Last month saw Vinifest, Lebanon’s first wine festival, held at the marina in the St Georges bay. The four day event, which included live music, brought together almost all of Lebanon’s wine producers (the only absentees being Massaya and Heritage), many of whom were initially skeptical of the concept. “We didn’t think that many people would be prepared to pay the $10 entry,” said Natalie Touma of Clos St Thomas. “Happily, I was proved wrong. We were packed every night. Fadi Gerges of Clos de Cana, who brought along a cart full of grapes and three young ladies to tread them, was also encouraged by the reaction of the public. “We did very well. It was very exciting. People tasted my wines and then called over to their friends to come and try it. I even took orders.”
The festival is a much-needed boost for Lebanon’s $27 million wine sector. Filled with promise only a few years ago, it has seen its wine tourism initiative sink without a trace and the prestigious OIV congress, initially earmarked for Beirut in 2005, cancelled. Contributing to the sector’s stuttering progress is apparent never ending delay in the establishment of a national wine institute, which is essential for the regulation of sector that can be prone to abuse.
Overall, however, the performance graph is nudging upwards. Lebanese wines are winning more and more plaudits abroad and Ramzi Ghosn of Massaya, which was not present at Vinifest, believes the industry should have more vision to capitalize on these successes. “As a wine party, I hear it [Vinifest] was a success, but we should be looking to hold bigger, more adventurous festivals to attract the international buyers and high-profile wine writers. Then we can say we have a wine festival.”
