In episode 175 of The Drinking Hour podcast, host David Kermode and Faouzi Issa sit down to discuss the challenges and rewards of winemaking in Lebanon.
They start by exploring the country’s long history of winemaking, which stretches back almost 5,000 years. Issa talks about his family’s journey to winemaking at Domaine des Tourelles and his own path via France to study and work in two of Europe’s best known properties – Domaine Rostaing in Côte-Rôtie and Château Margaux in Bordeaux.
Issa shares how political and economic instability within Lebanon creates challenges for the wine industry, including how the collapse of the country’s banking industry forced the estate to rely on the UK and Sweden export markets. Later, Kermode shares his own experiences of working in Lebanon with the BBC’s Arabic Service, where he spent time in the ‘beguiling chaos of Beirut’.
They then delve into the wines of Domaine des Tourelles, those from both international and local varieties. Issa focuses on two indigenous white varieties; Merweh and Obeidi, which both possess unique personalities. Issa also shares his passion for old vines, particularly Cinsault, a grape he describes as the ‘golden child of the vineyard’. He also talks about his experimentation with orange wine, made from the indigenous Merweh grape, fermented in clay vessels.
The pair end the discussion by exploring Issa’s winemaking philosophy and his reluctance to leave Lebanon despite the challenges posed by politics and conflict.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here.
