Chateau Musar

After spending time in France, where he grew fascinated with Bordeaux Chateaux and Rhône grape varieties, Gaston Hochar returned to Lebanon determined to start a project that would combine French winemaking skill with the long viticultural history of his home country. Chateau Musar was born of this passion and has been producing world-renowned wines since 1930. The story of Hochar’s family commitment is one of resilience and dedication – not many can claim to have weathered world and civil wars without halting production. Through decades of political unrest and regional conflicts, the Hochar family’s unwavering dedication to their craft has become legendary in the wine world, making their survival story as compelling as their wines.

Chateau Musar’s red vineyards – where Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan are grown – are situated at the southern end of the Bekaa Valley, about 30 km south-east of Beirut.

They lie near the villages of Aana and Kefraya, at an altitude of about 1000m, on gravelly soils over limestone. The complexity of the soil profile and the vineyards’ different exposures directly contribute to the character and complexity of the wines. The white varieties, the two indigenous Lebanese grapes Obaideh and Merwah, are grown at higher altitudes of up to 1500 metres, thus benefiting from cooler conditions and higher light exposure. These unique growing conditions, combined with the region’s Mediterranean climate and the moderating influence of the mountains, create an ideal environment for producing wines of exceptional quality and distinctive character.

Many are puzzled about why Musar’s winery is a winding and rocky one-hour drive from the vineyards in the Bekaa valley. This geographical separation, while seemingly impractical, was actually a strategic decision that has proven crucial to the winery’s success and longevity over the years.

When Gaston Hochar embarked on his winemaking journey, Lebanon’s territorial boundaries were still being established. With remarkable foresight and strategic planning, he was determined to ensure his winery would be situated within the soon-to-be-defined Lebanese borders. After careful consideration, he chose to establish his winery within his family’s historic 18th-century castle in Ghazir, a predominantly Maronite Christian community positioned approximately 20 kilometers north of Beirut. The castle’s strategic location, perched majestically overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, would later prove to be an invaluable asset to the winery’s operations and survival. During harvest season, maintaining the highest quality standards, Bedouin workers meticulously hand-pick the grapes in the cool dawn hours to preserve their optimal freshness. These precious fruits are then carefully transported across the mountainous terrain to reach the winery in Ghazir.

Certified organic since 2006, Chateau Musar stands as a true pioneer in organic viticulture, having faithfully adhered to sustainability principles since the estate’s very inception. This unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship has been integral to their winemaking philosophy for nearly a century.

The exceptional quality of Musar’s wines stems from a harmonious combination of factors: their stringent viticultural standards, the unique characteristics of the Bekaa Valley’s diverse landscape, and their distinctive ageing and blending processes in the cellar. This meticulous attention to detail at every stage of production contributes to creating wines of remarkable complexity and extraordinary aging potential.

These distinctive wines have earned a devoted following among both professional sommeliers and discerning collectors worldwide. Chateau Musar’s wines are crafted with patience and precision, designed to be savored thoughtfully, deserving the same dedication in appreciation as the Hochar family invests in their creation. Following their strict quality standards, all wines from the estate undergo an extensive aging process – a minimum of three years in barrel followed by four years in bottle before release. This philosophy was perfectly encapsulated by Serge Hochar, Gaston’s eldest son, who served as Musar’s winemaker from 1959 until his passing in 2014, in his often-quoted wisdom:

“If you give my wines more time, they will give you more joy”.