Lebanese wine tradition dates back 5,000 years, when the ancient inhabitants of Lebanon, the Phoenicians, first began tending vineyards. The Phoenicians exported wine to ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece and Carthage; introducing the world to viticulture and oenology. Chateau Ksara has preserved Lebanon’s rich wine making heritage for over 150 years, laying down the foundation for Lebanon’s modern wine making industry. Founded in 1857 by Jesuit Priests who produced the country’s first dry red wine, Chateau Ksara is Lebanon’s oldest, largest and most visited winery, attracting some 40,000 visitors per year. As Lebanese vintners increasingly attract international acclaim, and wine tourism begins to flourish, Chateau Ksara leads the wine making industry with its respect for tradition and commitment to modernity.
Grape Varietals: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
Picked in cases and pressed pneumatically as whole grapes, sedimentation and fermentation are done at a low temperature (18°C). When the sugars are exhausted, the wine is racked off and sulphured to prevent malolactic fermentation. The various wines are matured for several months in French oak casks, before being blended, stabilized and bottled.
This wine seduces with its finesse, elegance and floral aroma. This medium straw-colored wine has a nose of pineapple and grapefruit. It is smooth, with flavors of pineapple, passion fruit and vanilla bean and a lingering tropical fruit finish.
Food pairing: This wine can be served as an aperitif or with delicate fresh fish and shellfish.