Diary of a wine-maker

Week 4 – Syrah harvest

Harvesting Syrah after a heat wave posed several challenges because this grape variety is sensitive to temperature fluctuations. High temperatures can cause rapid ripening, dehydration and uneven grape development, therefore an early harvest start date was necessary to preserve the rich, concentrated fruit.

We cultivate Syrah as bush vines, without the need for trellises – a traditional method which has proven successful in the increasingly unpredictable Lebanese climate where weather conditions can be extreme.

Bush vines naturally have a denser canopy of leaves and their shape provides natural shade and protection for the grapes from sunlight and heat. These vines need hands on care and attention, the pruning and harvesting is all done by hand as shown in these photos from the 25^th August.

Week 3 – Viognier and Vermentino harvest

Our Viognier and Vermentino vineyards, also affected by the recent heat wave, has led to a simultaneous harvest on the same day to preserve the flavours of the grapes and their aromatic complexity – something which is rarely seen in normal harvest conditions.

While this heat wave poses challenges, it also presents a unique opportunity – to produce distinctive wines with concentrated fruit profiles, resulting in a lot of depth and layers of taste.

This unusual timing highlights the importance of having to adapt to the climatic conditions in Lebanon this year.

Week 2 – Tempranillo early harvest

From earth to birth – this is the sentence that came to my mind during the start of our Tempranillo harvest, that has come early due to a heat wave in Lebanon for the last 5 days.

These increased temperatures accelerate ripening, resulting in deeply coloured and intensely flavoured grapes, but they are also more susceptible to dehydration with the risk of overripe, sunburned fruit, hence the mid-August harvest.

At Chateau Musar vineyards, the relation and delicate balance between earth, grapes and people behind the winemaking process is interconnected. Age old traditions and resilience combined with respecting the values of the winery and our natural environment, helps us to make the right decisions.

So from earth to birth, Tempranillo grapes for our Levantine wine are cared for in the most natural way, especially in such extreme weather conditions.

Week 1

The first day of the Chateau Musar harvest started at the Byblos (Mehrine) Vineyards on 30th July.

Our dedicated pickers carefully selected the Chardonnay grapes first, as they are often the earliest to reach perfect maturity. These golden clusters were gently handpicked to preserve their quality, aligning with the Chateau Musar philosophy of symbiosis between viticulture and the people taking care of it.

The aroma of freshly harvested grapes at 6 am promised a fruitful and successful vintage ahead.

This initial day set a hopeful tone for the harvest to come.