Regulating Lebanon’s grapes

Winemaking is a rapidly growing industry in Lebanon. Fifteen years ago we only had a handful of wineries to speak of; today the country boasts 42 wineries, according to oenologue and Les Caves De Taillevent General Manager Paul Choueiry. The industry as a whole produces approximately 8 million bottles (an estimate of the Union Vinicole du Liban (UVL) since there are no exact figures), more than half of which are exported to over 40 countries across the globe. In fact, jewelry and wine are the only two Lebanese products for which the balance of trade is positive, according to Hady Kahale, general manager of Ixsir. With such growth and global distribution come serious concerns about the regulation of the sector as well as the positioning of Lebanese wine abroad. A good and bad year Harsh weather in 2015 – including unusually low temperatures until April, a dust storm and heatwave