CHATEAU KSARA, LEBANON
From its founding in 1857, Château Ksara Estate lives and grows through the core values of Tradition, Nobility, and Modernity. And as the country’s oldest winery, we have made it our mission to not only continue our unique, centuries-old practice of winemaking, but to also implement the newest and most innovative processes, and continue leading the winemaking in Lebanon for generations to come..
1902
THE REGION’S FIRST OBSERVATORY
The Middle East’s first observatory was established at Ksara so that the monks could record rainfall and seismic activity. The building, which was to become a strategic Bekaa landmark in times of both peace and war, would become the second Ksara landmark to have a wine. The Blanc de L’Observatoire was named in its honor.
VINEYARDS
Our vineyards are located in the Bekaa Valley at an average altitude of 1,000 meters. The Bekaa has a semi-continental climate. The winters are cold with moderate rainfall and the summers are hot and dry. The altitude means that the hot summer days are balanced by cool evenings with a temperature difference of around 15°C. The vineyards also benefit from the land’s own natural water table, which is situated between two snow-capped mountain ranges. We have between 600 and 700mm of yearly rainfall, concentrated in autumn and winter. In contrast, the weather is dry during summer months and growing seasons, resulting in far fewer diseases. Pesticides and herbicides are not used, so the grapes are grown almost organically. The soil ranges from chalk, to clay and chalk, to clay and limestone, but it is always stony.
