Why Caviste Loves Domaine des Tourelles - and the 2022 Valley of the Sun

There are few wine regions with quite as much history, character and intrigue as Lebanon, and Domaine des Tourelles is right at the heart of it. Founded in the Bekaa Valley in 1868, it is one of Lebanon’s true wine pioneers – and remarkably, it is still going strong today under winemaker Faouzi Issa and his team. More than 150 years on, the estate combines traditional Lebanese winemaking with a refreshingly modern approach, producing wines that are full of personality without taking themselves too seriously.

The 2022 Valley of the Sun is a perfect introduction to what makes the domaine so exciting. A juicy, generous blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault, it is packed with dark berry fruit, spice and herbal notes, with rounded tannins and plenty of freshness. It has the richness you might expect from the sunny Bekaa Valley, but crucially, it remains medium-bodied, fresh and incredibly easy to drink. At 13%, it is a wine that works just as well with a midweek supper as it does alongside lamb from the barbecue.

For us, that is the real appeal of Domaine des Tourelles. It is historic without being stuffy, serious without being po-faced, and above all, it delivers brilliant wine at properly sensible prices. The 2022 Valley of the Sun is a cracking example: unmistakably Lebanese, wonderfully food-friendly and a brilliant way to discover a country that deserves far more attention from wine drinkers.