Ixsir Altitudes White 2022

Region and Vineyards

The Ixsir vineyards are spread across Lebanon, from the cool mountains of Batroun and Jezzine to the Bekaa Valley, reaching altitudes as high as 1,800 metres. These exceptional elevations provide freshness, diurnal shifts, and extended ripening, ensuring aromatic precision and natural acidity in the wines. The diversity of soils, ranging from limestone-rich terrains to clay and sandy loams, allows each grape variety to express its full personality.

Lebanon's viticultural history stretches back millennia, making it one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world. Today, Ixsir embodies this heritage through sustainable practices and meticulous vineyard management. The winery's commitment to biodiversity and respect for terroir has made it a pioneer in sustainable Lebanese viticulture, reflecting both authenticity and international recognition.

Winemaking

Altitudes White 2022 is a blend of Obeideh, Muscat, and Viognier. Obeideh, an ancient Lebanese variety, provides backbone and freshness, Muscat contributes its unmistakable aromatic lift, and Viognier brings texture and exotic fruit depth. The grapes are harvested by hand to preserve their integrity, often in the cool of early morning to retain aromatic intensity.

Vinification is carried out with a focus on purity. Gentle pressing is followed by fermentation in stainless steel under temperature control, ensuring aromatic retention and vibrancy. The wine is aged on fine lees for added complexity and mouthfeel, creating a harmonious balance between freshness and depth.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Pale straw with green highlights, shimmering with youthful brilliance.
• Aroma: Expressive bouquet of orange blossom, fresh citrus, and delicate white flowers, underpinned by stone fruit and subtle exotic notes.
• Palate: Bright and refreshing, with Muscat's floral dominance giving way to Viognier's silky texture and nuanced fruit, balanced by Obeideh's crisp acidity. The finish is elegant, persistent, and finely poised.

Did you know?

Obeideh, one of the grapes in this blend, is considered a native Lebanese variety and is thought to have been used historically in the production of the region's famed arak. Today, it is gaining renewed recognition as a quality component in modern Lebanese wines.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Grilled sea bass with lemon and herbs - the wine's citrusy freshness complements the delicate, flaky fish.
• Chicken tagine with preserved lemons - aromatic spices and zesty accents harmonize with Muscat's floral lift.
• Goat cheese salad with figs and walnuts - the creamy tang of the cheese is enlivened by the wine's crisp acidity.
• Sushi and sashimi - the wine's finesse and floral elegance enhance the purity and umami of raw fish.

History of Ixsir

Ixsir was conceived by a group of partners—Étienne Debbané, Hady Kahale, Carlos Ghosn, and Gabriel (Gabi) Rivero—with a simple, ambitious idea: to revive historic mountain vineyards across Lebanon and craft blends that articulate site more than stereotype. Early consultation from Bordeaux luminaries such as Hubert de Boüard and the late Denis Dubourdieu helped shape the estate's stylistic compass toward clarity of fruit, refined tannins and measured oak.

From the outset, Ixsir operated as a multi-terroir project. Grapes are harvested by hand across dispersed, high-elevation plots, transported cool, and vinified by gravity in an energy-efficient, partly subterranean cellar. The winery lies beneath a restored 17th-century residence in Basbina (Batroun), reimagined by Raëd Abillama Architects and recognized by international design awards for its sustainability. The architectural statement mirrors the wines' ethos: modernity anchored in place.

Region and Vineyards

Lebanon's viticultural core combines Mediterranean influence with mountain altitude. The Bekaa Valley, a dry plateau around 1,000 metres, benefits from limestone soils, abundant winter rainfall and pronounced diurnal shifts, naturally preserving acidity. Coastal-mountain districts such as Batroun and Jezzine add wind-cooled mesoclimates and calcareous profiles, broadening the palette of aromas and textures.

Ixsir sources from a north-to-south patchwork of sites: Basbina (Batroun, ~400 m), Jezzine (~950 m), Kab Elias (~1,100 m), Deir el Ahmar (~1,000 m), Niha (~1,200 m) and Ainata (up to about 1,800 m). Predominantly clay-limestone and marl-calcareous soils, older gobelet-trained vines, and staggered harvests across altitudes yield fruit with tension and aromatic lift. The result is a stylistic through-line of freshness—even in warm years—without sacrificing ripeness.

Wine Range of Ixsir

The portfolio is structured in three tiers.

• Altitudes (red, white, rosé) offers early-drinking brightness from multiple sites; the white often champions Obeideh alongside Muscat and Viognier, a nod to local heritage.
• Grande Réserve steps up density and complexity: the red typically blends Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon from elevated clay-limestone parcels, while the white marries Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, sometimes with a discreet touch of oak for texture.
• At the summit, EL Ixsir is a rigorous selection with longer élevage. EL Red—commonly Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot—sees extended ageing in French oak (around two years, depending on vintage), delivering graphite-lined structure and layered dark fruit. EL White—principally Viognier and Chardonnay—is aged in oak for roughly a year, balancing creamy mid-palate weight with mountain-derived acidity. The estate also distills a traditional Arak from Obeideh, further affirming its commitment to indigenous varieties.

Did you know?

The winery's rooftop is planted as a living garden and vine conservatory—reportedly Lebanon's largest green roof—where more than twenty grape varieties grow side-by-side, a literal tasting map of Ixsir's diversity.