Massaya Blanc 2022

If your expectation of Lebanese wine is of rusticity, this wine will wipe that idea from your mind. This white is clean as a whistle. Very mineral, super fresh and salty with lovely crisp flavours of apples, white flowers and pears. The local Obeïdi adds an oriental twinkle. Very easy drinking and a super accompaniment to light summer salads.

Massaya is one of Lebanon’s most dynamic and respected wine producers, with vineyards in both the historic Beqaa Valley and the cooler slopes of Mount Lebanon. Founded in 1996 by brothers Sami and Ramzi Ghosn, the estate quickly drew international attention thanks to a unique partnership with Dominique Hebrard (ex-Château Cheval Blanc) and the Brunier family of Le Vieux Télégraphe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape — names that reflect the serious intent behind this venture.

Lebanon’s wine story is among the oldest in the world, with a winemaking tradition dating back over 5000 years. The Romans themselves honoured the vine here with the temple of Bacchus in Baalbek. French influence, from the Crusades through to the mid-20th century, helped shape the region’s modern wine identity. Massaya is very much a product of this heritage, yet it speaks clearly in a contemporary voice — expressive, Mediterranean wines that combine elegance, spice and a sense of place.

The Ghosn brothers have become standard bearers for the new Lebanon: resilient, open-minded, and deeply rooted in their culture. Their wines are a testament to the country’s extraordinary potential and a joy to discover.