Wine from the Lebanese Bekaa Valley

The Bekaa Valley is the most important wine region of Lebanon, both qualitatively and quantitatively. This was also the case at the time of the Phoenicians, more than 1500 BC. This fertile valley was considered by them to be extremely suitable for wine growing.

The relatively wide valley lies between the mountain ranges of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and the Lebanon Mountains, which run from north to south. The terroir is ideal for agriculture and, in particular, for viticulture. In contrast to the rest of Lebanon, where it can be hot and dry, the climate here is temperate. The summers are dry, the evenings cool and the amount of rain ensures optimum stress for the vines. The grapes can develop slowly. The plateaus and slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with vines up to a height of 1,000 metres. In addition, the diversity of soil types, from slate, loam to gravel, with a few flecks of terra rossa, is suitable for different types of grapes.

The French have clearly left their mark on viticulture. The common grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan, Merlot and southern French varieties such as Syrah and Arinarnoa bear witness to this. Moreover, the style of Lebanese wines is often compared to red Bordeaux. Although with more punch and maturity; often also due to long wood maturation. White wines are in the range of fresh and fruity to intensely oxidative.