Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Chateau Musar
The Resilient Icon of Lebanese Wine
Est. 1930
About the Estate
Château Musar kept making wine through 15 years of Lebanese civil war. That fact alone tells you what kind of estate this is. Gaston Hochar founded Musar in 1930 after studying in Bordeaux. His son Serge took over as winemaker in 1959, mentored by Bordeaux oenologists including Émile Peynaud. The international breakthrough came in 1979 when Michael Broadbent tasted the 1967 vintage at the Bristol Wine Fair and declared it the find of the event. Through 15 years of civil war (1975-1990), Serge kept production going, sometimes running grapes through checkpoints. Decanter named him its first-ever Man of the Year in 1984 for that effort. The wines are roughly equal blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan from the Bekaa Valley at 1,000 metres altitude, aged up to 7 years before release. Serge passed in 2014; sons Gaston and Marc now lead the estate.
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan (reds); Obaideh, Merwah (whites)
Heritage & Milestones
A journey through time, celebrating the moments that defined our legacy
Vines in Lebanon
Gaston Hochar establishes Chateau Musar in 1930 in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, planting vineyards after his return from studying in Bordeaux. It becomes one of the country’s first major wineries
International Discovery
At the 1979 Bristol Wine Fair, renowned critic Michael Broadbent “discovers” Chateau Musar’s 1967 red, declaring it the “Find of the Fair” and bringing global attention to Musar
Decanter Honor
Decanter magazine names Serge Hochar its inaugural ‘Man of the Year’ in 1984, honoring him for maintaining wine production through Lebanon’s civil war (1975–1990) and consistently crafting superb wines despite the conflict
End of an Era
Serge Hochar dies in 2014 at age 75. Having led Chateau Musar for over fifty years, his passing marks the end of a legendary chapter; his sons Gaston and Marc Hochar now carry Musar’s legacy into the future
Vines in Lebanon
Gaston Hochar establishes Chateau Musar in 1930 in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, planting vineyards after his return from studying in Bordeaux. It becomes one of the country’s first major wineries
International Discovery
At the 1979 Bristol Wine Fair, renowned critic Michael Broadbent “discovers” Chateau Musar’s 1967 red, declaring it the “Find of the Fair” and bringing global attention to Musar
Decanter Honor
Decanter magazine names Serge Hochar its inaugural ‘Man of the Year’ in 1984, honoring him for maintaining wine production through Lebanon’s civil war (1975–1990) and consistently crafting superb wines despite the conflict
End of an Era
Serge Hochar dies in 2014 at age 75. Having led Chateau Musar for over fifty years, his passing marks the end of a legendary chapter; his sons Gaston and Marc Hochar now carry Musar’s legacy into the future
Vineyard Location
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Terroir
Vines grow in the Bekaa Valley at about 1,000 metres altitude, where hot days and cool nights contribute to the balance in the wines. Gravelly, limestone-rich soils and low rainfall stress the vines (which include ungrafted old-vine Cinsault and Carignan), concentrating flavour. The winery sits at Ghazir north of Beirut, but grapes come from Bekaa sites near Aana and Kefraya. Minimal intervention is the rule: ambient yeasts, minimal sulfur, no fining or filtration.
Available Wines
Discover our curated selection from Chateau Musar
