The Lebanese Wine Epic

Lebanon has been making wine for thousands of years. The Phoenicians traded it from Byblos, Sidon and Tyre, carrying their knowledge of viticulture west across the Mediterranean.

The Romans left the clearest monument to that history. The monument known as the Temple of Bacchus at Baalbek, in the Bekaa Valley, still stands as one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world.

Winemaking continued on a smaller scale through the Ottoman centuries, much of it within Lebanon’s monasteries.

The modern revival

In 1857, Jesuit monks planted French vines imported from Algeria on land between Tanail and Zahlé, helping establish Lebanon’s modern wine industry.

That French influence helps explain why many Lebanese reds begin with familiar grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan, Grenache and Mourvèdre, grown in conditions that give them a character of their own.

What altitude gives the wine

Most Lebanese vineyards are found in the Bekaa, a high plateau east of Beirut, held between two mountain ranges at approximately 1,000 metres above sea level.

The summers are hot and dry, but the temperature falls sharply overnight. Those cooler nights allow the grapes to ripen fully while retaining the acidity that keeps the wines fresh and balanced.

On the list at Sahtein

Sahtein’s wine list is led by Lebanon, with the Bekaa responsible for many of the bottles.

The reds offer an easy introduction, with familiar varieties shaped by a different place. The Mariami blend takes the discovery further, bringing a grape from the region to the table.

Ask our team to guide you through the Lebanese wine list. Reserve your table at Sahtein via link above.

Sahtein practises the responsible service of alcohol. Drink responsibly.