A must-try, this 100% Merwah, a Lebanese white grape variety, will appeal to lovers of both mineral and fruity wines.

A 100% Merwah! Few people are familiar with this indigenous white grape variety, rather similar to French Muscadet, now only found in very small quantities in the Douma area of northern Lebanon. The phylloxera outbreak of the 19th century almost wiped it out.

Planted at an altitude between 1,150 and 1,300 meters in iron-rich sandy-clay soil, it nevertheless produces wines with lovely minerality and lots of fruit.

With worldwide demand for more distinctive wines, more and more wineries are seeking to reintroduce indigenous grape varieties, which they had abandoned in favor of more international varieties such as Syrah or Chardonnay. This is the case at Château Ksara, the oldest Lebanese winery - it was founded in 1857 as a summer retreat for Jesuit missionaries who had just arrived in Lebanon - which offers it as a single varietal to better appreciate its singularity.

That alone makes it worth tasting. Pale yellow in color with green highlights, it stands out for its floral nose, with hints of citrus. Fruity on the palate, it also reveals exotic flavors reminiscent of pineapple. Throughout, this wine retains a fine acidity that gives it balance and length.