| In biblical times, the fame of the wines of | | | | develop better wines that catered to different |
| Lebanon was widespread. The ambrosial nectar | | | | and more cosmopolitan tastes. |
| from the lush and vast vineyards in the fertile | | | | The country produces some 6 million bottles of |
| valleys was much prized and praised. In Hosea | | | | wine yearly. By quantity standards, this number is |
| 14:7, the words of the Lord pronounced that men | | | | small compared to other premiere wine-producing |
| who walked in righteousness ". . .will grow like | | | | countries. But the Lebanese can boast of the |
| grain. They will blossom like grapevines. They will | | | | quality of their wines, and the wine industry of |
| be famous as the wines from Lebanon." | | | | the country is a fast growing one with 16 wine |
| The Ancient Vineyards | | | | producers offering the best from their vineyards. |
| Five thousand years ago, Lebanon was already | | | | The prominent wine producers are Musar, |
| into wine making long before the Greeks and the | | | | Kefraya, and Châteaux Ksara. These |
| Romans. For the ancient Lebanese people, wine | | | | companies have the distinction of winning |
| was part of every meal and the highlight of | | | | competitions and their wines are exported to |
| every festive family event. | | | | North American and Europe. Their wines also find |
| It was during a wedding in Cana that Jesus | | | | their way to nearby eastern communities. |
| performed his first miracle; upon the prodding of | | | | The wines survived a troubled past of wars and |
| his mother, he changed water into wine during a | | | | civil unrest. The Chateau Musar started in 1931 is |
| wedding feast. The significance of this miracle is | | | | one of the old wines still produced and was lapped |
| not lost on the Christian world or to the imbibers | | | | by a drinking public that loved how the wine was |
| and connoisseurs of fine wines. The miracle still | | | | adulterated with foreign grapes. This wine is only |
| lives - Lebanon wines are still the best you can | | | | marketed after six years of aging in huge oak |
| find. | | | | barrels. |
| The Phoenicians, the ancestors of the | | | | Another old wine producer is the Vin Nakad, which |
| present-day Lebanese, sailed the seas to sell their | | | | produces the favorite Chateau 2000, a full-bodied |
| wines. Those who settled in certain areas | | | | wine that has notes of fruit and corn. The |
| established vineyards and perfected the technique | | | | Chateau 2002 from another wine producer Nabise |
| of fermenting grapes, making their wines the | | | | Mont Liban has notes of musk and framboise and |
| finest in the ancient world. | | | | a touch of vanilla. |
| Before the sun could bathe the valley with light, | | | | The Massaya, one of the newer Lebanon |
| the field workers hied to the vineyards of | | | | wineries, was put up in 1998. Among its offerings |
| Baalbeck Valley to harvest the grapes. The | | | | are the Massaya "Reserve" red 2000 (a spicy and |
| grapes were later pressed to a liquid and aged in | | | | fruity wine), the Massaya Classic Rose 2001 with |
| large wine vats, subsequently sold to nearby | | | | its hint of fruity sweetness and herbs, and the |
| countries and lands across the seas. | | | | fruity Massaya Selection Blanc de Blancs 2001 |
| Lebanon's Wine Industry | | | | Bekaa. |
| Is it coincidence or accident that the French | | | | Wine will always be part of the Lebanese culture |
| occupied Lebanon? France brought along new | | | | today and in the future. Nations may rise and fall, |
| farming technology and wine making techniques. | | | | but friendships will always be sealed with a toast |
| But it was only in 1837 that the wine industry | | | | and a quaff of sparkling wine. So drink your |
| was modernized. This helped the local vintners | | | | Lebanese wine with gusto. |