Wines of lebanon book

Nov 21, 2016 andrew jefford tastes lebanons new white wines. The 2nd book from wink lorch follows on from her successful jura wine and moves the focus to the wines of frances alpine regions. Lebanon green winery 2020 all you need to know before you. Highest grade given to a lebanese wine from robert parker view technical sheet. Chateau musar has been classified as organic since 2006.

L is the company behind ixsir whose vision is to reveal the best terroirs of lebanon, some forgotten long since. This book takes us on a journey from the bekaa valley to the little vineyards of mount lebanon. Yet, few places in the world have a longer tradition of winemaking. I owe it all to tom stevenson who convinced me to have a go at compiling that first chapter for the wine report. Although 70% of chateau kefrayas wines are red, the estate has been producing white, rose, sweet wines and arak for many years now. Wine has been made in lebanon for at least 5,000 years since the phoenicians domesticated grapes. And it was here that later jesus changed water into wine, peforming his first miracle at the wedding of cana. Whether you have already traveled to beirut or are still waiting to see where your own story takes you, here are five books that bring the city to life five different perspectives that will make you fall in love with beirut again and again. He is notably the author of wines of lebanon, arak and mezze. Oct 12, 2018 lebanon is a mediterranean country that has had a tumultuous history that stretches back thousands of years. Winery opening hours open from tuesday to sunday closed on mondays winter 10am till 4pm summer 10am till 6pm. Chateau musar celebrates 90th anniversary with a new book. Kimchi relates from asaph, a physician, that the wines of lebanon, hermon, and carmel, and of the mountains of israel and. It will probably continue to set the benchmark for the area with a very unique signature for its wines.

Written with the full participation and approval of the hochar family, our latest book is now available to buy through our website. Welcome to the facebook page of lebanon wines in hong kong. Our book brings together the people and events that have shaped our past. Through the ancient port city of byblos, the wine was traded with greece, spain, italy rome, and carthage in northern africa, and fared well in these exchanges for gold and other precious goods. The passionate city of beirut in lebanon, listed among the top 25 cities in the world, holds narratives of love, art, food, and war. At the height of the air raids, when the palestinians found out that every single prcs hospital and clinic was a bomb target, they put three israeli soldiers captured in south lebanon on the upper floors of gaza hospital, and radioed a message to the israeli army saying that any further military action on gaza hospital would result in israeli. The grounds were attractiveshady and pleasant with lots of small tables with umbrellasand the people were nice, though our server did not seem particularly. Lebanons wine heritage dates back thousands of years. Aug 01, 2005 the wines of lebanon explores the history and culture of winemaking, as well as its exceptional flavors and varieties. At lebanon was a city called by the greeks ampeloessa, from the excellency of its wine, as grotius from pliny f6 observes. I then left journalism for corporate pr till 2012 when i more or less devoted my time to promoting lebanon and its wines. The lebanon wine making tradition dates back 5,000 years when the phoenicians, the ancient dwellers of lebanon, were tending vineyards, making wine and trading with other major cities long before the greeks and romans.

The wines of lebanon explores the history and culture of winemaking, as well as its exceptional flavors and varieties. Lebanon has a long history of wine making click here to find out more about what makes it such a great wine. When gaston hochar began making wine in 1930, the boundaries of lebanon had not been set, and he wanted to ensure that his premises would be inside the newly demarcated country. Currently making an impact on the international market, lebanese wines are the products of a rich tradition dating back 5,000 years. Tasting lebanese wines andrew jefford on the countrys. A section on the established winemakers in lebanon, such as ksara and kefraya. Lebanon was, of course, part of the biblical land of canaan.

The zawaq team the zawaq lebanese wine guide is the product of a partnership between the frenchlanguage monthly magazine le commerce du levant and tamyras publishing house. Apr 14, 2020 for the last decades, chateau musar has been a trailblazer for wines from the middle east and from lebanon in particular. The grapes used for chateau musar are grown in the bekaa valley, lebanon, which is nestled between two mountain ranges that run parallel with the mediterranean. Nov 07, 2017 lebanons most famous producer and the one best known in the states is chateau musar. Recent wines have failed to impress, but new owners have taken giants steps to remedy this.

Welcome to the wines of lebanon website brought to you by members of the union vinicole du liban uvl who have come together to fund a campaign to promote lebanese wines in the uk. Since then, chateau kefraya has established itself as a key winemaker in lebanon and abroad, becoming available nationwide in lebanon and exported to 35 countries worldwide. Currently creating a stir on the international market, lebanese wine is t. Michael ramzi karam born 1 may 1965 in london, england is a lebanese author, journalist, wine writer and communication consultant. It is a longoverdue tribute to one of the worlds oldest winemaking regions. Wines of lebanon explores the culture of winemaking and tells the gripping.

Lebanese wine a guide to the wines of lebanon voyageurs. This book is for people like myself, who are interested in stories. Frankly, the winemakers of lebanon have quite a story to tell. Here you can find all about lebanese wines in hk as well as event, dinners and new releases. Once the great floods subsided, noah is said to have planted the first vineyard. Lebanon wines, lebanon, lebanon wines decanter experts give their verdict, tasting notes and drinking windows on the best lebanon wines. Popular lebanon books meet your next favorite book. Unique blend of cabernet sauvignon, cinsault and carignan aged in french oak, behaves very much like a bordeaux.

Experience wines from one of the highest vineyards in the world at an altitude of1,800 m. The history of wine in the country begins with the domestication of vines by the phoenicians around 5,000 years ago, the civilisation who created the basis of our alphabet spread wine culture across the mediterranean and formed the. The book then won a gourmand award, so, as you can see, it all happened rather quickly. Nestled in the bekaa valley, chateau ksara is one of lebanons oldest and largest wine producers.

Founded by jesuit monks in 1857, the winery has a series of caves where wines are aged. Lebanese winemakers have favoured french grapes, particularly cabernet sauvignon, merlot and rhone varietals such as cinsaut, carignan and grenache. Vitis vinifera may have been domesticated in lebanon, although it probably arrived from the south caucasus via mesopotamia or the black sea trade routes. Bekaa valley, lebanon the standard bearer for the burgeoning wine industry of this ancient wine region. The regions modern wines, wineries and local heroes are profiled.

Featuring over 200 labels from nearly 40 wineries, including many previous vintages from the premium wines, the guide also encourages us to go out there and try wines from lesserknown lebanese producers. Michael karam and norbert schillers wines of lebanon saqi books won the prestigious gourmand world cookbook best book on new world wine 2005. The company operates a boeing 737700 and wet leases other aircrafts to serve its clients based on the type and needs of the operation. When one thinks of wine producing regions, seldom is lebanon at the top of the list. Gabriel sionita f7 assures us, that even to this day the wines of libanus are in good reputation. The wine making headquarters of chateau ksara, in bekaa, lebanon. Chateau musar is the label best known outside the lebanon and its bordeauxlike structure filled out with much. Aug 28, 2010 frankly, the winemakers of lebanon have quite a story to tell.

The only wines of which we have special notice belonged to syria these were the wine of helbon ezekiel 27. Reservation form when you visit us, we aim to fill your day with endless moments from entertaining learning activities to great food and wine. Chateau musar was the first producer in lebanon to achieve organic certification for its vineyards in 2006. Michael ramzi karam is a lebanese author, journalist, wine writer and communication. The contemporary historians make lebanon the birth place of wine with traces dating as far back as 7000 years b. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. Born in london in 1965, he was raised and educated in england. While the musar red has long commanded the highest price in their portfolio, a tasting of musars white. Above all, the book highlights the energy of lebanon s wine industry and reflects the increasing quality of the wines themselves. The regions modern wines, wineries and local heroes are profiled, complemented by a survey of bottle, label and equipment design. Despite a turbulent political history, during recent years wine in lebanon has flourished, says christina pickard, with the best producers balancing tradition and modernity with power and delicacy. Vines have been planted and harvested in this lebanese region for over 6000 years. The vineyards inside bekaa valley are on a plateau at meters of altitude.

Located near the lebanon green hence, the name, this was more of a backyard winery than a true commercial winery. Aug 31, 2005 buy the wines of lebanon by karam, michael, schiller, norbert isbn. Ixsirs vineyards culminate at an altitude of 1,800m, making them the highest in the northern hemisphere. Oct 02, 2017 lebanon is a middle eastern country with an ancient wine culture that has experienced a renaissance in the past few decades. Jumping to the middle ages 476 to 1453 ad, lebanese wine continued to be of high value for venice merchants, who sold it to the eager european buyers. Bekaa valley is lebanon s main wine growing region and could be wines birthplace. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Many people ask why chateau musars winery is more than a two and a half hour drive from the vineyards in the bekaa valley. Arak and mezze celebrates two of the levants cherished traditions. Michael karam knows how to draw them out and his tales are captivating. For profiles of all of these estates please see regional report. I was looking for a book on this specific subject and i was elated to find such a beautiful book. Domaine des tourelles is lebanons second oldest producer. Currently creating a stir on the international market, lebanese wine is the product of a rich heritage dating back 5,000 years.

Michael karam and norbert schillers wines of lebanon saqi books won the prestigious gourmand world cookbook best book on new world wine 2005 award. Vines grew readily in the land of canaan, the coastal strip of todays lebanon, and the wines of byblos gubla, gebal, jubail, jbeil were exported to egypt during the old kingdom 2686 bc24 bc. Vines grew readily in the land of canaan, the coastal strip of todays lebanon, and the wines of byblos were exported to egypt during the old kingdom 2686 bc24 bc. James hipwell tours the bekaa valley in search of a glass. Book signing of lebanese wines at librairie antoine from dec. I would like to think the book gives a comprehensive narrative of the wine industry from the start of the modern era, which most people accept as the 1850s and the beginnings of what would become chateau ksara, to the present day, and tells a story of lebanon that is more than just one of conflict and instability. After learning about the history of the vineyards from a video, visitors get a chance to explore the caves before heading to the tasting room to try the vintages. No other book introduces the ancient mecca of winemaking, lebanon, like this book. Find their customers, contact information, and details on 4 shipments. Lebanon elaborated with the same philosophy as the chateau musar and derived from old vines with low yield, the hochar pere et fils is a mix of cabernet sauvignon and of carignan with a dominance of cinsault and a hint of grenache. Youll also be able to enjoy some of the finest lebanese wines during th.

Despite ottoman domination, regional turmoil, civil conflict and religious intolerance, lebanon has consistently produced worldclass wines. The hochar familys philosophy of respect for the environment means that the 180 hectares of musar vineyards are managed with minimal human interference and all the wines are made naturally. In southern lebanon, the city of cana is believed to be where jesus turned water into wine. During the middle age, lebanon was famous in all europa for its sought after wines. Wink lorch is raising funds for wines of the french alps. No winemaker has fought harder for his wines than serge hochar. In 2011, roughly six million bottles of lebanese wine were produced from 2000 hectares 5000 acres of vineyards. The first occasion, in 1993, followed the end of the 19751990 civil war, when beirut was still in ruins and the old mercedes cars picked their way gingerly around the rubble. Lebanons burgeoning wine industry is under a much deserved spotlight with the second edition of michael karams lebanese wines. The latitudes of the lebanon on the eastern mediterranean coast may seem too low for highquality wine production, but the bekaa valley on an inland plateau as high as englands tallest mountains eases the temperatures considerably and can yield some very exciting red wines.

Mature cassis and plum fruit is nuanced with sandalwood and spice. Through the ancient port city of byblos, the wine was traded with greece, spain, italy rome, and carthage in northern africa, and. Michael karam and norbert schiller take us on a journey from the bekaa valley to the little vineyards of mount lebanon. The wines of lebanon come from vineyards that are planted mostly with french grape varieties, with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cinsaut, carignan and grenache amongst the most popular for reds, and chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, ugni blanc, semillon and colombard for whites. The countrys vineyards are concentrated mostly in the bekaa valley, home to such respected wineries as chateau musar, chateau ksara and. Grenache, cinsault, carignan, syrah cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sauvignon blanc, viognier the southern french grapes of grenache, cinsault, carignan, and syrah have traditionally been the most important for lebanese wine production. And though 47th in the worlds wine production, lebanon is far higher in quality. At once a wine guide and cultural history, this extensively illustrated book is a valuable reference for wine buffs, travellers and casual readers alike. Jesus changed water into wine there at the wedding of cana. Lebanon is also the setting for famous wine stories from the bible. Thousand years before christ, phoenicians were making wines in lebanon to export towards the great mediterranean civilizations like egypt. We run the campaign to promote wines from lebanon in the uk market. Lebanon has an ancient wine culture currently enjoying a minor renaissance.

Learn about the various lebanon wine regions with wine enthusiast magazines easy to use lebanon wine guide. Lebanon can well be considered one of the cradles of wine production, dating as far back as 5000 years with the ancient phoenicians. Michael karam, who in full disclosure contributes to the lebanon wine section in my annual pocket wine book, has succeeded in recruiting an intriguing bunch of. This is not a pedantic book for wine experts who are looking for detailed and technical exposes on lebanese wines. What today is known geographically as lebanon, was the original home of the phoenicians approximately 1550 to 300 bc, who were seafaring merchants and the first to trade wine as a commodity. It is partially aged in oak vats for over 6 months. Wings of lebanon is a privately held lebanese airline which holds a lebanese air operator certificate aoc.

A pleasure to read and to enjoy the professional photographs. We provide our customers the most efficient capacity management solution with trained and motivated staff and have successfully done so for various. Le commerce du levant published since 1929, le commerce du levant is the only french economic monthly in lebanon and the middle east. You can buy your own copy of chateau musar, the story of a wine icon by clicking here. Jan 25, 20 well organized and illustrated book replete with historical perspectives on known and less wellknown lebanese wines. Wines of lebanon tasted these notes accompany a indepth feature on lebanon. Oct 01, 2011 it kept producing worldclass wines throughout the civil war, earning it legendary status in the wine industry and making its owner, serge hochar, bacchuss corporeal equivalent in todays lebanon. Ive visited the lebanon three times in the last quarter century. The taste of lebanon is about lebanons national drink and what best to eat with it, was shortlisted for the. Jun 25, 2015 lebanon wines, lebanon, lebanon wines decanter experts give their verdict, tasting notes and drinking windows on the best lebanon wines. Join librairie antoine, beirut souks branch, for a book signing michel karam of his new edition of lebanese wines. His tomb is believed to be located around zahle, in eastern lebanon.