DOMAINE DES TOURELLES

ORGANIC • DEPUIS 1868

• Chtaura - Bekaa Valley - LEBANON •

Founded in 1868, Domaine des Tourelles
is Lebanon’s oldest commercial winery.

In 2000, it was bought by the Issa and Issa-el-Khoury families and today is run by winemaker, Faouzi Issa, and his two sisters, Christiane and Joanne, and Emile Issa-el Khoury. Faouzi (pictured), who trained at such prestigious estates as Rene Rostaing in Côte Rôtie and Château Margaux in Bordeaux, took over winemaking duties at the age of 24 and is dedicated to organic viticulture and minimal interference in the cellar. He ferments with only native yeasts, uses vegetarian fining agents when necessary, filters the wine with locally grown dried thistle and adds nothing else except for small amounts of sulfur at bottling. Faouzi is proud to be born and raised in the Bekaa Valley and wants the terroir of his home to shine through in all his wines.

2023 vallée de la bekaa BLANC

65% VIOGNIER, 20% CHARDONNAY, 10% OBEIDI, 5% MUSCAT D’ALEXANDRIE

SKU +331643 | $19.99 WHSL | 12 x 750ml | 13% abv

Region : Western Bekaa Valley.
Altitude : 1,050 m (3,445 feet) above sea level.
Age of Vines : 15 to 20 years.
Soil : Gravelous and limestone soils.
Irrigation : Dry farmed.
Farming Practice : Practicing Organic, 100% hand harvested.
Vinification : Fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks for 10 days. No Malolactic. After blending the wine undergoes a gentle clarification.

Exotic fruit and floral aromas on the nose which follow through on the palate, with a juicy and mouth-watering finish. Enjoy with a variety of Mediterranean nibbles from Lebanese Mezze to Spanish tapas.

2021 vallée de la bekaa ROUGE

40% CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 40% SYRAH, 15% CINSAULT, 5% CARIGNAN

SKU +475239 | $22.99 WHSL | 12 x 750ml | 14.5% abv

Region : Western Bekaa Valley.
Altitude : 1,050 m (3,445 feet) above sea level.
Age of Vines : 15 to 20 years.
Soil : Sandy limestone, with clay sub-soils.
Irrigation : Dry farmed.
Farming Practice : Practicing Organic, 100% hand harvested.
Vinification : Fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks for 10 days. Malolactic fermentation begins spontaneously. The wine is blended then aged in concrete vats.

A wine with minimal intervention, a true expression of the Bekaa Valley. Ripe dark fruits against a vibrant juicy core reflects the hot, dry days and cool nights of the valley.

2022 VIEILLES VIGNES MERWEH & OBEIDI

50% MERWEH, 50% OBEIDI

SKU +331658 | $29.99 WHSL | 12 x 750ml | 11% abv

Region : Vineyards are located in North Lebanon’s Bsharreh mountain (Merweh) and Western Bekaa Valley (Obeidi).
Altitude : 1,400 m (4,921 feet) above sea level for Merweh in Bsharreh and 1,100 m (3,609 feet) above sea level for Obeidi in Bekaa Valley.
Age of Vines : Over 100 years for Merweh and over 50 years for Obeidi.
Irrigation : Dry farmed.
Farming Practice : Practicing Organic, 100% hand harvested.
Vinification : Both varieties were cold fermented separately, using wild yeast. Once fermentation was complete, the wines were blended and stored for a short period of time in stainless steel tanks.

Natural aromas of ripened grapes, apple skin and a mix of spices and herbs. Mineral and savoury on the palate, the wine shows notes of dried figs and fresh almonds on the finish.

A blend of two indigenous Lebanese varieties that likely trace their lineage back to the Phoenicians, this wine is made from very old vines grown in altitude.  Merweh vineyards are spread over the mountains of Bsharreh to the west of the Bekaa Valley at 1,400 m altitude, in amongst the famous cedars of Mount Lebanon. It is believed that these vines have not been pruned or treated for the last two decades, resulting in extremely low yields with concentrated flavours.

Obeidi vineyards are grown on the hills of Zahleh - the capital of Bekaa Valley - at 1,100 m altitude. These vines are trained using a pergola system to ensure they enjoy the best sun exposure to reach maximum ripeness and balance in this late-ripening grape. Obeidi is a reliable and very resistant grape, considered to be the backbone of Bekaa Valley’s vines throughout its winemaking history.

2021 VIEILLES VIGNES cinsault

100% cinsault

SKU +475076 | $29.99 WHSL | 12 x 750ml | 13.5% abv

Region : Western Bekaa Valley.
Altitude : 1,050m (3,445 feet) above sea level.
Age of Vines : 50+ years.
Soil : Clay with some limestone.
Irrigation : Dry farmed.
Farming Practice : Practicing Organic, 100% hand harvested.
Vinification : Fermentaion with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats for 10 days. Aged in neutral used French Oak barrels for 8 months.

Cinsault has been farmed in the Bekaa Valley since the mid-19th Century. In 2014 Domaine des Tourelles decided to revive this variety by searching out Cinsault over 50 years of age. A supple wine that beautifully reflects the terroir of the Bekaa Valley.

2021 VIEILLES VIGNES carignan

100% carignan

SKU +331655 | $29.99 WHSL | 12 x 750ml | 14% abv

Region : Western Bekaa Valley.
Altitude : 1,050m (3,445 feet) above sea level.
Age of Vines : 50+ years.
Soil : Clay with some limestone.
Irrigation : Dry farmed.
Farming Practice : Practicing Organic, 100% hand harvested.
Vinification : Fermentaion with indigenous yeasts and aged for 2 years in concrete vats.

Carignan has existed in the Bekaa Valley for over two centuries. In 2018, Domaine des Tourelles decided to introduce Carignan to its family of old vines wines (over 50 years old) in an effort to reconnect with our special Mediterranean identity.

High in acidity with balanced tannins, the wine has dominant flavours of cranberries, raspberries, liquorice and Mediterranean spices.

2018 syrah du liban

100% syrah

SKU +250947 | $49.99 WHSL | 12 x 750ml | 14% abv

Region : Western Bekaa Valley.
Altitude : 1,050m (3,445 feet) above sea level.
Age of Vines : 20-25 years.
Soil : Gravelous with Clay subsoils.
Irrigation : Dry farmed.
Farming Practice : Practicing Organic, 100% hand harvested.
Vinification : Fermentaion with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats for 10 days and aged in new American oak barrels for 24 months.

Excellent variety well suited to the Mediterranean region. Elegant floral notes with an explosive spicy character on the nose and palate. A bold and wonderfully balanced wine with a long persistent finish.

Ginbey gin

TRAditional base of juniper and coriander seeds in harmony with citrus, florals and spices, all sourced from Lebanon.

SKU +447571 | $50.24 WHSL | 12 x 700ml | 40% abv

Main Botanicals : Juniper . Coriander . Angelica Root . Citrus Peels . Mandarin Peels . Liquorice . Cassia . Pomegranate Seeds . Tilia Petals . Rose Petals
Distillation : 400L copper stills

A true mediterranean spirit that is proudly made in Lebanon, GinBey is distilled from 14 Lebanese botanicals selected from various terroirs across the country. Part of the botanicals are steeped for 24 hours before distillation in 400-liter copper stills which is heated by a steam jacker to keep the temperature steady. The more volatile botanicals of rose petal, pomegranate and Tilia petals are placed in a basket for a gentler extraction. After blending, the final spirit is rested in traditional clay jars giving it remarkable finesse and roundness. The delicacy of this Gin is completely unique and both honours and reflect their Lebanese roots. Practicing Organic.

arak brun 5 year special reserve

Arak Brun is a premium Lebanese arak produced by Domaine des Tourelles in the renowned Bekaa Valley.

SKU +371465 | $75.28 WHSL | 6 x 750ml | 53% abv

The production of Arak Brun has been uninterrupted since the inception of the winery in 1868. It is made from estate grown Obeidi and Cinsault grapes, harvested at optimum ripeness, and blended with fresh anise. The arak is produced inside a hundred-year-old cellar, processed traditionally using a three-stage distillation in traditional copper alembics, and aged for 5 years in traditional, hand-crafted clay jars. Practicing Organic.