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Ramzi and Sami Ghosen founded and succesfully launched the top winery Massaya in partnership with Dominique Hébrard (co-owner of Château Cheval Blanc), Hubert de Boüard de Laforest (Château L'Angélus) and Daniel Brunier (Le Vieux Télégraphe/Châteauneuf-du-Pape) on 27 May 1998.
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Their Father, Michael Ghosn, already bought land in the Bekaa Valley in the early 1970s. The beginning of the civil war in 1975, however, forced the family to leave the country letting their property in Tanaïl behind - a difficult step, especially for Sami and Ramzi, who were 6 and 8 years old at that time. Later, they worked successfully as architects and managers in the USA and France. They eventually forgot about their estate in Lebanon
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But when Sami (left) visited lebanon in 1992 the idea to cultivate vines was reborn. He moved back to Lebanon, invested $300,000 in a distillery and started producing Arak. His younger brother Ramzi (right), then followed him to his homeland.
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In 1994, he suggested bottling the aniseed schnapps in a blue designer bottle calling it "Massaya", the Arabic word for dusk - the name was supposed to recall the incomparable and beautiful sund down in the Lebanon Mountains. The Arak immediately became a huge success thanks to its remarkable quality, traditional production and innovative bottle.
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But Sami Ghosn's ambitions were even greater, since he wanted to make wine. Sami met Dominique Hébrard (then co-owner of the Château Cheval Blance in St.-Émilion, now Château Trianon) and was able to convince him to join his plans. Then two additional French partners joined the project.
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On May 27. 1998 "Massaya", a French-Lebanese co-production, was officially presented to the public. The success was sustainable. They already had three different product lines (Classic, Selection and Reserve) with six different wines by 1999.
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The white wines are easy to drink and have somewhat of an attractive feminine character, the pithy-masculine, long-lasting red wines have dreamlike aromas and are full of fruit. The top red wine, Gold Reserve, is a cuvée with a Bordeaux style, vinified from Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvèdre than aged for at least 9 months in barriques.
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The 40-hectare vineyard include the grape varieties Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Clairette and Chardonnay. The density is 4,000 vines/ha. Meanwhile 80% of the wines are exported, 45% to Europe, 15% to Great Britain and Ireland, 20% to the USA and Canada. And the remaining 15% to neighbouring Arab countries.
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Around 12 million dollars have been invested into the winery since 1998. The goal of Sami and Ramzi Ghosn, however, is not to become as big as Ksara or Kefraya, but to produce outstanding wines that are sold in selected wine boutiques and restaurants worldwide. In Paris, for example, they can already be found in the wine cellars of famous hotels such as Ritz, Le Crillion and Georges V... Production is therefore limited to 500,000 bottles per year.
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In addition to wine and arak they also produce exclusiv honey and olive oil under the name "Nay" (reed flute invented over 5,000 years agao and the oldest musical instrument in the world). Bboth products are produced by the company itself. Further Lebanese delicacies will to follow.
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