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.
In the early 80’s, “Les Coteaux de Kefraya” 1982 and 1983 win the winery’s first international medals and Château Kefraya starts exporting its wines to France. In 1997, American wine critic Robert Parker awards Comte de M 1996 91/100, qualifying it “An amazing accomplishment in Lebanon”. Today, Château Kefraya is present in more than 40 countries over the five continents.
The influence of a rich and diverse terroir and the use of its own grapes has always been key to Michel de Bustros’ project. Since foundation, Château Kefraya adopts a vision:
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. It crosses the Yammouneh tectonic rift, source of a wide diversity of terroirs, with some geologies dating from the Jurassic and the Cretaceous period.
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.
Moreover, Chateau Kefraya also grows indigenous varieties, such as Obeidi, Merwah and Mekssessé (white grapes) and also revived ancient historic Lebanese red grapes such as Assouad Karech and Asmi Noir, after years of pedologic terroir researches with international institutes.
We are proud to offer worldwide wine lovers organic certified wines and vegan wines.
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.
The journey from vine to bottle is carried out with the most meticulous attention to detail and the oenologist ensures a perfect balance between tradition and modernity in a cellar endowed with state-of-the-art equipment.
Exclusively manual harvest of the grapes Selection of berries on an optical sorting table Separate vinification of micro-parcels
Wine is aged in French oak in a 1000-barrel capacity cellar, as well as in Amphora jars made of clay, perpetuating the Phoenician and Roman tradition.
Every Château Kefraya wine is the result of a blend of several grape varieties. Michel de Bustros: ‘‘The work of art results from the art of blending. Just like a painter combines colors to create a painting, the oenologist blends grape varieties to obtain harmonious wines of distinctive identity”.
(Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc)
In Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, on a tectonic fault at 1100 meters above the Mediterranean, our Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah old vines express the finest micro-terroirs of the region. Aged for over 12 months in oak barrels, this elegant and complex wine offers subtle notes of cherry and spices, with silky tannins.
(Cinsaut, Syrah, Carignan, Tempranillo)
Château Kefraya revives an ancestral know-how that built Phoenicians' fame : Amphora Wine. Derived from the same Phoenician soil, the Amphora cuvée holds Lebanon's history and culture.
(Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carignan)
Moving the art of blending forward, Château Kefraya adds to it the 4th dimension : Time. Milesima 'Gamma' is a fusion of Château Kefraya 2015 to 2021 vintages, combining the vigor of young wines with the maturity of older vintages.
(Syrah, Obeidi)
Phoenician Gate is a tribute to the Lebanese diaspora, which - since our Phoenician ancestors - has spread across the world, embracing the values of their host lands while remaining true to their roots. This fusion of cultures is expressed in this blend made of Syrah with the oriental softness of an indigenous white grape, Obeidi.
(Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Marselan)
‘Coteaux’ is a perfect balance between fruitiness and fine touch of oak. A vineyard grown without irrigation in the Lebanese Bekaa, gives birth to this elegant wine offering a smooth palate of black cherry and spices.
(Cinsaut, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon)
Bretèches is emblematic of the land of Cedars. Our ‘’Lebanon's Cinsaut’’ old vines grow in the Bekaa at 1100 meters above the Mediterranean. They bring intense and sunny freshness to the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as notes of red fruits and subtle hints of oriental spices.
(Assouad Karech, Asmi Noir)
Adéenne (for ADN in French; i.e. DNA) is a blend of 2 forgotten native red grape varieties : Assouad Karech & Asmi Noir, which we have reborn after years of scientific research. Experimental wine with surprising color and palate, Adéenne expresses the aromas of Orient. We suggest serving it chilled.
(Chardonnay, Vermentino)
Château Kefraya Blanc is a unique blend expressing our best parcels of Chardonnay and Vermentino, situated 1100 meters above the Mediterranean. With a subtle touch of oak, it reveals fine oriental aromas of jasmine and green tea, while offering a rich palate of tropical and citrus fruits.
(Obeidi, Merwah, Mekssessé)
Château Kefraya is deep-rooted like a cedar in Lebanon's terroir, which defines its identity. Adéenne (for ADN in French; i.e. DNA) is a blend of 3 indigenous white grape varieties, expressing subtle honey and incense oriental aromas.
(Viognier, Muscat)
Blanc de Blancs is a fine and elegant wine marked by Muscat, named ‘Bakhoury’ in Lebanon : incense in Arabic. It generously and freshly expresses aromas of jasmine, honey and mango.
This limited edition of Blanc de Blancs was specially created by Chateau Kefraya to be enjoyed over ICE.
(Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier)
Bretèches is a fresh and fruity white wine offering the typicity of the Lebanese terroir. It expresses a delicate nose of white flowers and a palate marked by exotic and citrus flavors.
(Clairette)
A glassful of sunshine … This natural sweet wine is made from a selection of golden Clairette grapes harvested in October, then softly pressed. It will enchant you with its gold shiny color and sweet aromas expression.
(Sauvignon Blanc)
Nectar de Kefraya is a Mistelle: a must made from white grapes, gently pressed and fortified before fermentation with brandy distilled and aged in barrels at the château.
(Syrah, Tempranillo, Grenache)
Château Kefraya Rosé stands out with its finesse, the elegance of a pastel robe and silver highlights. It offers a mouthful of complex and subtle aromas of citrus and red fruits.
(Grenache, Syrah)
With a light pastel robe, MYST is fine and elegant. It offers fresh notes of red fruits, whose generosity embodies the Lebanese joie de vivre.
(Syrah, Grenache, Cinsaut)
Bretèches is a fruity rosé wine marked by “Cinsaut du Liban”, flourishing in the snowy Bekaa Valley at an altitude of 1000 meters. It offers aromas of red and citrus fruits, blending on the palate with freshness and delicacy.
Arak de Kefraya is made exclusively from grapes and distilled 4 times to obtain a fine and elegant arak.
The “Château Kefraya” wines are emblematic of the domain. Harmoniously combining power and elegance, they are the finest expression of our micro-terroirs.
Light, fresh and fruity, these are wines for all seasons and all occasions.Bretèches gets its name from a “bretèche”, a projecting window with floor openings originally used for defensive purposes, which is a feature of the castle on the Château Kefraya estate.
Elegant and aromatic wines, suitable for various culinary experiences, but also for the simplicity of a casual atmosphere. They are modern and contemporary wines.
A natural sweet white wine and a mistelle, to enhance your starters or desserts.
Lebanon’s national drink, Arak is typically enjoyed withmezze dishes or as an aperitif.
Tribute to the Phoenicians who used to grow their vineyards in the same Bekaa Valley more than 4000 years ago, the labels of Comte de M and Comtesse de M portray our ancestors who invented the first alphabet and used to export wine around the Mediterranean Sea.
(Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah)
Comte de M is a tribute to our Phoenician ancestors, who grew their vines 6000 years ago. Hand-picked Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah express the essence of our highest micro-terroirs, nestled at 1100 meters. Matured in oak barrels for more than 18 months, Comte de M offers a velvety mouth and aromas of black fruits and cedar wood, with well-melted tannins.
(Chardonnay, Viognier)
Comtesse de M is a tribute to our Phoenician ancestors, who grew their vines 6000 years ago in this same Bekaa Valley. This micro-cuvée is crafted from our finest parcels, where hand-picked Chardonnay and Viognier express the essence of our highest micro-terroirs, nestled at 1100 meters. Matured in oak barrels for more than 12 months, it offers a perfect balance between fine oak and fruit’s purity.
More than 4000 years ago, vines were already growing in the land of Canaan, what is today Lebanon. Our Phoenicians ancestors were among the first to ferment grape juice from the vines growing in the Bekaa valley.
More than 4000 years ago, vines were already growing in the land of Canaan, what is today Lebanon. Our Phoenicians ancestors were among the first to ferment grape juice from the vines growing in the Bekaa valley.They exported their wine around the Mediterranean Sea, where wrecks of two Phoenician vessels were found in 1999 with hundreds of wine amphorae on board, evidencing that the wine from our terroir has been appreciated for thousands of years. To honor this tradition, our wines are shipped from the ‘’Phoenicians’ Gate”.
A few centuries later, at the beginning of the first millennium, the Romans - who inherited wine knowledge - built the temple of the god of wine Bacchus in Baalbeck (50km from Kefraya).The Romans settled for a long period on the land of Kefraya and left many vestiges such as a wine press made of stones…
Since the 11th century, the inhabitants of the region have been producing Arak, an aniseed-based eau de vie made from distilled grape juice, a tradition that is now the cornerstone of Lebanon's culinary heritage.
The West Bekaa region offers a rich cultural heritage and history. On your way from the Shouf region to Kefraya, don’t miss Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve and the 19th century Beit-Eddine Palace, together with the spectacular view over the Bekaa valley.
Château Kefraya offers a guided tour of the estate. The “train” leaves l’Allée du Château and takes you to a tour of the vineyards, until the “observation point” and its panoramic view over the vines.
Explore the exceptional site of Dahr-el-Moghr and its hypogea or underground tomb, a reminiscence of the Roman presence in the 3rd century A.D.
In the museum, discover Château Kefraya’s history, then take a tour of the cellar where you will learn the different steps of winemaking before reaching the Treasure Room where Château Kefraya’s most valuable vintages rest, some of them being still available for sale at the boutique.
Arak lovers will enjoy the Alembic Room where our Arak is distilled exclusively from grapes.
Take a stroll in the winery’s parks, all named after famous opera composers; the perfect venue for weddings and banquets.
The domain welcomes you all year long and our team is at your disposal to organize tours and private events.
In the heart of the vineyards, treat yourself to a delicious meal at Le Relais Dionysos and enjoy great vintages at friendly prices.
You are then invited to the Dionysos boutique for a wide tasting of our wines. We also propose a rich assortment of wines accessories, in addition to our collection of furniture that gives a second life to oak wine barrels.
At L'Atelier workshop, you will experience the art of blending by making a tailor-made wine from a wide range of grape varieties. A unique opportunity to create a cuvée bearing your own name.
Michel de Bustros' passions for art and opera have accompanied the development of the domain, where wine and art have been intimately linked through several artistic tributes over the time.
For 20 years, a new canvas painted by a Lebanese female artist has been selected for the label of the Château Kefraya red wine. The private collection of paintings is now displayed in the main hall of the chateau, converted into an art gallery.
Château Kefraya also offers young graphic Lebanese artists the opportunity to entirely create a new label for every Les Bretèches vintage, printed in limited edition.
Named after lyric composers such as Verdi, Bellini and Puccini, the winery’s gardens are a tribute to opera, while each Blanc de Blancs vintage is dedicated to an opera heroine.
Château Kefraya: Huguette Caland, Martha Hraoui, Minou Tabbara, Mouna Bassili Sehnaoui, Yvette Achkar, Ghada Saghyeh, Youmna Asseily, Joanna Rizk, Mireille Boustany Angelina, Afaf Zurayk and Rim el Jundi.
Les Bretèches: Mazen Kerbaj, Yazan Halwani, Lara Khoury, Ivan Debs, Zena Assi, Karen Klink, Antoine Salamé, Sandra Sahyoun, Carla Sayad, and Wael Hamadeh.
In 2022, CHATEAU KEFRAYA adopted the principles and values of the Amfori BSCI Code of Conduct, while endeavoring for its equal implementation from all its business partners worldwide.
The Amfori BSCI Code of Conduct refers to international conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines, UN Global Compact and International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions and Recommendations, all relevant to improve working conditions at every stage of supply chains.
The long-term goal of this commitment is ensuring best working conditions and total respect of human rights.
We invite our business partners to read BSCI code of conduct https://www.amfori.org/amfori-BSCI-code-of-conduct.pdf and to adhere to it.
In line with a sustainable development policy and an integrated approach to viticulture, the vineyards are not irrigated. Vines are grown naturally with minimal intervention, encouraging biodiversity in a healthy environment. The domain is surrounded by pyracanthas while many other species flourish in a sumptuous setting of pine, cypress, oak, cedar and olive trees.
“A wine-grower who loves his vines visits them, talks to them and touches them. The vine feels it and responds positively. There is certainly a communication between man and the fauna. Then, why not between man and the flora?” Michel de Bustros.