Is Lebanon the Most UNDERRATED Food & Wine Destination in the Mediterranean?

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!

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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
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