Lebanese Wineries: Drink Your Way in One of the Oldest Countries in the World
Lebanon is among the oldest sites of wine production in the world. The Israelite prophet Hosea (780–725 BC) is said to have urged his followers to return to God so that "they will blossom as the vine, [and] their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon". The Phoenicians of its coastal strip were instrumental in spreading wine and viticulture throughout the Mediterranean in ancient times. Despite the many conflicts of the region, the country has an annual production of about 8,000,000 cases of wine.
Vitis vinifera is a species of grapevines, native to the Mediterranean region, and domesticated in Lebanon. Vines grew readily in the land of Canaan, the coastal strip of today's Lebanon, and the wines of Byblos were exported to Egypt during the Old Kingdom (2686 BC–2134 BC). The wines of Tyre and Sidon were famous throughout the ancient Mediterranean, although not all the cargoes reached their destination; Professor of Oceanography Robert Duane Ballard (discoverer of the RMS Titanic) found the wrecks of two Phoenician ships from 750 BC, whose cargo of wine was still intact. As the first great traders of wine ('Cherem'), the Phoenicians seem to have protected it from oxidation with a layer of olive oil, followed by a seal of pinewood and resin. The philosophers Zeno of Citium and Chrysippus of Soli are both said to have enjoyed their wine, in fact, the latter died from overindulgence.
Wine played an important part in the Phoenician religion, and the Greek/Roman god Dionysus/Bacchus may have originated in the wine rituals of Canaan. Certainly, the great temple at Heliopolis (Baalbek) has many depictions of vines and wine-drinking. Such rituals may also have influenced the Greek Bacchae, the Jewish Passover Seder feast and the Christian Eucharist. The Bacchus temple in Baalbek outlines the instrumental role that the Phoenicians played in the development of the Ancient World around the Mediterranean sea, through the widespread peaceful settlements that reached Spain. Genesis 14:18 mentions that the Phoenician King Melchizedek gave bread and wine to Abraham, and Hosea 14:8 suggests "his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon". Wine also featured heavily in Ugaritic poetry such as the Rapiuma :
"Day long they pour the wine, ... must-wine, fit for rulers. Wine, sweet and abundant, Select wine... The choice wine of Lebanon, Most nurtured by El."
The first winemaker in Lebanon was Chateau Joseph Spath (Chateau Chbat) in 1847 in Aaramoun, later following of winemaker at Chateau Ksara in 1857 when Jesuits planted Cinsaut vines from Algeria at Chateau Ksara near Zahlé in the central Beqaa Valley. In 1868 a French engineer, Eugène François Brun, set up Domaine des Tourelles, and others followed, notably Gaston Hochar's Chateau Musar in 1930.
Lebanese winemakers have favored French grapes, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Rhone varietals. There are also grapes that are specific and indigenous to Lebanon such as Obaideh and Merwah.
Now, without further ado, here is my personal list (in no particular order) of favorite Lebanese Wineries:
Location: Jdita-Chtaura
Production Size: 300K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 50 Ha
Contact: +961 8 540114
Website: www.domainedestourelles.com
Location: Kab Elias
Production Size: 450K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 65 Ha
Contact: +961 8 500812
Website: www.closstthomas.com
Location: Kab Elias
Production Size: 300K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 100 Ha
Contact: +961 8 500609
Website: www.chateauheritage.com
Location: Kefraya
Production Size: 60K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 65 Ha
Contact: +961 1 442082
Website: www.chateaumarsyas.com
Location: Ghazir - Bekaa
Production Size: 700K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 180 Ha
Contact: +961 1 201828
Website: www.chateaumusar.com
Location: Khirbet Qanafar
Production Size: 55K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 17 Ha
Contact: +961 3 250342
Website: www.chateauqanafar.com
Location: Jdita
Production Size: 400K Bottles
Vineyard Size: -
Contact: +961 8 540191
Website: www.chateaunakad.com
Location: Zahle
Production Size: 350K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 55 Ha
Contact: +961 8 930141
Website: www.domainewardy.com
Location: Kefraya
Production Size: 1500K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 320 Ha
Contact: +961 8 645 333
Website: www.chateaukefraya.com
Location: Deir el Ahmar
Production Size: 15K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 4 Ha
Contact: +961 7 150659
Website: www.chateauisaac.com
Location: Bekaa
Production Size: 2.5M Bottles
Vineyard Size: 450 Ha
Contact: +961 1 200715
Website: www.chateauksara.com
Location: Barka
Production Size: 150K Bottles
Vineyard Size: -
Contact: +961 1 489088
Website: www.chateaubarka.com
Location: Bekaa
Production Size: 50K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 70 Ha
Contact: +961 1 269669
Website: www.museduliban.com
Location: Bekaa
Production Size: 60K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 45 Ha
Contact: +961 3 954130
Website: www.latourba.com
Location: Deir el Ahmar
Production Size: 120K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 260 Ha
Contact: +961 70 072196
Location: Kherbet Qanafar
Production Size: 18K Bottles
Vineyard Size: -
Contact: +961 3 027329
Website: www.umamiwinelebanon.com
Location: Bekaa Valley
Production Size: 100K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 15 Ha
Contact: +961 8 930700
Location: Wata el Joz
Production Size: 10K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 2 Ha
Contact: +961 70 926197
Website: www.chateaubybline.com
Location: Bhamdoun
Production Size: 20K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 24 Ha
Contact: +961 3 221205
Website: www.chateaubelle-vue.com
Location: Kfardebian
Production Size: 250K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 40 Ha
Contact: +961 9 635111
Website: www.faqra.com
Location: Mar Mousa
Production Size: 90K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 45 Ha
Contact: +961 9 926950
Website: www.adyar.org.lb
Location: Ras el Harf
Production Size: 100K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 13 Ha
Contact: +961 81 340043
Website: www.chateaucana.com
Location: Mtein
Production Size: 200K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 23 Ha
Contact: +961 4 296131
Location: Batroun
Production Size: 10K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 2.5 Ha
Contact: +961 71 632620
Website: www.aurorawinery.co
Location: Batroun
Production Size: 50K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 11 Ha
Contact: +961 3 484 863
Website: www.batrounmountains.com
Location: Batroun
Production Size: 300K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 120 Ha
Contact: +961 9 210023
Website: www.ixsir.com.lb
Location: Batroun
Production Size: 7K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 2 Ha
Contact: +961 70 570170
Website: www.levinsept.com
Location: Dar Baachtar-Koura
Production Size: 15K Bottles
Vineyard Size: 3.5 Ha
Contact: +961 3 488057
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