Middle East Update: Lebanon and Syria

BY NICOLAS GREINACHER | APRIL 9, 2025

This brief report highlights recent releases from Syria and Lebanon, focusing on Château Musar, Château Marsyas, Château Kefraya and Domaine de Bargylus. Lebanon currently cultivates approximately 3,000 hectares of vineyards, comparable in size to the AOC of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The country produces around ten million bottles of wine annually, half of which are exported. However, the absence of state-level regulations often results in inconsistent quality, with many wines of a fairly basic caliber.

Harvest time at Château Marsyas.

Lebanon was under a French mandate from 1920 to 1943, and French influence remains deeply ingrained in its winemaking traditions. The country primarily cultivates Mediterranean red varieties such as Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan, alongside Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The most commonly produced white wines are Chardonnay, Viognier, Muscat, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. There has also been a continuing focus on indigenous Lebanese grapes, such as Merwah and Obeideh.