The wines of Les Celliers de Meknes

Les Celliers de Meknes is Morocco's most important winery. They have made wine since 1956 and have left an important mark on Moroccan winegrowing. They now have about 700 hectares of vineyards and make millions of bottles of wine a year. Les Celliers de Meknes was the driving force behind the introduction of Morocco's first appellation: AOC Les Coteaux de l'Atlas.

The name says it all: the vineyards lie near the Moroccan city of Meknes. That's where the winery's founder, Brahim Zniber, started making wine in 1956. He became the leading pioneer of Moroccan winegrowing, and his family is still 'in charge' today. In 2000 the Zniber family built their own château: Chateau Roslane - a château in the French style, but with a Moroccan flair, with its own boutique hotel and a splendid view over the vineyards. If you're still looking for a nice address in Morocco, it's a great recommendation.

Beneath the château are the wine cellars, with the most modern equipment and considerable capacity. The winery makes several 'lines'. The 'Ksar Bahia' line is the simplest. Domaine Riad Jamil is the mid-range line. The Chateau Roslane wines are Les Celliers de Meknes's flagship.

Les Celliers de Meknes has always been oriented toward France. The grapes planted (originally) come from France. For white wines they mainly use Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The red wines are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carignan, Grenache and Syrah. The wines likewise have a French style, although the Moroccan terroir is of course a bit warmer than in France.

If you want to know more about this winery, here you will find the link to the website of Les Celliers de Meknes.