Author: Dirk Chan
Chateau Ksara is the oldest winery in Lebannon. Located in the Bekaa Valley, it is an hour’s drive SE of Beirut. The region has a semi-continental hot climate where winters are cold with moderate rainfall while the summers are hot and dry. All of Ksara’s vineyards are in the Bekaa Valley at an average altitude of 1000 meters.
Named after the ‘ksar’ or ‘fortress’, there is the Middle East’s first Observatory (with their white wine named after it) on site so that the Jesuit monks could record rainfall and seismic activity. There is also a Bell Tower (Le Prieure) which has a red wine named after it, being one of the estate’s most prominent monuments. The underground Roman caves are another stately feature of the estate.
The Blanc de L’Observatoire is made up of Clairette, Muscat and Sauvignon Blanc while the Le Prieure is made from Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Caladoc (a genetic blending of Grenache and Malbec). Both can pair deliciously with grilled fish/seafood or grilled red meats.
Pictured left to right:
2022 Château Ksara Blanc de L’Observatoire (Lebanon) – $24.99