Massaya is run by Sami and Ramzi Ghosn in collaboration with Frédéric and Daniel Brunier from Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe, and Dominique Hebrard, formerly of Château Cheval Blanc.
Its vineyards in the Beqaa Valley, standing 1000 metres above sea level, are tucked behind Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon mountains. There's a mild climate - averaging 25ºC, with wet winters and long summers - allowing for grapes that flourish.
They have ventured into more extreme, mineral lands to the North East (Ras Baalbek), North West (Hadath Baalbek) and even further north of Baalbek, to cultivate Grenache and Mourvèdre for their reds, and Obeidi, Clairette, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Vermentino for whites.
Massaya, in Lebanese, translates to “twilight” but at the specific moment the sun sets behind Mount Lebanon and the sky of the Bekaa turns dark blue with a hue similar to the blue bottle of arak - a spirit made by the family - that was their first step into alcohol.
Sami and Ramzi expanded beyond arak, with the help of some French domaines, It took several years for the Ghosns and their French partners to detect the right terroirs, grape varieties, and principles behind the business. They settled on a devotion to the environment and a dedication to quality.