LEBANON
Uncovering the Fascinating History of Wine
Lebanon is one of the oldest wine-growing regions, with origins dating back to 2686 B.C., and has had a significant influence on the art of wine preservation, being among the first to preserve its wine through the use of amphorae. The two most famous wineries in Lebanon are Chateau Ksara and Chateau Musar. Musar is not a typical Lebanese wine. It is produced naturally and the bottles are kept for several years before being released for sale.
Château Musar
Rouge (Gaston Hochar)
Chateau Musar Red is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault. It’s fermented in cement barrels, transferred to French barrels and aged for one year. The wines are blended, blended and aged in cement tanks for 12 months before bottling. The bottles are stored in the cellar of Chateau Musar for another four years before being released to the market. The entire process from harvest to bottling takes seven years.
Château Musar
Blanc (Gaston Hochar)
Musar White is a blend of the native grape varieties Obaideh and Merwah, which are related to Chardonnay and Semillon. The Obaideh vineyards have stony and calcareous soils, while the Merwah vineyards have calcareous gravelly soils. The process for the white wine is slightly different from that of the red wine. It is fermented and aged for 9 months in French oak barriques, then blended, bottled and aged for six years before being released to the market.
"CHATEAU MUSAR'S WINES ARE A REFLECTION OF LEBANON, EACH SIP REVEALING THE COMPLEX LAYERS OF FLAVORS AND AROMAS THAT REFLECT THE RICH HISTORY AND DIVERSE CULTURAL INFLUENCES OF THE REGION."
Sazan Allija - DeVyne Co-Founder / Director
Spanish
Uncovering the Fascinating History of Wine
It is generally believed that the export of Spanish wine began during Roman rule, and demand increased steadily in the following centuries. In the 17th century, Spain experienced a significant increase in exports, which was exacerbated during the phylloxera plague. As French wine production was the most affected, many countries, including France, turned to Spanish wine. Today, thanks to the perseverance and passion for the terroir and the vines, we can taste some of the iconic grape varieties such as Tempranillo, Garnacha, Monastrell, Verdejo and Albarino.
Dominio de Pingus
Pingus
Danish-born enologist Peter Sisseck arrived in Spain in 1993, where he discovered Pingus’ new home in the Ribera del Duero region. The first vintage to come to market was 1995 and was named one of the best Tempranillos by Wine Advocate. After ageing his first vintages in new barriques, Peter gradually abandoned this technique for the later vintages, producing a limited number of cases each year.
Vega Sicilia
Unico
Founded in 1859 by Eloy Lecanda, the winery was purchased by the Herrero brothers at the beginning of the 20th century. It was then that the famous winemaker Domingo Garramiola Txomin began working with Vega Sicilia, introducing the Bordeaux system of ageing in barriques. His first vintage was the Vega Sicilia Unico of 1915, which requires no less than 10 years for this complex ageing process, with the wine spending six years in wood and then four years in bottle.
Marqués de Murrieta
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Tinto
Owned by the Luciano de Murrieta y García-Lemoine family since 1852, it passed to the Cebrián-Sagarriga family in 1983. The famous Castillo Ygay, made from Tempranillo and Mazuelo, has its own unique ageing process, with the Tempranillo ageing for three years in American oak and the Mazuelo ageing for three years in new French oak. After blending, the wine spends one year in concrete and then three years in bottles before being released to the market.
"VEGA SICILIA UNICO IS A WINE THAT TRANSCENDS TIME, A TRUE MASTERPIECE THAT EMBODIES THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND PASSION OF SPAIN'S WINEMAKING TRADITION."
Sazan Allija - DeVyne Co-Founder / Director
Italian
Uncovering the Fascinating History of Wine
The Greeks settled in southern Italy and exported their art of viticulture to Italy. Impressed by the mild climate, perfect for growing and making wine, they began to call Italy Oenotria. The Romans improved the technique used by the Greeks and the demand for wine increased rapidly. Wine was drunk with every meal, and since the alcohol content was higher, it had to be mixed with water. The Romans discovered that storing wine in closed containers made it better with age and were the first to store it in wooden barrels. In Italy, more than 400 grape varieties are grown and used to make wines. The most popular wines are Barolo, Barbaresco, Amarone, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and all super Tuscan.
Giacomo CONTERNO - RISERVA
Barolo Riserva Monfortino
Giovanni Conterno founded the winery in the early 1900s near Monforte d’Alba in Piemonte, and until 1920 the wine was sold in demijohns or barrels. Giacomo Conterno, Giovanni Conterno’s son, decided to change the method of making Barolo by ageing the wine after bottling. Barolo Riserva Monfortino is made from Nebbiolo grapes that macerate on the skins for five weeks before ageing in wooden barrels for seven years. About 580 cases are produced per vintage.
Antinori
Tenuta Tignanello 'Solaia'
The Tenuta Tignanello winery is located in the heart of Chianti Classico. The sunniest part of the Tignanello slope is home to the Solaia vineyard, with soils formed from Pliocene marine marlstone rich in limestone and slate. Solaia boasts the best Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese grapes from its namesake vineyard. The winery’s two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been called “one of the most influential super Tuscans in the history of Italian winemaking” by the international press.
Biondi-Santi
Brunello di Montalcino
The most famous Brunello di Montalcino for Brunello lovers is Biondi-Santi. It all started in 1867 with the production of Moscadello wine by Clemente Santi. The Biondi-Santi Riserva 1891 is considered his best vintage ever. Franco Biondi Santi defended the traditional way of making Brunello, refusing to use new barrels or oak because Sangiovese is naturally rich in tannins and doesn’t need the heavy tanning of new oak. The winery produces three wines: Brunello Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino. After the cessation of production in 2010, Biondi-Santi has reintroduced in 2021 the system of refilling, in which the wine bottle is filled with the same vintage to the desired level and the cork is replaced.
“THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND TRADITION MAKE THE SUPER-TUSCAN WINES THE EXPRESSION OF THE ITALIAN WINE ART”
Sazan Allija - DeVyne Co-Founder / Director
French
Uncovering the Fascinating History of Wine
France was a land without vines and wine until the arrival of the Greeks and Romans. Monks tended vineyards and preserved the knowledge and skills of wine making. France’s centuries-long reign as a leading wine-producing country came to an abrupt end when cultivation was wiped out by the spread of phylloxera across Europe between 1870 and 1908. Following this crippling plague, the French government introduced the wine classification system in 1930 to minimise the threat from competing wine countries. Today, wine is produced in almost every region of France, with Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and the Loire Valley leading the way.
Burgundy Côte de Nuits Red - GRAND CRU
DOMAINE LEROY - Musigny
Founded in 1868 by François Leroy, who owns the Mersault Pommard, Chambertin, Musigny, Clos Vougeot and Richebourg estates. In 1912, Henri Leroy joined the family business and in 1942, after acquiring 50% of the shares from his friend Henri, became co-owner of Domaine Romanée Conti, which is still owned by the Leroy family. The Musigny from Domaine Leroy is for many collectors one of the rarest wines ever.
Burgundy Côte de Nuits Red - GRAND CRU
Romanée Conti
In 1200, the vineyard was cultivated by the Abbey of Saint Vivant in Vosne. It is believed that the vines were cultivated by the Romans, which gave them the name Romanée. In 1700, the Prince of Conti bought the vineyard and gave it the name Romanée Conti, without sharing a single bottle with anyone. The Duvault-Blochet family set out in 1800 and launched one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Since 1942, the Domaine has been jointly owned by the de Villaine and Leroy/Roch families.
The high demand for certain vintages and the fact that the Domaine produces only 560 cases per year make Romanée Conti the most prized Pinot Noir on the market.
Domaine de La Romanée-Conti
Montrachet Grand Cru
In 1200, the vineyard was cultivated by the Abbey of Saint Vivant in Vosne. It is believed that the vines were cultivated by the Romans, which gave them the name Romanée. In 1700, the Prince of Conti bought the vineyard and gave it the name Romanée Conti, without sharing a single bottle with anyone. The Duvault-Blochet family set out in 1800 and launched one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Since 1942, the Domaine has been jointly owned by the de Villaine and Leroy/Roch families.
The high demand for certain vintages and the fact that the Domaine produces only 280 cases per year make DRC Montrachet the most highly valued Chardonnay on the market.
Bordeaux Pomerol - Grand Vin
Château Pétrus - POMEROL
Bordeaux, France, Chateau Petrus owned by the Moueix family with 28 hectares of vines Petrus produces 100% Merlot. In 1964, Jean-Pierre Moueix hired Jean-Claude Berrouet, enologist and winemaker, who produced 45 vintages. The vines are planted on the highest hill of Pomerol and produce only 30,000 bottles per year. Every wine lover loves to have his Petrus case.