Pretty Marinated: Lebanese Wine 101
[Mary Kong] 04 27 2012Lebanon doesn’t immediately come to mind when thinking about all the wine-making regions in the world, but this tiny Mediterranean country has a long and colorful wine history, and the results are a delight to sip and discover.
Lebanon was part of the biblical land of Canaan, where Jesus Christ (the Original Winemaker) dazzled a crowd with the first happy hour ever. Take that, ancient Phoenicians!
Then the Jesuits further refined the art of modern wine-making in Lebanon, which enjoys fertile soil and ideal grape-growing conditions. Those could be the very same Jesuits who hopped boats to Ireland to produce whiskey…
After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was dissolved and Lebanon came under French influence, spawning many wine châteaus throughout its lands.
Here in DC, you can find such wines at the very authentic Lebanese restaurant Kababji Grill, which has 21 in stock, mostly from the Bekaa Valley. This region produces intense, supple and aromatic wines that are full of energy and character. more after the jump »
Here in this concrete jungle, we slather on the sunscreen, slip outdoors, squeeze onto the patio, deck, terrace, rooftop, sidewalk cafe–or whatever level surface under the shade we can find–to sup alfresco and sip on Sauvignon Blanc.
Late-night noshing is just like reality TV, a universal guilty pleasure in which many share a shame-ridden interest.
