Middle East
The Lebanese Wine Day in California
November 08, 2017
The Lebanese Wine Day, organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and managed by Eventions, announced its upcoming winemaker tour in San Francisco and Los Angeles on the 16th and 20th of November, bringing 26 different producers to California to showcase their wines to members of the wine trade.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gebran Bassil, said that “the Lebanese wine is well-known thanks to Lebanon’s particular climate, soil and vine (…), with the Lebanese skills and the warehousing nature, in addition to many other factors, thus making each wine bottle every year special.” He added: “We are proud of the Lebanese wine when we drink it and offer it to our guests.” He also noted that “the Lebanese wine is a high-quality, tasty and luxurious product”, which “has largely contributed to the national economy since the economic policy which is presently set up relies mainly on export.”
Bassil insisted that “this sector needs the attention of the State at several levels.” He called to agree within the ministerial economic council “over a series of quick measures to be raised to the Council of Ministers. Such measures shall include measures about Lebanese wine exports, firstly regarding the protection of the national wine production without violating international agreements and without any measure prohibiting the Lebanese from consuming any foreign product. However, at the same time, necessary consumption tariffs are to be levied on foreign products while facilitating all Lebanese exports, particularly wine, through exemptions on income tax and import cost, as well as facilitating and speeding up imports, in addition to taking all necessary measures to this end.” He continued: “There are large markets all over the world we haven’t broken through, such as China, Russia, Brazil and Africa and we are capable of accessing them.”
Bassil proposed to “hold a wine conference in which all concerned sectors take part in drawing a roadmap of the necessary actions to be taken.” He added: “Lebanon shall produce 100 million of wine bottles. It is not a pipe-dream. We used to produce 6 million bottles, have reached 9 million and are capable of producing 100 million, generating henceforth one billion dollars into our economy, creating job opportunities and encouraging tourism, thus creating a real economic resistance.” He continued: “Our wine holds our preferential advantage and is competitive (…). The Lebanese wine may be a great advantage to our economy.” He concluded: “Holding a meeting over Lebanese wine is always a gathering of joy. We say: if you love Lebanon, drink its wine.”
The first Lebanese Wine Day will take place in San Francisco on the afternoon of November 16 at the historic Merchants Exchange Club (Leidesdorff street – San Francisco) , a recently renovated event space located in the Financial District. The day will begin with a master class presented by Jean Reilly, Master of Wine and renowned wine speaker. A walk-around wine tasting will be running concurrently, where guests will have the opportunity to taste the wines and meet face to face with winemakers and representatives from the Lebanese government. A second master class will also be held in the afternoon.
Following the Lebanese Wine Day in San Francisco, the producers will head to Los Angeles, where they will offer their wines for walk around tasting on Monday, November 20 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel (Wilshire Blvd- Beverely Hill), where the Lebanese Consul Johnny Ibrahim will also be hosting a celebration on the occasion of the Lebanese Independence Day.