storage of the product in the Ixsir winery, just outside Beirut
Having tasted several Syrian wines during a weeklong trip there, the return to Lebanon was a welcome change, if only for the quality of the wine. And there are worse places to experience this than in the Ixsir winery, a relatively new winehouse which, unlike many other Lebanese wineries, is not based in the Beekaa Valley, but just 60 km north of Beirut.
next to the winery there is a small plot with vines, but most of the grapes come from the Beekaa Valley
The grapes used for the wines come from six different areas, of which Ainata is the highest at 1800 meters, a fact that is mentioned proudly by the staff of the winery. Most of the vineyards are actually located in the Beekaa Valley, although one small plot is in Batroun, at the winery itself. They grow lots of different grapes, but the wines are all blends combining three or more varieties.
The tasting is a feast: on a large roof terrace, covered against the sun, and with young, enthusiastic staff who tell about the winery, and the wines. Currently they have eight different wines, three white, two roses and three reds. All of them are very enjoyable, very tasty, good quality; even the rosé – of which I am generally not a fan – I found quite palatable. Starting level is the Altitude series, in three colours, followed by the Grand Reserve series, also three colours. The top level, EL Ixsir, comes in white and red only, and is – in my view – actually quite pricy, at some 30 US$ for the white and 40 US$ for the red. The others are around 10-15 US$, and excellent value for money.
the spacious, open tasting room
and the selection of wines on offer, from red to rose to white
stainless steel tanks at the lower level
and oak barrels all the way below
bottle, too, are stored, as this wall of wine shows
After the tasting we are taken downstairs, to see the wine making process, or at least the place where this takes place after harvest time (it is early June, now, no harvest yet, of course). The process is entirely based by gravity, and takes place underground, over three floors, from collection and pressing down into the stainless steel tanks below, and then all the way to the bottom the wooden barrels. All very neatly organised.
The facility is completed by a handsome little shop, where we can buy the product in bulk. Of course!
But there is more to Lebanon, to Beirut.
all completed with a well supplied and attractive shop
I can understand you liked this a lot Bruno because it looks great and the taste is of good quality I understand.