It’s all in the grape

This article is part of an Executive special report on beer, wine and arak. Read more stories as they’re published here, or pick up October’s issue at newsstands in Lebanon. September was a busy month for Lebanon. From the Bekaa Valley to the hills of Batroun, from the mountains of the Chouf to Jezzine in the South, vineyards were abuzz with those harvesting grapes for this year’s wine vintages. Wine making in Lebanon is enjoying a steady growth, with over 30 new wineries launched since 2000. This rapid growth and recognition at both the local and international levels — as many wineries export more than they distribute locally — has not been struggle-free for Lebanon’s wine producers and while this expansion is certainly welcome, it also presents risks. A brief background Wine production is part of Lebanon’s history, with many believing that Qana in South Lebanon is the setting of Jesus’