Lebanese wine masterclass

We've uploaded clips from the recent London Wine Fair, where we held a Discover Lebanon Masterclass, on our You Tube Channel which you can see here http://www.youtube.com/user/WinesofLebanon

There is a clip of each of the 8 wines presented by Tim Atkin MW, as well as an overview of the history of wine production by Michael Karam:

"Lebanon's on the verge of something..."

... says Adam Lechmere after meeting producers at the London Wine Fair last week..

Read what he thinks about Lebanese wines on his blog.

It's been great to read feedback from the Fair.  A number of other bloggers have posted their thoughts on the wines they tasted at our stand.  Phil Innes from Sloshbox's views are here and Early Bird Wine News reported that their post on Lebanese wines received the most page views ever!  And Lebanese wine expert Michael Karam's thoughts on the Fair are here.

Exciting times...

Fun at the Fair

Phew it's been a busy week for Lebanese wineries! 

Eight came together for the first ever Wines of Lebanon stand at the London Wine Fair last week and there was a huge amount of interest.  We also had a Masterclass with Tim Atkin and Lebanese wine expert Michael Karam which was oversubscribed and had people queueing round the block to join!

But it wasn't all work work work.  On Wednesday evening we boarded a coach at Excel, bound for the other side of town to have a fabulous meal at Stevie Parle's Dock Kitchen, armed with bottles of Lebanese wine to match the menu of Labneh, followed by Salt Marsh Lamb Chops and Freekeh. Described by Decanter.com as 'raucous', it was a great fun night in true Lebanese style.

Discover the wines of Lebanon at the London Wine Fair

Wines of Lebanon is hosting a masterclass on Tuesday 17th May at 1.45pm at the 2011 London Wine Fair.  

Take a tour of Lebanon during this tutored tasting with Tim Atkin MW and Lebanese wine expert, Michael Karam.

Tim will pick his top wines from eight different wineries in a tutored tasting showcasing the different styles, grape varieties and terroirs within this small country.  Lebanese wine expert Michael Karam will explain Lebanon’s rich winemaking history – from 5000BC to the present day  - showing how centuries of tradition have been harnessed with modern winemaking techniques to create what is arguably Lebanon’s greatest export.

Tim Atkin MW comments: “Lebanon is one of the wine world's great secrets. I'm delighted to have the chance to talk about some of my favourites after an inspiring trip to the country, where I was captivated by the people, the architecture, the landscape and of course the best wines.”

Michael Karam is a Beirut-based author and journalist.  He has published two books on Lebanese wine: Wines of Lebanon (Saqi Books, 2005) and Michael Karam’s Lebanese Wines 2011: A comprehensive guide (Vinehouse Media, 2010).

For further information please contact madeleine@cocopr.co.uk.

Wines of Lebanon at 2011 London Wine Fair

Wines of Lebanon will be exhibiting for the first time at the 2011 London Wine Fair with a generic presence, as part of the first ever campaign to promote Lebanese wines which started last year. 

The stand will see eight wineries coming together to exhibit under the Wines of Lebanon banner at the Fair, with a masterclass hosted by Tim Atkin MW and Lebanese wine expert Michael Karam which will allow visitors to Discover Lebanon.

Tim Atkin comments: “Lebanon is one of the wine world's great secrets. I'm delighted to have the chance to talk about some of my favourites after an inspiring trip to the country, where I was captivated by the people, the architecture, the landscape and of course the best wines.”

The eight wineries exhibiting at the show are:

·         Chateau Ka

·         Chateau Ksara

·         Chateau St Thomas

·         Coteaux du Liban

·         Domaine des Tourelles

·         Domaine Wardy

·         IXSIR

·         Karam Winery

For information about the Masterclass pease contact: Madeleine Waters madeleine@cocopr.co.uk

 -ends-

Notes to editors:

Michael Karam is author of Lebanese Wines 2011: A comprehensive Guide and The Wines of Lebanon

Further information:

madeleine@cocopr.co.uk       01225 83344 / 07778 702221

Vines on the Frontline

Today's Radio 4 Programme by Jeremy Bowen, called Vines on the Frontline, gave a fascinating insight into the world of winemaking in Lebanon, a country that is often better known for conflict. 

Avaialble on the BBC iPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x97hw for 7 days from today.

The programme information from the BBC website says:
" The message from a glass of Lebanese wine should be tolerance and openness between civilizations. It's more than fermented grape juice." Ramzi Ghosn, Massaya Wines.

For Radio 4, the BBC's Middle East Editor, Jeremy Bowen, takes time out from reporting conflicts to give vinophiles a new perspective on an ancient story. Lebanon is not a place you naturally associate with winemaking.

It is a Middle Eastern country nestled between Arab neighbours whose religion forbids them to drink alcohol. It is also a country that has been scarred by war, from the 15-year civil war from 1975-1990, to the recent Israeli-Lebanon conflict in 2006.

But Lebanon is also an ancient civilisation, a country of merchants and traders - its history dating back to Noah, the first winemaker in the Bible. Fittingly the Temple of Bacchus, an impressive tribute to the God of wine, is situated amongst the ruins of Balbek, in the Bekaa Valley, a region these days better known for Hezbollah than hedonism. But the temple, like Lebanese wine, has survived centuries of war and the winemakers of the Bekka are optimistic wine will outlive war.

Sharing stories with the wine makers who, in defiance and dedication to their craft, continue to grow their vines so close to the frontline, Jeremy delves into the cultural and ethnic mosaic of this unstable but extraordinary country.

Lebanese wine makes the headlines

We were so excited to see such great press about Lebanese wines in the weekend papers.  Victoria Moore in the Daily Telegraph called Lebanese wines "Edgy, Exciting and Drinkable" - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/wine/8243878/Lebanese-wine-Edgy-exhilarating-and-drinkable.html

And Fiona Beckett wrote about her discovery that there was more to Lebanese wine than her 'first love' Chateau Musar in The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/08/lebanese-wine-review-fiona-beckett?INTCMP=SRCH

Wines of Lebanon was definitely a hot topic on Twitter over the weekend as people retweeted these articles and chatted about their experiences of Lebanon.

Finally, Jeremy Bowen's excellent radio programme Vines on the Frontline will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Wednesday 12th January at 11.00am. 

So, all in all, very positive as Lebanese wines finally get the recognition they deserve!