It was a busy month for Lebanon’s wine producers, six of whom – Chateaux Musar, Kefraya, Ksara, Clos St Thomas, Massaya and Cave Kouroum exhibited at the biannual Vin Expo in Bordeaux, arguably the world’s premier wine fair. Back in Lebanon, July 27 saw the committee of the Union Vinicole du Liban (UVL) elect a new committee, one that for the first time represents all producers. Elsewhere, the advent of new EU export regulations is expected fast track the establishment of the much-needed and long-awaited National Wine Institute. The implications for the sector are significant. “Export is the future,” said Charles Ghostine, Managing Director of Chateau Ksara. “If we want to achieve better prices, we need a regulatory framework to underpin confidence.”
At Vin Expo, Chateau Kefraya, which took the opportunity to show the greater wine world its new premium white Casta Diva also, according to marketing manager Emile Majdalani, made exciting in roads in penetrating the non-Lebanese on trade in France as well as stirring up interest among buyers from the Russian and Scandinavian markets. “These contacts were more concrete than during the past exhibitions and offered the possibility to finally initiate an extension of our distribution to the entire French market,” he said
Massaya, which for the time being at least is not part of the UVL, exhibited with its French partners the Brunier brothers from Chateau Vieux-Telegraph and Californian maverick wine producer Boony Doon.
The three-nation alliance reportedly caused much interest, being as it was a departure from the usual generic national or regional stand. “We got all the interest,” said Massaya’s Ramzi Ghosn. “The others were all know producers. and more importantly our quality was endorsed by being on the same stand as the French and Californians. The wine industry is very conservative and such alliances are not common.”
Elsewhere, Cave Kouroum seems to have emerged from its legal battle with neighboring Chateau Kefraya and established itself as one of Lebanon’s most adventurous producers. At Vin Expo, the winery in the heart of the village of Kefraya, won seven awards including, two golds.
