Château Héritage, a Family-Owned Winery with a Centuries-Old Winemaking Heritage. Since 1888, the Touma family has been making wine and the Lebanese national spirit, Arak. Inspired by the country’s centuries-old winemaking heritage, Jibran Elias Touma started production, and Château Héritage was formally established by his great-grandson in 1997. With a PhD in food and beverage science, Dr. Dargham Touma has focused on his terroir’s potential for deep-fruited, age-worthy wines. Guests can experience the history and passion behind these wines through tours led by the family.
Château Héritage produces white, rosé, and red wines modern in style but true to the Lebanese terroirs. Hiking trails around the village of Kab-Elias introduce visitors to the beautiful land that gives rise to these characterful wines. In addition to ancient Roman and Ottoman ruins, there is the estate’s farm, where guests can help pick vegetables and hens’ eggs that will be used in the winery’s restaurant. The culinary ethos is to provide an array of Lebanese foods that one’s mother and grandmother would take pride in preparing.
Guided tours take guests through some of the estate’s 64 hectares (spread out over the Bekaa Valley) and then into the winery, where they can witness the family’s fusion of traditional techniques and modern technology. Fermentation takes place in open tanks – a difficult method to master but key to achieving the intensity of Château Héritage’s wines. The family members are all intent on conveying their fierce passion and enjoyment for what they do, and guests routinely come away charmed, particularly after a stay at the 12-bedroom bed and breakfast, a short walk through the village.
The emphasis at Château Héritage is on red wines meant for aging, with an average vine age of 15-20 years. Blends are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, with the ‘Nine’ cuvée featuring all black grapes produced on the estate. White wines are based on Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Muscat, with a sweet version of the latter macerated with green walnuts and fortified to 20% ABV for a wine named ‘Vinoix,’ designed to be savored alongside cigars.
Château Héritage is a family-owned winery with a centuries-old winemaking heritage, offering guests an unforgettable experience in the Bekaa Valley. With its commitment to traditional techniques and modern technology, Château Héritage produces wines that reflect the Lebanese terroirs in all their glory.
