The Ministry of Agriculture announced on April 24 the Lebanese Wine Day in Berlin which will be held on May 5 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

More than 30 local wineries and 1,500 individuals from different sectors will be participating.

Zafer Chaoui, Chairman of Union Vinicole du Liban (UVL), said: “The purpose behind choosing Germany is because it has a strong economy and large population. It is also considered the most expensive country in Europe,” he said. The majority of wine produced in Germany is white. “Therefore, the deficiency in other wines allows us to penetrate the market with our diverse products,” he said.

The ministry tasked Evention, a local event organization firm, with managing the exhibition. Elie Maamari, Export Manager of Chateaux Ksara, said: “Hotel and restaurant owners, wine importers, and journalists from all over the world will partake in this day.”  The exhibition is expected to achieve the same level of success as that of the Lebanese Wine Day in France. Minister of Agriculture Akram Chouhayib said: “The success of the former event was mainly due to the partnership between the public and private sectors, and coordination between the government, wine producers, and UVL.”

Middle East Airlines (MEA) is offering a 25 percent discount on tickets purchased by participant wineries. The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIA-BLM) is financially supporting the event.

Alain Hakim, Minister of Economy and Trade, said: “This exhibition will create new opportunities to increase exports and enhance the industry’s image in Europe and worldwide.”

Local vineyards stretch over 2,000 hectares with an annual production of eight million bottles, 40 percent of which is exported.