After the success of the Lebanese Wine Days around the world, it was the time for the Lebanese Wine Day, organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, to go to New York. Astor Center in New York City was the destination for 26 of Lebanon’s top wineries. As you stepped in, you could not but be fully embraced with the historical smell of story-telling extract which resonated around the hall and told a million stories of a forever-cherished country.
The 26 participating wineries were: ADYAR Wines, Atibaia, Aurora Winery, Batroun Mountains, Cave Kouroum, Château Barka, Château Belle-Vue, Château Fakra, Château Heritage, Château Ka, Château Kefraya, Château Khoury, Château Ksara, Château Marsyas, Château Musar, Château Nakad, Château Oumsiyat, Château Qanafar, Château Sanctus, Château St Thomas, Domaine de Baal, Domaine Cortbawi, Domaine des Tourelles, Domaine Wardy, IXSIR, Karam Wines.
It was the best occasion to present Lebanese wines to the attendees, the Lebanese wine producing regions, from the Bekaa Valley in the east, passing by Mount Lebanon regions to Batroun in the north.
Following the press conference, a walk-around tasting was held, where more than 250 sommeliers, wine distributors, wine connoisseurs, restaurants owners, and media representatives, as well as delegates from a number of embassies and the Lebanese diaspora were invited. It let them discover, explore, and taste the wines of Lebanon. The attendees enjoyed the exciting varieties that Lebanese terroir embraces, including the indigenous and ancient Obeideh and Merweh as well as other grapes that shape our natural environment.
“The attendees enjoyed the exciting varieties that Lebanese terroir embraces, including the indigenous and ancient Obeideh and Merweh as well as other grapes that shape our natural environment.”
The wine tasting was followed by two master classes: “A History of Lebanese Wine” presented by Christy Canterbury, Master of Wine. Canterbury is also a journalist and a judge who is internationally renowned. She presented and analysed the most famous products of 13 wineries in each of the sessions. Attendees enjoyed learning the history of the Lebanese wine making in a country where the sun shines almost every day.
By organizing such international events, the Ministry of Agriculture and all the participating wineries aimed to take the Lebanese wine as far as they could. By traveling with the Lebanese wine to the international arena, wine producers get to introduce their brands into the foreign markets. Such events provide a platform for local producers to network with potential US distributors and traders which paves the way for new and prosperous business opportunities thus more chances to penetrate into international markets and compete with other international brands. This event granted representatives of all the participating wineries the chance to connect and network with key people in the U. S. and North America.
The story of Lebanese wines is a reflection of the story of Lebanon. They are produced in a very small country. Wine producers struggled hard to safeguard the existence of their wineries throughout the history. Lebanese wines still exist; they are growing fast, and increasing in numbers each year, soaring high with quality at every level. This gives them the chance to compete with international brands and to conquer new foreign markets. It is a story of resurrection.
Wines of Lebanon are a crucial part of the international heritage that we seek to offer to the world and it best shapes our identity as Lebanese.
The success of the Lebanese Wine Day in NYC is an open invitation to Lebanese authorities to keep on supporting this very promising sector. It is also an invitation to Lebanese wine makers to keep having faith in the wealth hidden within their grapes.
