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JEAN TANNOURI, THE WINEMAKER<br />
AT CHATEAU KA, IN THE WINERY<br />
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS<br />
Kassatly Chtaura was founded in 1974 by CEO and winemaker Akram Kassatly, who first introduced<br />
bottled Jallab for home-preparation into the market. After a resounding success with these concentrated<br />
syrups, the company introduced a range of liqueurs in the 1980s, and fruit juices, jams and<br />
fruit smoothies in the 1990s. Going from one success story to another, the product portfolio also<br />
includes Buzz, a vodka mix, and Freez, a non-alcoholic carbonated fruit beverage.<br />
Attempting to produce wine back in 1974 was extremely dangerous due to the Lebanese Civil War, but<br />
in 2005 Kassatly realized his dream when the first Chateau Ka bottle was released from vines planted<br />
on its own 65 hectares of land. The main varietals in Chateau Ka’s range include Cabernet Sauvignon,<br />
Merlot and Syrah for the reds and Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat and Viognier for the whites.<br />
A conversation with winemaker Jean Tannouri details the carefully planned process from the moment<br />
the vines are hand-harvested to storage of the wines after bottling. At Chateau Ka, wine is treated<br />
with great care and respect. Tannouri believes his wines are the ultimate expression of their terroir.<br />
They are a labor of love, a reflection of a passion for the land and a vehicle for cultural exchange.<br />
The wines have won international medals and awards. The product range includes 6 blends of red,<br />
white and rosé wines.<br />
SINCE 1857<br />
Chateau Ksara is the oldest winery in the Middle East. It was founded in 1857 in Ksara in the Bekaa<br />
by Jesuit priests, who inherited and farmed a 25-hectare plot of land. Recognizing the quality of<br />
the terroir, they decided to grow grapes for winemaking, thereby blazing the trail for the modern<br />
Lebanese wine industry.<br />
In 1973, recognizing its importance and potential, a consortium acquired Chateau Ksara. Since<br />
then, it has consistently produced high quality wines that mirror the characteristics of their terroir.<br />
AUTUMN 2023 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE<br />
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