Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley has evolved into a major wine-making region, with many wineries scattered along its wide, fertile expanses. It has been famous, over the centuries, for being the agricultural heart of the Middle East.
Lebanon’s Western Bekaa Valley sits between the Lebanon and Anti‑Lebanon mountain ranges. This shallow and fertile basin has supported vines for more than 6,000 years. Because the land offers ideal conditions, viticulture became central to the region’s identity.
Ancient traders later expanded this tradition. The sea‑faring ancestors of modern Lebanese communities carried vines and wine across the Mediterranean. They introduced viticulture to Greece, Egypt and Italy. Moreover, the Greeks named them Phoenicians after the purple dye, phoinikèia, made from seashells. Their ability to rebuild cities quickly after destruction inspired the legend of the Phoenix.
The region’s wines appear many times in the Bible. For example, Hosea 14:7 refers to Lebanon’s vines. Cana, where Christ turned water into wine, lies near the southern port of Tyre. In addition, Baalbek once honoured the Phoenician fertility god Baal. Later, the Romans built a vast temple there dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine.
The Hochar family also forms part of this long history. French in origin, they arrived during the crusades. Since then, they have remained in Lebanon and shaped its winemaking culture.
