Domaine de Bargylus

Domaine de Bargylus is a wine estate on the slopes of the Coastal Mountain Range in Syria. These mountains, known as Mount Bargylus in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, produced notable wines up until the rise of Islam.[1] Domaine de Bargylus is managed by two brothers Karim and Sandro Saadé, with the assistance of renowned consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt. It has been cited by wine critic Jancis Robinson as "arguably the finest wine of the Eastern Mediterranean".[2]

History

The Saadé family began works on the winery in 2003.[3][4] The first vintage was produced in 2006. The Saadé family, of Orthodox Christian origins,[5] is originally from the coastal city of Latakia, known in ancient times as Laodicea ad Mare (i.e. "Laodicea-by-the-sea"). The Saadé family traces its mercantile roots to the 18th and 19th century with prominent representatives such as Gabriel Saadé (1854-1939) and Rodolphe Saadé (1900-1956). With an initial involvement in commodities’ trading and various industries, the family developed maritime and land transport activities on the initiative of Johnny Saadé, Rodolphe’s son, in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and France. Johnny Saadé shifted his activities to the wine making, tourism and real estate fields.

The family owns another winery in Lebanon's Beqaa valley, Château Marsyas.

Other members of this Latakian family are Syrian intellectual and historian Gabriel W.Saadé (1922-1997) and his niece Leila Badre, a prominent Lebanese-Syrian archaeologist.

Operations

The vineyard is situated at 990 m, facing the Mediterranean. The soil is made of limestone, with some clay. The area has high daytime variation and relatively high rainfall.[6] Two wines both in Francophile style are being produced. The Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes for the white wine, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot for the red.[4][7] In 2015, Domaine de Bargylus produced 45 thousands bottles of wine, and sold around the world.[8] The vineyard has been targeted by Islamist rebels during the Syrian civil war.[8]

References
  1. Rawlinson, George (2005) History of Phoenicia I.B. Tauris, London, page 184, ISBN 1-84511-019-6
  2. "Domaine de Bargylus: From war zones to posh restaurants abroad | Samar Kadi | AW".
  3. Schmitt, Patrick (February 23, 2023). "How war, rampant inflation and earthquakes won't stop a Syrian wine estate". The Drinks Business. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  4. Lascelles, Alice (March 29, 2020). "The Syrian vineyard defying the war". Financial Times. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  5. Venema, Vibeke (July 13, 2015). "Making wine in a war zone: Syria's 'dream' vineyard". BBC News. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  6. "Marsyas and Bargylus: wines from Lebanon and Syria – wineanorak.com". September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  7. Borah, Jahnabee (June 2, 2023). "Syrian wine and a history lesson". Mintlounge. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  8. Venema, Vibeke (July 13, 2015). "Making wine in a war zone: Syria's 'dream' vineyard". BBC News. Retrieved September 2, 2023.

See also

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