When you think of the top wine producing regions in the world, Lebanon most likely isn’t a part of that list. However; the fact that the country can even produce wine in such a place so torn apart by war, is nothing short of an absolute miracle!
Believe it or not, Lebanon is actually one of the oldest sites of wine production in the world! Winemaking is thought to go back about 6000 years!
There are two kilometers of Roman passages running underneath Chateau Ksara, which they actually use as the winery’s cellar. How resourceful!
Lebanese wine is most commonly associated with Château Musar, unquestionably the most famous winery in the country.
Chateau Ksara is the country’s oldest winery, and celebrated its 150th birthday in 2007! Everything was going swimmingly for Chateau Ksara up until 1975 when civil war in the country broke out. The winery didn’t fully recover until the early 90’s.
I just re-read this post, and realize it has more exclamation marks than any other wine I have ever reviewed!!!! Crazy!!!!
Place (click map for larger view)
Chateau Ksara’s vineyards are located in the Bekaa (or Beqaa) Valley, the most famous growing region in Lebanon. At least that’s a plus if you’re trying to learn about Lebanese wine! There’s really only one region!
The Bekaa enjoys a Mediterranean climate, and has over 300 days of sunshine a year. Irrigation comes in the form of snow-melt from the nearby mountain ranges.
It’s unknown how many acres of vines are even planted in the country, but it’s thought to be around 2,000-2,500 acres.
It’s not just wine growing that takes place in the the Bekaa Valley. No Sir! Growing cannabis is proving to be irresistible for some farmers! This considering that 3,000 lbs of cannabis will net them around $2,300, compared to $185 for the same quantity of wheat. Which would you choose?
Taste
Almost a yeast and lemon curd aroma on the nose, with some orange blossom hiding. Certainly different from anything I have ever tasted before. Puckery citrus, sour green apple, and dried apricots leave your mouth watering. Hazelnuts are also in there, leading me to believe that this wine has seen a small amount of oak contact. Wet stone and mineral. Medium, delicate finish.
Pairing
Just pair it like you would with any of the multitude of other Lebanese wines you’ve tasted in your life! Oh, that’s right……you haven’t tried any others…….(truth be told, I’ve only actually tasted 2 before this one)! Hmmm, well, I would say creamy mushroom risotto or roasted chicken in a white wine sauce, would be perfect. You could however go the other direction, and go with something spicy in the form of curry, since the alcohol is kept in a reasonable check at 12.5%.
CapitalGazette.com writes: Have you ever found a recipe you like that tells you to buy a specific wine to complement it? And you can’t find it? Join the crowd of countless people who have visited every wine store in their communities in search of some obscure wine recommended at the end of a recipe. People can obsess over choosing the right wine to serve to company, and that is largely a result of cookbook authors…
