Lebanon is remarkable! It’s one of the world’s oldest wine regions, full of resilient people, ancient winegrowing heritage, and fresh cuisine that rivals any gastronomy on the planet! Besides having a robust winegrowing history, the country’s Mediterranean climate and mountainous terrain produce a host of delicious, fresh wines, from crisp indigenous white grapes like Obeidy and Merwah to rich, spicy blends of Cabernet and Syrah. Plus, the food is some of the most flavorful in the world, and the people have a zest for life. Join Vince and his brother Brandon as they explore Lebanon’s history, culture, food, and wine!
Enjoy the show? We’re independently owned and produced and would LOVE your support! You can also watch ad-free! Join Vino VIP: https://www.visforvino.com/vip
LIMITED TIME! Buy the wines from the episode! https://www.backroomwines.com/v-is-for-vino-season-5-lebanon.html
All locations, wines, and wineries are listed at: https://visforvino.com/lebanon/
DESCRIPTION: Get ready to explore Lebanon, one of the world’s most beautiful and misunderstood countries. We’ll start this journey by speaking with British author and journalist Michael Karam at Le Chef restaurant over breakfast. This place was a favorite of Anthony Bourdain, and the awarma (lamb confit) with eggs and foul mudamas is not to be missed! Next, I’ll head to the ancient Roman temple of Bacchus, a temple in Baalbek dedicated to the God of Wine. This temple is one of the most intact Roman temples in the world, and its scale is massive. Here, you’ll learn about the history and geography of Lebanese winemaking. Next, I’ll visit Château Ksara, the largest and oldest winery in Lebanon, before getting some succulent shawarma with my brother Brandon, who also came along on this trip! The grape segment will discuss the difference between old-world and ancient-world wines and Lebanese grape varieties planted, like Obeidy & Merwah, Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Syrah. We’ll then visit the homey family-run winery Château St. Thomas, where winemaker Joe Touma single-handled proved that the grape variety “Obeidy” was native to Lebanon. After that, we’ll head to IXSIR winery in the up-and-coming Batroun region to learn why Lebanese vines are often planted at high altitudes. The crew and I then headed for a night in Beirut, partying in its famous nightlife scene on Gemmayze Street. Our last winery visited is Chateau Musar, Lebanon’s most famous and unique winery. I then gather all our producers for an epic dinner with Chef Maroun Chedid at Ritage Garden before having an emotional meeting with some of my distant family in Zahle. Get excited to see Lebanon in a way you never have before on this V is for Vino episode!
WINES FEATURED:
Château Ksara Merwah
Château Ksara Reserve du Couvent
Château Ksara Le Souverain
Château St. Thomas Obeidy
Château St. Thomas Rouge
Château St. Thomas Pinot Noir
IXSIR Altitudes White
IXSIR EL IXSIR
Chateau Musar White
Chateau Musar Red
CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:10 Welcome Lebanon
00:04:15 Breakfast at Le Chef with Michael Karam
00:09:19 Geography & History at Baalbek
00:13:09 Vince and Brandon explore Baalbek
00:14:14 Château Ksara
00:21:19 Vino VIP
00:22:44 Grapes of Lebanon
00:26:05 Eating Shawarma with Brandon
00:27:24 Château St. Thomas
00:34:38 IXSIR Winery
00:41:34 visforvino.com
00:41:58 Party in Beirut
00:45:11 Chateau Musar
00:52:45 Dinner at Ritage Garden Restaurant
01:02:06 Outro
01:06:12 Credits
___________________
And just because an episode ends doesn’t mean the fun stops there. Next, you can:
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/3xxH7eT
JOIN VINO VIP to watch episodes ad-free, get early access to new videos, exclusive VIP members-only content, virtual zoom wine tastings with Vince, and fun giveaways! https://www.visforvino.com/vino-vip
Follow us on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/visforvino
Let’s be friends on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/visforvino
__________________
© 2023 V IS FOR VINO ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
49 Comments
This episode is the most meaningful I've ever made, and I'm so happy to share it with you all! (Stay until the end, there are some surprises in store.) What did you think of the episode? Let me know in the comments!
PS – Don't forget to join Vino VIP if you liked the episode! http://www.visforvino.com/vip
PPS – For a limited time, the wines of the episode are available for sale: https://www.backroomwines.com/v-is-for-vino-season-5-lebanon.html
We simply love you guys 🇱🇧🇺🇲
You should go to bait lahem Palestine and taste their wine its one of the best iver ever tasted
If you're going to Hezbollahstan for the wine, you're an absolute moron. Stay away from that country.
Thank you so much for shedding light on our industry and rich history, had a group of european friends visit Lebanon 2 years ago now it’s all they talk about
Thanks for the review 🇱🇧❤
Magnificent Episode 🎉❤😊
A great episode – full of good wine, good food plus lots of heart and soul. What a wonderful heritage. I'm so sorry that this beautiful country is experiencing so much strife and heartache.
The answer is YES!
beautiful episode! you are always welcome to Lebanon!!
If Lebanese were brave and smart, they would understand Israelis want peace with them and would like to be good neighbors. But the fear of Hezbollah is bigger than the will to peace, unfortunately.
Thank you, Vince and team. Your shows are fantastic!
like and share
Brought back so many memories. I lived there 12 yrs.
2 quotes: “There is strive, there is poverty and yes there have been war, but the lebanese don’t see any of that as what defines them as people”…”Your homeland is God’s heaven on earth”. Could not have said them better. Thank you for this amazing documentary. 🙏🏼💐
Thank you very much for this most informative episode and thank you for painting Lebanon in such a gracious way.
amazing Doc.
I am King George world respect respected world wide ultimate empire's ✌️😎👍
While others did episodes on lebanon and on wine, yours was emotional, informative and superb storytelling. You and the crew should be extremely proud of this episode coz it's it's like no other show about wine or travel. Bravo
Wonderful video! wowww, impressive
very nice reportage god bless Lebanon
Amazing episode! Keep um coming!
amazing episode
are u 100% its not israeli? am surprised they didnt claim it yet lol
Thank you for this, and welcome home ♥️
Wine was originated in Armenia which is a country you don't mention.
when lebanon was created 98% of the countries in the world didn t exist ur civilization was not even there not any wine was famous in lebanon or i shall say (canaan) since lebanon was onlky the western seriees of mountains anw Pomegranate wine was drink of the elites and kings too bad this wine does no longer exist and we have no idea what kind of stones were used to press the fruits and which kind of pomegranate was even used !! if u have any idea about this topic perhaps it s time to share it with the whole world maybe my ancestors managed to share that knowledge with any other cananite colony around the world … thanks
Why did all the wealthy people run away ? Never there when they caused the danger
Thank you for exposing the UNDERRATED and wonderful wine of Lebanon.
Wow, incredible!❤
By far, one of the best quality food, wine and travel shows there is out there. Keep up the great work and good vibes!
Such a nice episode! My surname is Antar too 😮
Wow, watched and enjoyed every second. Learned a lot about wine and was left with a tear in my eye.
The videography and editing are top notch. Well done to everyone involved ❤️
P.s I’m a Antar too haha 🇱🇧
Byzantine Augustus Nero cousins breached the limit, reclaim back what belong to original natives all countries middle east, meridian Moses n northern n center Beersheba queen in silence… invade byzantine Augustus Nero tradions said….
thank you
What an amazing, amazing video. I am Lebanese and I learned so much!!! TY for doing this, it brought me so much joy (and some tears)!!!
omg i want some lebanese wine now
Thank you for the good ad 🇱🇧❤️😁
57:00 Chef you should have served Lebanese cuisine not fancy stuff
3:45 ur not half Lebanese 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 ur half-half-half-Lebanese
You should be very proud of your heritage. Understanding and appreciate different cultures is what really makes America great. Un fortunately, too many Americans forget this. Food and wine is something that binds us all.
Always better. Really nice episode.
Wow! Just beautiful! Thank you for this.
FYI The Jesuits are NO monks
What a beautiful country with beautiful people! I wish forever peace and prosperity to this wonderful place! ❤
As a Lebanese who doesn't consume alcohol, this was an amazing and informative episode. Keep doing what you're doing; you have everything needed to be a very well-known YouTuber.
I hate how we have to market our countries as European
Is our culture not enough
Dare I say lebnon is better than Europe
the real Lebanon right here. not the fringe iranian led group that's causing all the havoc you're seeing on the news, they don't represent Lebanon