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                Lebanese Winemakers Thrive Despite War Next Door

   by Heather Murdock

   In some of the most volatile parts of Lebanon where a constant flow of
   refugees cross the border from Syria, one industry continues to
   flourish against the odds.

   Lebanese winemakers say because they survived a brutal civil war in the
   1970s and 1980s, they can survive anything.

   ''''Like fellow winemakers in the region, Ramzi Ghosn, one of the
   owners of Massaya, a small winery in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, says
   exporting their product also means exporting their culture.

   "You know, wine is not about just a product. It's about the people
   behind the wine that makes a difference," said Ghosn.

   Ghosn says he was born during the throws of Lebanon's civil
   war and, like many young people, he left the country to study and work
   abroad.

   "But instead of settling abroad, we decided to come back to our country
   because we think we have a different culture, a different personality
   here," he said.

   By making uniquely Lebanese wines he shows buyers Lebanon's unique
   beauty, which is usually overshadowed in the news by conflicts in the
   Middle East.

   ''And Lebanon's own history of war, he says, is what makes winemakers
   here resilient enough to keep doing business, despite the battles in
   nearby Syria.

   "Damascus is just 15 minutes away over these mountains. We saw wars. I
   mean, I'm terribly sorry for the people who are suffering there. But I
   think as Lebanese we saw dire situations and we overcame them. So you
   have to adjust your business plan accordingly," said Ghosn.

   Across the street from the vineyard is a makeshift refugee camp where
   families crowd into handmade tents, a stark reminder of just how much
   plans have changed for businesses in Bekaa since the Syrian war began
   in the early spring of 2011.

   Most of the more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon -- a country
   of fewer than 5 million people -- live here in Bekaa, stretching its
   land and economy to the limit.

   ''''But at one of Lebanon's oldest and largest wineries, Domaine des
   Tourelles, co-owner Faouzi Issa says the wine business is thriving,
   with Lebanese wines gaining international acclaim and dozens of
   wineries opening their doors in recent years.

   Still, he says, to expand further into international markets, Lebanese
   winemakers first have to let buyers know Lebanon makes wine at all.

   "That's the game I think Lebanese wines has to play everywhere in
   really tackling all the markets that have enough experience in wine
   tastings. And tell them, yes, Lebanon is not only a country that has
   the current problems.  No, we have beautiful wines and people that can
   produce great wines that can be exported everywhere," said Issa.

   But the industry is not immune to the war next door, he adds. With
   tourism down, his plans to open a hotel by the vineyard are stalled
   until the conflict ends.

   "We thought that within two months everything would be solved," he
   said. "It's becoming more and more severe."

   Lebanon produces 9 to 10 million bottles a year, which is tiny compared
   to giants like France, which produces seven to eight billion bottles a
   year.

   But winemakers here say they aren't trying to compete with Europe.

   Their wine, like their country, is different from any other in the
   world, they say.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/lebanese-winemakers-thrive-despite-wa
   r-next-door/2520571.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/lebanese-winemakers-thrive-despite-war-next-door/2520571.html