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It’s time to bring the tropical cocktails out!


- 750 mL Pinot wine
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 1 cup orange juice
- 24 oz Sprite or lemon lime soda
Cognac vs Brandy; a liqueur lesson
There is an abundance of spirits that are made locally here in Lebanon that have become very famous and a staple in some people’s houses. Besides the Lebanese wineries (since they make the best wine for Lebanese food), there are also some other drinks to be enjoyed after relishing in your meal.
As a digestive, it’s good for you to go for a nice whiskey, a neat Cognac or a marvelous Brandy.
Cognac and Brandy are often mistaken for one another. This is mainly because they look the same, they’re both made from distilling wine and because it’s often repeated that “every cognac is a brandy, but not all brandy is a cognac” which leaves people wondering what that means exactly. That’s where the confusion settles in but here’s a short spirits session that could benefit everyone.

For starters, Brandy, put very simply, is a distilled spirit made from fermented fruit juice; whether it be grapes, apples, pears- that’s Brandy for you. You may be wondering how it differs from wine when it’s done with grapes- the answer is quite simple; it’s all in the distillation process. The latter concentrates the wine which in turn increases the alcohol content in the beverage all while removing some or most of the water present in the grape!
Brandy is most preferred and better enjoyed when aged in wooden barrels just like our own Katy from Batroun does it for 10 years in French oak! This makes for a smoother, softer and sweeter drink as you still get hints of fruitiness and tartness.
Now onto Cognac- it is a specific type of Brandy. It is probably the most well-known and esteemed type of Brandy. Just like its name suggests, it is only specifically made in the Cognac region in France. However, its place of origin is not the only characteristic that makes it what it is. In fact, it must follow strict rules such as the fact that it can only be distilled from white grapes; it has to be distilled twice between October 1 and March 31 according to French law and aged for a minimum of two years.
Pinot Gris!
Pinot Gris is befitting for all wine lovers. It is compelling to all taste buds and satisfactory to all cravings.
The essence of this wine is that it comes in two forms; sweet and dry. Having mastered the art of creating both from a single white grape, the Pinot Gris is truly unique and special.
This ability relies on the fermentation process. The sweet wine requires a shorter process thus retaining residual sugar and the dry one entails a longer one resulting in less sugar.
To offer you a guide to an exquisite-feeling palate, here is what we simply recommend: If you’re seeking a honeyed, floral taste then you should aim for the sweet Pinot Gris. Whereas if your taste buds are looking to be nicely refreshed and beautifully attacked then the dry Pinot Gris is definitely the way to go.


Take your pick depending on your mood but it is guaranteed that won’t be disappointed either way. Pop open your favorite bottle from Chateau Khoury coming to you straight from the lovely city of Zahlé.
PS: Pinot Gris is splendidly paired well with Lebanese Food.
JUN GIN!
The finish is spicy and tastes of ginger, galangal, coriander and bay leaves, while the wild Juniper excelsa from the Bekaa mountains, signs off with the distinct kiss of nostalgic native flavors
GET YOUR HANDS ON A BLANKA ARAK BOTTLE!
PICK YOUR COLOR HERE!
SPOTLIGHT ON: Riesling from Chateau Qanafar
Discover it HERE!
International Tempranillo Day
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
Well it makes things even more exciting for us!
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
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”.
Let's Celebrate 'World Heart Day' with Wine!
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