The countries bordering the Eastern Mediterranean were amongst the first ever to produce wine and references in history date back 6000 years. Then the production was for domestic consumption. Now, these countries have their eyes on the export market and are producing new style world-class wines that will augment any wine collection.
One of the premier league producers is Chateau Musar in the Lebanon and it almost has a cult following.
French trained Gaston Hochar founded the winery in 1930 in a 17th century castle at Ghazi in the Bekka Valley. Now it’s been handed on to his sons who’ve dodged conflicts to pick grapes and produced consistently good wine despite the troubles.
The Hochar family have expanded their range to include lower price points at no drop in quality. For example try Hochar Pere et Fils 2003.
