What’s special about Lebanese wine?
More than 5,000 years ago the sea-faring Phoenicians were based in modern-day Lebanon and began trading their wine with settlements all around the Mediterranean. They also took vines and viticultural know-how, which established the wine industries in many of those countries that survive to this day. This ancient wine culture was revived in the 19th century by French clergymen who planted vines in the Bekaa Valley, where most Lebanese wine is still made. The Bekaa is a high-altitude plateau 1,200 metres above sea level – cool summer nights maintain grape freshness while cold winters kill off diseases.
Main grapes
White Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, viognier, obeideh, merwah
Red Cabernet sauvignon, syrah, cinsault, carignan, merlot, meksassi, mourad, soubbagh
Perfect pairings Lebanese wines are generally robust and have…
