Ixsir Winery

The only Middle Eastern country without a desert, Lebanon’s topography is favorable for wine production as it consists of mountains, valleys, and coastal areas that are hospitable to many different grape varieties.

IXSIR cultivates its wine grapes in several different zones, including Batroun in the North, Jezzine in the South, and the Bekaa Valley in the East.

IXSIR produces a wide spectrum of grape varieties, from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Caladoc, and Viognier, Muscat (grape and wine), Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Sémillon.

IXSIR means “elixir” in Arabic (Al-Ikseer), and in Greek (IKSIR), which is usually a potion guaranteeing eternal life, as well as a mixture intended to cure one’s ills.

Historically, Arabs have given names to wine denoting medicinal attributes, such as: Al Teriaqa, which means “a medicine that cures from worries”, and was also called Ixsir at a certain period of time because, according to them, it was a magical potion that gave longevity.

Elixirs are known to be well-kept secret recipes and essences, and this reinforces IXSIR’s Unique Selling Proposition: “Revealing the secret essence of the best terroirs of Lebanon”.

IXSIR is a euphonic word easily understood in both English and French, while also having a metaphoric meaning that conveys the “goodness of wine”.

IXSIR is the fruition of a partnership between friends who share the same passion for wine, Lebanon, and the dream of associating the name of a prominent wine to their fatherland.

Wine has been considered the nectar of the gods for millennia, echoed in stone by the imposing temples of Baalbek.

Until recently, however, pleasing the international wine market has proven more difficult for Lebanese wines than pleasing the gods, due to a number of administrative quality control issues.

IXSIR, a new local label launching summer 2010 with winning reviews from top international wine critics, is rising to this challenge with a fierce commitment to quality in taste and a sincere effort to put Lebanese wines back on the world map, one glass at a time.

Wines at Ixsir Winery