THURSTQUEEN WORLD TOUR: LEBANON

I’ve been fortunate enough to have more than a few bottles of Lebanese wine this year, and I can honestly tell you — each time, I’ve been nothing short of dazzled.

For those of you who follow this blog on the regular, you’re probably well aware of how I feel about the Wine Industry only focusing on Euro-Centric regions and ignoring all the other gems around the world.

I care about this because I’ve always had a thing for amplifying all things underrepresented. Maybe it’s because I’ve always felt like an outsider. My family will probably tell you it’s because I have a problem with authority, but all that aside, it’s important to think for yourself when you purchase a wine, and not let the “tastemakers” who rate wines based on points be the people who decide what goes into your glass.

Chances are, these “tastemakers,” will largely focus on really expensive European wines or wines from certain places in Northern California that rhyme with “Shmapa,” that can only get purchased by a privileged few.

A lot of the time underrepresented regions like Lebanon are largely ignored by these “tastemakers,” and hungry for exposure in the U.S. marketplace. I know this because my first job within the industry was introducing Los Angeles to wines from Mexico, and a lot of these wineries were willing to lower their prices to be introduced to the US market and compete. Because they want visibility, the dollar to value ratio will be significantly higher than, say, a Cabernet from those Shmapa Valley producers that are owned by billionaires just trying to take your money.

So let’s take a second to talk about Lebanon, a wine producing country that is starting to become a secret superstar among Sommeliers in the United States, and why you need to start drinking wines from this region. You’ll save money, and be nothing short of impressed, trust me.

THE HISTORY OF LEBANESE WINE

Lebanon is one of the oldest wine regions in the world, and archaeological digs suggest that vines were being cultivated in this country 5,000 years ago.

The first modern wineries were founded 150 years ago, by the Jesuit Monks who planted the first grapes in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon’s premier region. Lebanese wine production was influenced heavily by the French, and heavy hitting estates like Domaine des Tourelles were created by a French engineer, Eugene Brun. In 1940, Lebanon’s most famous winery, Château Musar was founded, and Lebanese wines got a reputation for having a distinctively French sensibility.

In the modern age, Lebanon has experienced more than its fair share of setbacks. Wars with neighboring countries like Israel, a collapsing economy, civil unrest, and the major explosion that decimated Beirut in 2020 have proven that Lebanese wine production is nothing short of miraculous. It’s a true testament to the resilience of its people.

WHAT KIND OF WINES SHOULD I BUY FROM LEBANON?

If you’re a fan of richer, spicier red wines and slightly saline, mineral-driven whites with a little bit of heft to them, I suggest giving Lebanese wines a shot. Rhône-lovers, Paso Robles fans, and folks who love big red Italian wines will absolutely love Lebanon.

The white wines from Lebanon - at least the ones I’ve tried -are zesty, yet weighty. They’ve got plenty of minerality and some herbaeousness, making them really appeal to white Rhône or Chardonnay fans.

THE MAJOR GRAPES IN LEBANON

Lebanon is known for cultivating French grapes, and because there are no restrictive viticultural laws, you’ll see blends with Cabernet (a Bordeaux varietal) and Syrah (a Rhône varietal.) This is great, because the winemakers in this country get to play with their blends and be creative.

As for indigenous grapes, there are three you should know. Obiadeh, Merwah, and Sabbaghieh. Obiadeh and Merwah are two white grapes. Obiadeh is high in sugar, and this creamy, textured wine is typically used for sweet wines. Merwah is related to Sémillon and often used for drier, and more floral wines. Sabbaghieh is the only red wine, and it’s typically used for coloring. Sabbaghieh is known for red fruit and vegetal aromas, and it’s typically blended in with Cabernet Sauvignon.

THE MAJOR WINE REGIONS OF LEBANON

There are two major wine regions in Lebanon, making the country fairly straightforward to understand. With all that in mind, I’m pretty sure much is to be discovered about this country. As for now, let’s chat these regions below:

THE BEKAA VALLEY

The Bekaa Valley produces more than 90% of all the wine made in Lebanon. And in all honesty, it’s most likely the region you’ll encounter when purchasing Lebanese Wine in the United States.

With a Mediterranean climate, dry summers and cold nights, the Bekka Valley is perfect for cultivating French varietals, especially Rhône ones. The vines are often planted at higher altitudes, like 1,000 meters above sea level, and the mountains of the Bekaa Valley are great for moderating the climate here.

The soil is limestone, which lends a sharp mineral quality to the wines and is perfect for growing Merwah and Obideh.

In the Bekaa Valley, you’ll find more than your fare share of French grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cinsault, Carignan and Grenache.

BATROUN

Batroun is a coastal region located about an hour north of Beirut. The vines are kept cool by the coastal breezes, and many vineyards grow in high altitude vineyards about 1300 meters above sea level.

The climate is extremely hot, I’m talking 300 days of sun a year. The rocky soil typically is made up of clay interspersed with limestone, making it quite difficult for winemakers who grow vines in the area.

Because of these factors, a lot of stress is put on the vines, yielding heavily concentrated, spicy red wines and citrusy, floral whites.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Domaine des Tourelles Valle de la Bekaa - Liban $16.99 @ K&L Wines

This wine by Domaine des Tourelles is a red blend composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Syrah, and Carignan. This wine is super fruity, with loads of maraschino cherry characteristics, pepper, and bacon fat aromas. It’s the ultimate weeknight red, and is super plump and friendly.

Domaine des Tourelles has quite the history behind it. This estate was one of the first to be founded in Lebanon in 1868. The property has some of the highest elevation and all the wines are made with minimal intervention. That means they only use chemicals when absolutely necessary. The wine was fermented in concrete, making it pure, bright and fresh.

The Domaine des Tourelles Red Blend is honestly the quintessential weeknight red, and would play well with spicier cuisines ranging from Moroccan to Malaysian food.