The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) announced today that the Lebanese Wine Day in New York will be held on May 2015.
Zafer Chaoui, Chairman of Union Vinicole du Liban (UVL), said: “The purpose behind choosing New York is that it has a strong economy and a large population.”

Chaoui said that they are not targeting the diaspora there, but are instead after US customers. “We already succeeded in several countries like Norway and Denmark that do not host diaspora, where our wines are sold and witnessing large demand,” he said. UVL proposed several options to conduct the wine day such as China and Japan, but MoA chose New York.

The Wine Day in New York will be the third exhibition conducted after the Lebanese Wine Day in France that was held on 14 May 2013 and the day held in Berlin on 6 May 2014. More than 30 local wineries are expected to participate in the Lebanese Wine Day in New York.

The MoA allocates around $100,000 annually, to conduct the event. The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIABML) also supports the event financially. Middle East Airlines (MEA) offers discount on tickets purchased by participant wineries.

“This exhibition will create new opportunities to increase exports and enhance the industry’s image in the US,” said Chaoui. Exports of wine to the US reached $2 million last year, according to Customs and the total value of wine exports exceeded $14 million.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs adopted local wine as its official gift to dignitaries.