Wines of Lebanon
Parts are copyright - Official General Tourism Guide - Ways Group Publication)

Château Fakra

Fakra T and I was founded in 1985 by Dr. Carlos Guillermo Adem, however Chateau Fakra's roots date back 300 years to a family-owned distillery located in Kfardebian in the very heart of Mount Lebanon, and whose members were consults of France and Venice. The site of Fakra possesses a long noble history reaching back to the Phoenicians and the Roman Empire.

Traditional know-how, modern equipment and continuous research combine to make "Arak Fakra" and "Chateau Fakra" wines unique products on both the local and international markets.

The exceptional characteristics of "Chateau Fakra" wines and their growing markets are major contributors to the Lebanese wine-exports worldwide, while maintaining their quality and prestigious standing.

The variety of Chateau Fakra's Red, White and Rosé wines owe their particularity to the combination of the soils of fertile Bekaa valley and Mount-Lebanon.

Apart from the exceptional characteristics of soil and climate our wines uniqueness is due to a professional viti-oeno follow-up of our vineyards, to the latest vinification equipment and techniques and to ageing in French and American new oak barrels.

Chateau Fakra took part with success in major international wine events, allowing it to gain an unmatched recognition and brilliant rewards (Gold, Silver and Bronze medals as well as International Seals of Quality) by professional panels of judges, thus confirming the Excellency of "Chateau Fakra" wines perfectly suited to an international class of connoisseurs.

Château Kefraya – Un Terroir, Une Ame, Un Grand Vin

History and Foundation of Kefraya

Château Kefraya lies in the heart of the Bekaa Valley, lining the steep terraces of Mount Barouk. The Bekaa Valley's impeccable climate includes 300 days of sunshine and some 1200mm of average annual rainfall. Along with the Valley's fertile soil and slope of terrain, the area's components make it ideal for grape cultivation. Surrounded by over three hundred hectares of vineyards, Chateau Kefraya's stately home is nestled between the beautiful and luscious cypress and cedar trees on a site that ranges from 900 to 1100 meters on clay-chalk soil.

The chateau's first vineyards were planted as far back as the 1950's and more than a quarter of a century; the vineyards have been yielding flawless wines, making their first appearance in the Lebanese market in 1979.

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. Although 70% of Chateau Kefraya's wines are red, the estate has been producing white, rosé, sweet wines and Arak for many years now.

The red wines, created from five varieties of grapes, provide a unique taste and a complex aromatic bouquet that is ever-changing with the aging of the respective labels and vintages.

Since its establishment as a premier wine producer in Lebanon, Chateau Kefraya has gained international praise from Europe, North America, and Asia. To create the most perfect blend of flavors and tastes, Chateau Kefraya's founder, President and Chairman, Mr. Michel de Bustros, has brought to Kefraya the classical and noble French vines Cabernet-Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah.

Le Relais Dionysos

Within the chateau grounds, Le Relais Dionysos restaurant was opened in 1999 in order to create a perfect and serene atmosphere in which to savor the excellence of Chateau Kefraya wine. Less than one hour from Beirut, Le Relais Dionysos offers a large variety of exquisite cuisine, with the addition of wine recommendations for every single item on the menu at very preferential rates. With a vista of the surrounding parks, the restaurant also has an exceptional showroom, where customers can visit and view the various wines on display.

Creating the perfect ending to a tour of the chateau's formidable grounds, cellars and parks, Le Relais Dionysos is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner to serve you an array of Lebanese and international culinary delights from appetizers to desserts.

Château Ksara

Wine in Lebanon has a history that reaches back thousands of years. Over 4000 years ago, the Phoenicians sold Lebanese wine through-out the Mediterranean region, and they were credited with having introduced the flavorful nectar into the Spanish and Italian markets. Barrels of wine were shipped out from the thriving ports of Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos to many destinations, including Egypt during the reign of the Pharaohs.

The superior quality of Lebanese wines – then and now – is due to the fertile soil of the Bekaa Valley. The valley's exceptional climate and the richness of its earth provide an ideal breeding ground for various types of grapes.

The grapes grown during the Phoenician era – such as Marami and Baytamouni – no longer exist. They have been replaced by French varieties such as Syrah, Chardonnay, and Cabernet-Sauvignon, which are universal and used around the world for grape cultivation.

In the last 10 years, the amount of wine produced in Lebanon has more than doubled, and Lebanese wine is becoming famous far beyond the Mediterranean basin. The oldest winery in Lebanon that's still in operation today is Chateau Ksara.

Chateau Ksara estate lies in the heart of the Bekaa Valley, close to ancient Baalbeck and lively Zahle. The name comes from ksar (or fortress) because the current winery was the site of a fortress during the Crusader era. The property was acquired by Jesuit fathers in 1857, when it already was a famous vineyard, and the Jesuits kept up the noble winemaking tradition. The Jesuits introduced new varieties of high-quality vines into Lebanon that thrived thanks the Bekaa's ideal climate.

The natural caves that lie directly under Chateau Ksara estate serve as the place's wine cellar. The temperature inside the caves – between 11 and 13 degrees centigrade – is ideal for storing wine. The caves were originally discovered by the Romans, who dug several tunnels outward from the caves. These tunnels were later enlarged during World War I, when the Jesuit fathers employed 100 men to dig out the caves and complete an underground network of for almost 2 kilometers. The Jesuit fathers sold Chateau Ksara to its present owners in conformity with the directives of the Vatican II synod.

Le Souverain

Grapes Varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Arinarnoa. A dense deep purple red robe. with a remarkable bouquet of dark wild berries, and an under living of licorice, fenugreek and carob, accompanied by a highly complex olfactory range. Should be opened and left to an hour before serving.

Cuvée du Troisième Millenaire

Grapes Varietals: Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah Full bodied and long keeping red wine issued out of selected grapes from the best vineyards. Dense and deep purple red robe, it has a fruity and subtle nose of raspberry and black current with a vanilla character. Numerous layers of aroma and flavour create great complexity….
And many other in Wine range….

Château Musar

Founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar. Chateau Musar started out and remains a family concern. The stunning castle dates back to the XVIII century and houses impressive caves that can hold more than one million bottles.

Chateau Musar is currently run by Gaston's sons, Serge and Ronald. Serge, the eldest, driven by his passion for wine is largely responsible for the world wild recognition of the vintages of Chateau Musar. His brother Ronald handles the marketing and financial aspects of the business.

The Chateau Musar vineyards are located at 1,000 meters above sea level, in the fertile Bekaa Valley, whose sweeping plains lie between the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges. The Bekaa Valley enjoys an exceptional climate, with long, temperate summers, rainy winters and average temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius – ideal conditions to grow grapes. A portion of the vineyards, mostly those that produce white grapes, are located in the Mount Lebanon mountain range, giving Chateau Musar's white wines their own distinct flavor.

Chateau Musar's fine wines include the Chateau Musar selection. Available in red, white and rose, this traditional wine is full-bodied and carry great finesse.

Hochar Père et Fils, also available in red, white and rosé, has the same philosophy of wine making than Chateau Musar but with an other approach to taste. It is the taste of the wines of tomorrow.

The Musar Cuvée wines, which also come in appealing red, white and rosé hues, are lighter than other Chateau Musar wines and should be enjoyed immediately. This wine is ideal for Lebanon's congenial Mediterranean clime and rich, flavorful cuisine.

A dynamic red wine, Rubis is mainly produced from the cabernet sauvignon grape variety: fruity and tannic, it is an ideal dinner companion.

In addition to a sophisticated selection of wines, Chateau Musar also produces two superlative types of arak, the traditional Lebanese drink made from aniseed. The first
Arack Vieille Reserve, is the traditional arak, distilled three times before bottling. The other, Arack de Musar, is distilled four times and offers a soft, lingering taste. Both araks are aged for 12 months in amphoras.

Château Nakad

The story of Château Nakad is first and foremost that of a family, of three generations of winemakers from the Bekaa Valley who received the passion of soil, wine and grapes as an inheritance.

In 1923, during the Mandate, Joseph Nakad started treating the French contingent with his fresh and lively wines, lifting the spirits of the troops.

Then, his son Salim took over the business and developed it, until it became one of the leading enterprises in the world of Lebanese wines.

Today, the grandchildren of Joseph, guided by their father Salim, are ensuring the prosperity of the domaine, making it a reference both in the country and on the international wine market.

The winery is located in the village of Jdita/Chtaura, in the Bekaa Valley, near the most fertile farmlands of the region. More importantly, it is built on the remains of wine cellars dating back to the Bronze Age.

The Nakad family currently produces three red wines (the Château, the Prestige and the Rouge Nakad), one Rosé, one Blanc de Blancs, one sweet wine and the Lebanese traditional anisette, Arack As-Samir. Another outstanding recent creation is the Afandello, artisanal liquor.

Domaine des Tourelles
Pierre L. Brun s.a.r.l. Producteur au Liban depuis I 868

When Francois-Eugène Brun laid the foundation stone of Domaine des Tourelles in Chtaura back in 1868, he couldn't have known that he had just begun to write the marvellous story of Lebanese wine.

Pioneer of what was to become one of the greatest ambassadors of the land of the Cedars, the heart of Domaine des Tourelles hasn't ceased to beat to the rhythm of the celebrated vintages of the Bekaa valley's exceptional soil.

History

Francois-Eugène Brun was born in Chézery (Ain – France). This young military engineer left his village for Marseille where he settled. Then, when hired by an Ottoman company in charge of building the Beirut-Damascus road, Francois-Eugène came to Lebanon and settled in a village called Chtaura in the Bekaa Valley. Captivated by the plain's touching charm and green landscape that reminded him of his homeland, he founded, in 1868, the Domaine des Tourelles which became the first commercial cellar in Lebanon producing wines, arak (Lebanon's traditional alcoholic beverage) and other spirits. Soon after, the distillery prospered and flourished with high demands on the cellar's products. Brun's passion for wine lead his reputation beyond Lebanon as Domaine des Tourelles won, as of the 19th century, gold, silver and bronze medals in prestigious international wine contests.

Carrying on the ancestral tradition, Francois-Eugene Brun's descendants preserved, in turn, the traditional aspect lying beneath the quality of the property's products. The last of them all, Pierre Louis Brun (third generation) died in 2000. Domaine des Tourelles was then bought by Nayla Kanaan Issa-el-Khoury and Elie F. Issa. The new owners closely preserved the golden rule launched more than a century ago: true to its exceptional history, Domaine des Tourelles continues to display a unique quality and refinement, having elevated Lebanon's name as much by its wine as by its prestigious Arak Brun.

Nothing but a visit to its yellow stone and cedar wood cellars can begin to unravel the mystery of this age-old estate.