Wine & Vineyards

Lebanese wine-making tradition goes back to ancient times, when Phoenicians spread wine to all of the
Mediterranean. What makes Lebanese wine stand out is the taste of every grape, thanks to Lebanon’s on-going sunny days, fertile red soil, and humane treatment of the vines by kind Lebanese farmers. However, French influence on the country is apparent in the most commonly planted grape varieties, including Cinsaut, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah. The wines produced are red, white and rosé.

Most Lebanese wineries are dispersed in the lush Beqaa Valley, 30 km east of Beirut and 1,000m above sea level, one of the wealthiest agricultural lands in Lebanon. The relationship between bountiful rains and warm abundant sunshine in that area allows for fast grape ripening, and the production of over 600,000 wine cases yearly.  

Most of these wineries use state-of-the-art equipment. Grapes are manually picked and fermented with great care. Although many of them have made it to the top of the highly recognized Parker’s List, Chateau Ksara (1857) remains the oldest and biggest Lebanese winery, scoring over 70% of the country’s wine production. In the ancient vine production tradition, Lebanon owns its existence to Christian’s communities that kept some vineyards in this area. Chateau Ksara acquired by the Jesuits Fathers in 1857, perpetuated the tradition of winemaking. Applying what they knew, they produced Lebanon’s first dry red wine and in doing so, laid the foundations of Lebanon’s modern wine industry. Since then, new varietals were cultivated all over Ksara’s vineyards. To give connoisseurs and the curious visitors a taste of its produce, Ksara opens both its caves and vineyards to the public, offering them a fine selection of cheese and wine, cold cuts and a salad bar. Flowing behind Ksara is Chateau Kefraya, Chateau Musar, Masaya, Chateau Marsyas and Domaine Wardy, among others. Most of these vineyards and their wine cellars too can be visited, and are open for wine tasting and lounging out on the terrace, while enjoying gorgeous scenery.