Lebanese wine

Lebanon is among the oldest sites of wine production in the world.^[1] The Israelite prophet Hosea (780–725 BC) is said to have urged his followers to return to God so that "they will blossom as the vine and fame be like the wine of Lebanon, [and] their fragrance will be like that of Lebanon".^[2] The Phoenicians of the coastal strip were instrumental in spreading wine and viticulture throughout the Mediterranean in ancient times.

During the Ottoman period, wine production in Lebanon was restricted for four hundred years, except for religious purposes, which allowed Lebanese Christians to maintain viticulture. In 1857, the Jesuits founded La Maison Ksara near Zahle. The late 19th century witnessed further growth with wineries like Domaine des Tourelles and Domaine Wardy. The arrival of the French Mandate (1920–1946) spurred another period of expansion. French soldiers and diplomats created a significant local market and introduced new grape varieties. This period saw the founding of renowned wineries like Domaine Nakad, Château Musar, and Clos Saint Thomas. Following independence in 1943, the wine industry faced challenges due to the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). However, a few wineries, like Château Kefraya, were founded.^[3]

A significant revival in Lebanese wine making began in the late 1990s. As of 2014, Lebanon has over 43 wineries, with nearly half in the Beqaa Valley.^[4] Despite the many conflicts of the region, the country has an annual production of about 12,000,000 bottles of wine.^{[citation needed]}