Château Ksara

Château Ksara
Château Ksara
Location	Beqaa Valley, Lebanon
Appellation	Bekaa Valley
Formerly	Ksara
Founded	1857
First vintage	1860
Key people	Wine makers: Father Kurn, Pierre Bouat, Noel Rabot, Daniel Dumas, Elie Maamari, James Palgé
Known for	Réserve du Couvent , Blanc de blancs , Merwah , Sunset Rosé, Le Souverain
Varietals	Merwah, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Vermentino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsualt, Obeidi
Other products	Arak, Eau-de-vie
Distribution	National and International
Tasting	Open to public
Website	http://www.chateauksara.com

Château Ksara is a Lebanese winery situated in the Beqaa Valley on the outskirts of the town of Zahleh. It was founded in 1857 by Jesuits brothers who preached and farmed in the area.^[1] The wines were initially made for the brothers ‘personal consumption but the winery became a commercial concern at the end of the Great War, when France was mandated what is now Lebanon and demand for wine soared. In 1973, after the Pope suggested the Cathlolic Church divest itself of all its profit-making interests, the winery was sold to a group of Lebanese investors. Château Ksara is currently Lebanon’s oldest winery, producing 3 million bottles each year. There are 16 different wines, an arak - Ksarak and a brandy eau de vie. The wines are available in 40 countries^[2] and the winery welcomes over 100,000 visitors each year.

History

Origins

In 1857, Jesuit monks who had been in the Levant since the 1640s,^[3] inherited and began farming a 25-hectare plot of land situated between Taanayel and Zahleh in the Beqaa Valley. It was a resident priest, Brother Kirn, who recognized the potential of Château Ksara’s terroir and convinced the other priests that it should be used to grow grapes for viniculture. In 1878, the Jesuits imported Cinsault, Carignan and Grenache from Algeria, the most important of France’s colonial wine-producing territories. The wines would be used in church services in Bavaria, Prussia, Holland and the countries of the Far East.

2 km Roman grotto Chateau Ksara - Beqaa-Lebanon

The Roman Grotto

In 1898, a cave complex dating back to the Roman era was unearthed by local orphans, engaged to work on the estate and who were trying to smoke out a fox that had been killing chickens. During World War I, Lebanese men who faced being drafted into the Turkish army sought sanctuary at Château Ksara, contributed to the enlargement and improvement of the caves. Today, the grotto runs for two kilometers under the winery and, due to its favourable and consistent temperature, form part of Château Ksara’s cellar system, as well as being one of Lebanon’s major tourist attractions.

The Observatory

In 1902, the Jesuits established the Middle East’s first observatory at Château Ksara to record rainfall and seismic activity. The building, which was to become a strategic Bekaa Valley landmark, would become the second Ksara landmark to have a wine, L’Observatoire, named in its honor. Jesuits maintained the observatory until 1978 when it was given to the Lebanese government. During the civil war, the building suffered fire damage and the theft of the telescope. It is now the private home of one of the winery’s owners.

The French Mandate

At the end of the Great War, France was mandated to govern Lebanon. Before long, its military and administrative machine moved in, bringing with it thousands of French soldiers and civil servants for whom wine was an integral part of their diet. Château Ksara found itself in a position to supply Lebanon’s new landlords. The monks had expanded their range of grapes with Carignan, Muscat and Ugni Blanc, and the period was one of unprecedented growth for Lebanese wine as the French encouraged the locals to increase the production levels.

Independence and Civil War

In 1943, Lebanon won independence. Between 1946 and 1975, Château Ksara maintained its position as Lebanon’s most popular wine; as Lebanon grew into a cosmopolitan and convivial hub, an oasis in a turbulent region. In 1973, the Vatican encouraged its monasteries and missions around the world to sell off any commercial assets. Château Ksara was sold to a consortium of local businessmen.

Peace and Expansion

The 90s saw new investment including the planting of new grape varieties including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Clairette, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot to name but a few. In 2007, the winery celebrated its 150thbirthday. One year earlier, it began a significant expansion program. Today Château Ksara is Lebanon’s oldest and biggest winery, producing 3 million bottles each year. There are 16 different wines, an arak - Ksarak and a brandy eau de vie. The wines are available in 40 countries and the winery welcomes over 100,000 visitor each year.

Vineyards and Grapes

All Château Ksara’s vineyards are located in the central and western Beqaa Valley at an average altitude of 1,000 meters.

The Beqaa Valley

The Beqaa enjoys dry summers and has the benefit of a natural water table, courtesy of the melting snow that runs off the slopes of the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges. The soil ranges from chalk, to clay and chalk, to clay and lime but it is always stony. The Beqaa Valley enjoys a continental climate with heavy rains and snow in winter and a mild spring and a dry – in some cases very dry – hot summer. The slopes on either side of the valley, and the valley itself, create a unique micro-climate in which the cool nights compensate for the hot summer days.

The Ksara Estate

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Clairette, Caladoc, Syrah and Gewürtztraminer and Viognier all grow on the 21 hectares Ksara estate, where the clay and chalk soil gives low yields of grapes that produce concentrated and aromatic wines.

Mansoura

At Mansoura, there are 52 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Marselan, Caladoc and Cabernet Franc all planted on small individual plots of chalk or red clay and chalk.

Khorbet Khanafar

The 42 hectares of vineyards on the slopes of Khorbet Khanafar have proved fabulous terroir for Sémillon, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Clairette, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Caladoc, Merlot, Marselan and Mourvèdre.

Taanayel

The Jesuit brothers’ close relationship with Château Ksara endures at Taanayel. On the 63 hectares grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Blanc, Carignan, Muscat gros grains , Ugni Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Marselan and Sauvignon Blanc.

Tal Dnoub

In Tall Dnoub, Ksara has 71 hectares of vines planted in lime and clay soil. Varietals include Chardonnay, Sémillion, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Caladoc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon and Arinarnoa.

Tal Deir

At Tal Deir,there are 76 hectares of red grapes that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Gamay, Mourvèdre, Marselan, Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay, Verdejo, and Vermentino.

Kefraya

Hectares: 43

Soil: Clay/Limestone

GrapeVarietals: Syrah, Petit Verdot, Mourvèdre, Caladoc, Cinsault, Carignan, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Sémillon, Ugni Blanc, and Clairette.

Chilfa

Hectares: 25

Soil: Clay/Limestone

Grape Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Marselan, and Sauvignon.

Massa

Hectares: 27

Soil: Clay and Chalk

Grape Varietals: Syrah, Carignan and Sauvignon.

Saghbine

Hectares: 21

Soil: Brick Red

Grape Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Gamay, Sangiovese and Mourvèdre.

Wines and Spirits

Réserve du Couvent

Château Ksara’s best-selling wine and Lebanese icon, Réserve du Couvent is sold in over 40 countries and representing 20% of the winery's production. A medium to full-bodied wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. It is aged in oak for six months. It typically has aromas of black and red fruit with further flavours of pepper and cedar. Oak-aged, for six months, it can be kept for three to five years.