and during the Second World War, he worked with Major Ronald Barton, from the Bordeaux Château Langoa-Barton.
The premium category wines of the domain are known for their oxidative touch desired by the winemakers. They are wines for keeping that are only put on the market after a certain aging.
Extent of the vineyard
The Lebanese vineyard covers just over 2,000 hectares (ha), concentrated mainly in the Bekaa Valley.
