Institute of Vine and Wine launched with private sector

Aims to promote local wine abroad

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) launched the Institute of Vine and Wine. The institute will include representatives from the public and private sectors. The institute will control the produce of grapes and wine, in order to maintain and enhance the quality and quantity, said Salim Wardeh, General Manager at Domaine Wardeh. “It will help promote local wines, thus leading to an increase in exports,” he said.

The public sector is represented at the Institute through the Ministries of Agriculture, Economy and Trade, and Industry. The private sector is represented by Serge Hochar from Château Musar, Carlos Al Adim from Faqra, Charles Ghostin from Ksara, and Assad Hark from St. Thomas winery.

The Institute’s board will meet on May 29 to elect its President and distribute responsibilities among other members. Later, the Institute will seek financial sources. Wardeh said: “The institute will initially be financed by the government with support from the private sector, and we will be searching for financial aid from international institutions. The Institute will gradually start charging for the services it offers, such as quality control and enhancement.”

The institute is located within the premises of the MoA. “Later it will have an independent building, probably in the Bekaa,” Wardeh said.

Wine production reached about ten million bottles last year, of which around 50 percent were exported to international markets.

The MoA announced that a global conference on wine will be held this year from September 30 to October 5 in the Université Saint Esprit Kaslik (USEK). It also said a Lebanese Wine Day is scheduled for February 25, 2014 in Sao Paolo, Brazil.