CHATEAU KEFRAYA - Located in the West Bekaa Valley, the large estate of Château Kefraya has been the Bustros family’s property for generations.
The castle is built starting 1946 on an artificial hill used by the Romans centuries ago to observe their troop movements. Founder and visionary Michel de Bustros undertakes massive works to implant Château Kefraya’s vineyards on those magnificent hillsides. The first vines are planted in 1951 and in 1979 - despite the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990) - Château Kefraya starts producing its own wine with its own grapes grown in its own vineyard and vinified in its own cellar.
The vineyard spreads over 300 hectares of terraced slopes, 1000 meters above the Mediterranean Sea, on the foothills of Mount Barouk in the Bekaa Valley.
Clay-limestone, clay-chalk as well as sandy and gravelly soils compose a real mosaic of terroirs. The vines enjoy an exceptional sun exposure with no irrigation. They are mainly trellised with a planting density of 4000 vines per hectare and an average yield limited to 35 hectoliters per hectare.
In addition to the diversity of soil, Château Kefraya uses a wide and exciting range of grape varieties in its blends, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier as well as more unusual varieties such as Carménère, Marselan and Muscat à Petits Grains.
A sustainable wine-growing policy allows the vines to flourish, while respecting the terroir’s expression. Significant variations in temperatures between day and night ensure a perfect ripening of the grapes and optimal harvest conditions.
Arak de Kefraya is a white alcohol, in which the very best French distillation methods are matched with Lebanese tradition. Arak de Kefraya is the only one which is distilled four times and from which methanol is taken out.
Traditionally in Lebanon, Arak goes with mezze. It is served in small glasses with 50% Arak and 50% fresh water with ice cubes. In Europe, it is enjoyed as an appetizer with 1/5 arak and 4/5 fresh water with ice cubes.