Domaine des Tourelles White 2021

Wine production in Lebanon dates back to the times of antiquity when the Greeks and Romans found inspiration for winemaking in this region. The mountains surrounding the Bekaa Valley is some of the most highly regarded terroir with its limestone soil base and its extraordinary altitude. It remains one of the highest altitude production zones in the world. Domaine des Tourelles was founded in 1868 and has produced wine continuously through a mutlitude of geo-political changes and wars, including a civil war. But the modern era of Lebanese winemaking is definitely French influenced and look no further than winemaker Faouzi Issa who studied winemaking abroad and staged at wineries, Rene Rostaing in Cote Rotie and Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux. His passion for the grapes of those regions finds its own Lebanese spin where blending of those grapes is commonplace and helps define the region’s character. The Blanc is a blend of Viognier, Chardonnay, Obeidi (an indigenous grape) and Muscat d’Alexandria. Grown over clay-limestone and gravels, the grapes are hand harvested and fermented using indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. Fresh, inviting and full of aromatics, it shows notes of peaches, brined apples and white flowers. A perfect aperitif and even better with a platter of mezze to start a meal. (Practicing Organic)