209 Hot Stories
SPOTLIGHT ON: Riesling from Chateau Qanafar
From Chateau Qanafar’s small half a hectare vineyard grown at an altitude of 1200m on limestone soils, this single vineyard, single varietal Riesling exhibits an elegant expression of this ancient grape. On the nose it reveals notes of Asian pear, pineapple and citrus peel. It excites the palate with a grassy minerality and a cheerful acidity reminiscent of cider apples, quince and bitter citrus.
Known to be the wine expert’s favorite grape, Riesling is believed to be the greatest white grape in the world!
Riesling needs a long and slow ripening season as well as low yields to achieve a perfect balance and truly capture the identity of its terroir.
It takes a special soil to produce such a special wine, and guess what? Lebanon has it!
That’s is why we wanted to showcase this wine today - It’s a wine that makes us proud of our land, our expertise and our passion!
Discover it HERE!
Discover it HERE!
International Tempranillo Day
Today is #TempranilloDay!
Celebrated every year on the second Thursday of November, this day pays tribute to the beloved thick-skinned red grape native to the region of Rioja in Spain.
In Spanish, “temprano” means “Early” and references how the Tempranillo grape ripens earlier than most! It produces deep-colored red and rose wines with a wide range of aromas, ranging from red fruits such as strawberries, blackcurrants and cherries to prunes, chocolate, leather and tobacco.
It’s a complex grape with layers of flavors that start at the first sip and last till the end.
Celebrate with a bottle of Lebanese Tempranillo HERE.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Petit Verdot de LATOURBA
This week is all about the exquisite Petit Verdot from LATOURBA!
Petit Verdot is a full-bodied red wine commonly used in blends for its rich color, structured tannins and plentiful aromas!
That’s why a single-varietal Petit Verdot is rare to find, but a Lebanese one?
Well it makes things even more exciting for us!
Well it makes things even more exciting for us!
We love this wine as it combines the unique aromas of leather, prune, dark forest fruits and tobacco.
Aged for 12 month in French Oak barrels with an earthy texture, it moves with vibrant acidity and powerful, well-structured tannins.
Aged for 12 month in French Oak barrels with an earthy texture, it moves with vibrant acidity and powerful, well-structured tannins.
Discover more from LATOURBA!
LEBANESE VEGAN WINES
Happy #WorldVeganDay!
Since wine is made from grapes and yeast, people tend to assume that all wines are vegan-friendly. However, during winemaking, most wines are clarified in a process called “fining” which helps winemakers obtain a clearer looking wine; and it’s often the traditional fining agents employed that make a wine unsuitable for vegans.
Animal-based products such as egg whites, casein (a protein found in milk) or isinglass (a fish byproduct) have often been used to fine the wine and remove these tiny particles you see in a bottle that makes it look “hazy”.
Animal-based products such as egg whites, casein (a protein found in milk) or isinglass (a fish byproduct) have often been used to fine the wine and remove these tiny particles you see in a bottle that makes it look “hazy”.
Today, with the world moving towards a more mindful way of living and consuming, winemakers have started to either leave the particles to sink naturally to the bottom of the bottle, or use non-animal fining products such as Carbon, bentonite clay, limestone, kaolin clay, plant casein, silica gel, or vegetable plaques.
So, if a wine has not been fined, filtered or has not come into contact with anything derived from an animal or dairy source, it is considered vegan.
A big number of Lebanese wineries have gone the vegan route, and we’ve gathered them all for you HERE!
Let's Celebrate 'World Heart Day' with Wine!
HEALTH BENEFITS OF WINE
“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance” - Benjamin Franklin -
Wine is the only living beverage and fermentation, a natural process is behind this beneficial drink. It is loaded in antioxidants and when consumed moderately, can strengthen your immune system, promotes a longer life span, protects against certain cancers, improves mental health, provides benefits to the heart, reduces the risk of depression specially when paired with the right foods and music, it could make you instantaneously more relaxed. Within a balanced diet plan, wine could curb your sugar cravings and assist weight loss.
Heart Healthy
- Wine dilates arteries and increases blood flow thus lowering the risk of the kind of clots that cut off blood supply and damage heart muscles.
- Drinking wine in moderation could lower bad cholesterol levels and increase good ones (HDL). Phenols found in wine limit the oxidation of LDL’S making them less capable of damaging the lining of arteries thus reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
- Phenols also play an important role in slowing the growth of some cancer cells and Resveratrol (an antioxidant) in wine has specifically been found to slow the growth of liver cancer cells.
- A glass of red wine has been found to curb sugar cravings and increase levels of the good cholesterol (HDL). Moreover, a Harvard University study of 20.000 women found that those who drank half a bottle of wine a day had a 70% reduced risk of obesity compared to nondrinkers!
- Red wine is loaded with antioxidants and Resveratrol- “an ingredient that increases gene expression that enhances the oxidation of dietary fats so the body won’t be overloaded. Resveratrol converts white fat into beige fat which burns lipids off as heat, helping to keep the body in balance and prevents obesity and metabolic dysfunction”
Avoid drinking if you’re under 18 Years old!
Your body will be less well equipped to cope with the effects of alcohol, physically and emotionally; your liver is not fully developed and neither is
your brain!
- Dietitian Nicole Maftoum
SPOTLIGHT ON: Mystic Grove
"You shall spread Chapter XII, but you shall also keep its recipe a secret… For those who dwindle to the bitterness of curiosity and reveal shall perish instantly", said the Owl of Mystic Grove 🦉
Step into the magical and mysterious world Mystic Grove 🔮✨
A 4 generation-old gin recipe conceived in Belgium and masterfully distilled in the Mtein region of Lebanon.
A journey of 12 carefully selected botanicals handpicked from all different corners of the world, for the ultimate mystical gin experience.
Blending spring water from the highlands with slow vapor infusions, Mystic Grove tells the story of how tradition and modernity can come together in a perfect harmony of taste, flavor and fragrance.
✨Join the magic HERE!✨
Grenache Day!
Grenache is a red-wine grape variety known for its full body and sweet sensation
Said to have originated from the Aragon area of Spain, its vigorous, hardy vine and strong wooden frame are resistant to wind and drought which makes the grape thrive in Mediterranean climates with low humidity.
Because of the environment is grows in, it is naturally high in alcohol, which makes it important for the production not only of red wines, but makes excellent rosés and sweet wines too.
Grenache yields wine with rich, spicy, berry flavors, particularly raspberry, subtle aromas of orange rinds and ruby-red grapefruit.
It is one of the most versatile grapes both to grow and to work with - which explains why it is one of the most planted variety in the world!
Explore its versatility at the link HERE
SPOTLIGHT ON: Arak du Marje
This week is all about Arak du Marje, a matured Lebanese arak, from Jdeidet Marjeyoun in the South of Lebanon.
Carole Khoury, founder and managing partner at Les Vignes du Marje says that this Arak is way to reconnect with her roots and her ancestors who have been making arak for generations and generations.
She planted the same grapes, on the same land where her grandfather used to make his arak years ago.
The result? A refined and pure product distilled four times in traditional stills!
Try it out HERE!
SPOTLIGHT ON: SATYR de Marsyas!
This week the spotlight is on Satyr by
Château Marsyas!
Satyr de Marsyas refers to the single variety cuvée of the Château Marsyas estate.
Marsyas, as a satyr, is a mythical being of antiquity who distinguished himself by his absolute devotion to the god of wine.
Made from younger vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, this cuvée stands out by the complete absence of oak barrel aging.
It allows all interested amateurs to appreciate the quality of an easier to drink wine🍷
Check it out HERE!
SPOTLIGHT ON: SENDIÄNA
This week we turn our spotlight on the gem that is
SENDIÄNA, winner of the IWSC Silver medal of 2014!
When Dr Charles Eid, founder of SENDIÄNA Wines, was setting up a winery in Lebanon, he knew he could utilise the perfect climate and terroir to produce the best wines that Lebanon had to offer.
Today SENDIÄNA is produced at the historic Monastery of St. Jean in the Mount Lebanon region of Khenchara; and while 75% of the grapes are from the Monastery’s own vineyards at 1000m altitude, the remaining 25% is Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bekaa Valley.
Blending grapes, climates and soils for an ultimate taste of the Lebanese terroir!
Check it out HERE!
Check it out HERE!
