Massaya

The Ghosn family purchased the Tanaïl property in the early 1970s, but the Lebanese Civil War delayed its development for decades. After the conflict ended in 1991, brothers Sami and Ramzi Ghosn formally established Massaya as a wine producer in 1998. The venture drew in notable French winemaking partners: the Brunier family of Vieux Télégraphe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Hebrard family, formerly of Château Cheval Blanc. In 2014, Massaya expanded with the opening of a second winery in Faqra in the Mount Lebanon range, dedicated to white wine production.

• Family property acquired in the early 1970s; wine production launched in 1998
• French partners included the Brunier family (Vieux Télégraphe) and Hebrard family (ex-Cheval Blanc)
• Faqra winery in Mount Lebanon opened in 2014 for white varieties
• Winemaking heritage in the Bekaa Valley dates back over 5,000 years to the Phoenicians

Massaya's primary estate at Tanaïl sits in the northern Bekaa Valley, approximately 38 kilometers from Baalbek, near the towns of Chtaura and Zahlé. Vineyards at both sites are planted at 1,000 meters elevation. The climate is Mediterranean with dry summers, cool nights, and annual rainfall of 600 to 700 millimeters. Tanaïl soils are stony and clay-limestone, while the Faqra site features chalky clay. These conditions support a broad range of varieties spanning both Rhône and Bordeaux grapes as well as indigenous Lebanese cultivars.

• Tanaïl estate located in north Bekaa Valley, 38km from Baalbek
• Both sites at 1,000 meters elevation with Mediterranean climate
• Tanaïl: stony clay-limestone soils; Faqra: chalky clay soils
• 600 to 700mm annual rainfall with cool nights preserving acidity and freshness

Massaya grows an extensive range of varieties across its two sites. At Tanaïl, red varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Tempranillo. The Faqra site is home to white varieties including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Clairette, Roussanne, and the indigenous Lebanese grapes Obeideh and Merwah. The winery releases five wines per vintage: a white, a rosé, and three reds labeled Classic, Silver Selection, and Gold Reserve. Manual harvesting takes place in September and October with rigorous cluster selection.

• Reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo
• Whites: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Clairette, Roussanne, Obeideh, Merwah
• Five wines released per vintage across three tier levels for reds
• Manual harvest in September and October; all wines aged 20 to 22 months in oak

Massaya is consistently cited as one of Lebanon's most respected and iconic wine producers. The estate is described as the essence of modern-day Lebanon, reflecting the country's rich winemaking history while embracing the international framework its French partners helped establish. Massaya is also recognized as a centerpiece of Lebanon's growing wine tourism industry. Beyond wine, the estate produces traditional Lebanese arak using copper alembics and time-honored methods, underlining its commitment to Lebanese heritage.

• Recognized as one of Lebanon's most iconic boutique wineries
• Described as the essence of modern-day Lebanon despite strong French partnership influence
• Central to Lebanon's wine tourism industry
• Also produces traditional arak using copper alembics