2014 Château Cana – Mariage de Cana

The name itself takes on a highly symbolic meaning since it represents the wedding that happened in Cana of Galilée and precisely in south Lebanon, where Jesus Christ transformed water into wine.The vines are planted on terraces; and consequently the grapes are handpicked during the harvest season, which is softer on the vines and helps with the quality control, such as dismissing under ripe or rotten grapes. The sorted grapes are quickly de-stemmed and crushed. With our minimal intervention model of wine making, the must (or juice) can begin fermenting naturally within 6-12 hours. After around 3 weeks of fermentation, maturing of Mariage de Cana takes place naturally by allowing the wine to rest in stainless tanks to undergo the malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged in oak barrels to add complexity, reduce the acidity and round the tannins.

Technical Information

• Year: 2014

• Grape variety: 35% Cinsault - 35% Cabernet Sauvignon - 30% Syrah

• Fermentation: In stainless steel tanks

• Maturing: 18 month in new oak barrels of 225 Liters

• Alcohol content: 14.5%

• Serving temperature: 12-18°C

• Altitude: The vines are located 900 meters above sea levels. They are hand picked and sorted on the spot

• Yield: The average yield per vine doesn’t exceed 2 kilograms. The majority of our vines stretch over ancient terraced slopes and enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year.

• Talking points: This deep velvety aged red wine has fresh red and black fruit notes. This wine is complex with a round and smooth texture in the mouth.

Find this and more exceptional selections at Kaasak.

Arak Baladi  is initially a pretty new arak varieties.

This Lebanese arak, however, belongs to the favorites among the compatriots already. Thus, however, this is also becoming more and more famous!

Finally, the Arak Baladi  is both strong and elegant.

The strong aroma is clearly noticeable in the bouquet as well as in the taste. In this respect, this brandy also has an honest and traditional effect on the drinker. Accordingly, gentle nuances of licorice unfold here again.

A really clear and honest arak from Lebanon. And despite its intense and impulsive personality, this arak still seems very approachable. Accordingly, even a little too seductive. Because once you start drinking it, some people might find it hard to stop. Especially if the the arak is drunk chilled and of course with ice cubes in the summer.

However, this brandy can be drunk with numerous dishes. Among them, of course, raw meat such as tartar or carpaccio. However, this arak is indeed one of the few varieties that can be drunk on its own.

Said Touma came from a family with a long history in the alcohol business and founded Clos St. Thomas in 1997. The winery was named after the chapel of St. Thomas, found in the heart of the vineyards.

Arak Touma is distilled four times using a variety of grapes and quality aniseed.

Arak Fakra is an extra special baladi Arak, distilled in keeping with the ancestral Lebanese traditions with a selection of clusters of grapes and top-quality aniseed. It is then aged until maturity in baked clay jars which gives it a taste unlike any other.

Arak is the national Lebanese beverage. Today, over 100 years later, this family's descendants perpetuate the traditions of the Lebanese mountain by producing with the same method and according to the same formula that rare arak bearing the name of Arak Fakra, a name inspired by a prestigious site of that mountain situated at an altitude of more then 1500 meters. Already long before our era, the Romans had chosen this area to raise temples devoted to their divinities among which that of Venus and monuments honoring emperor Claudius (10AC - 54AD) whose name was Baalgalassos. The shadow of these temples' ruins still hands today over the cellars where Arak Fakra comes to maturity.

Chateau Ksara's Merwah is a profound and ancient expression of Lebanon's formidable terroir. Made from 60-year-old vines, grown on the terraced hill of the tiny, North Lebanese village of Douma at over 1,500 meters, giving freshness and flavor intensity to the fruit. It is hand harvested at very low yields in the mid-October and vinified with minimal intervention.

The Merwah's rounded character and inherent complexity allows it to be enjoyed alone or with food.

FOOD PAIRING: Aperitif, Cold cuts, Grilled fish and seafood, Lebanese Mezze, Light cheese - Goat cheese, Pasta and pizza

Find this and more exceptional selections at Kaasak.

Arak Massaya has a beguiling aniseed flavor and freshness that cleans the palate and aids digestion. It is often served as an aperitif and then as the perfect accompaniment to classic selections of mezze, the array of tasty dishes with contrasting flavours that is the starting point for many lunchtime or evening meals.

Arak works particularly well with the mezze melange that will include olives, spices, meat and cheese flavors that are sometimes harder to match with wine.