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Soapbox: Michael Karam on wine’s political power

Published:  10 December, 2024

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Profile: H&K Wine Agencies goes for Phoenician flavour

Published:  04 July, 2024

New business H&K Wine Agencies is building a portfolio from along the ancient Phoenician trade routes. Andrew Catchpole has an exclusive chat about their plans.

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Georgia’s Natural Progression

Published:  14 November, 2023

It’s been a decade since Georgian wine hit UK lists. Michael Karam charts the hype, the reality and the what next?

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Lebanon round table: East meets West

Published:  22 March, 2023

Inviting curious trade palates to taste and discuss Lebanese wines for the UK market, co-hosts Andrew Catchpole and Harpers Lebanon Report author Michael Karam unearthed a wealth of enthusiasm for the country’s engaging offer.

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Lebanon: Rebirth and renewal

Published:  16 January, 2023

In a Harpers exclusive, Lebanese expert Michael Karam shares his new, in-depth report on his native Lebanon’s wine industry, with a scene-setting introduction here and the full content published online at Harpers.co.uk

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Exclusive: Michael Karam’s 2023 Lebanon report

Published:  13 January, 2023

In a Harpers exclusive, Lebanese authority Michael Karam has released his 2023 Lebanon report, available to read for free on the Harpers website. 

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Wine & War documents trials and triumphs of winemaking in Lebanon

Published:  28 September, 2020

A new documentary film entitled ‘Wine & War: The Untold Story of Wine in the Middle East’ is to focus on the resilience of Lebanese winemaking as seen “through the lens of war and instability”.

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Lebanon: Return to roots

Published:  13 June, 2019

Perched on the eastern end of the Mediterranean, yet with vineyards at altitudes of 1,000m and above, Lebanon offers a promising mix of conditions for the production of great wines. Of course, the first wave of Lebanese wines to make their mark internationally were largely blends based on Bordeaux varieties, with some notable successes, gaining a niche but loyal following. However, in tune with the country’s location and viticultural history, a second wave of indigenous and Mediterranean varieties are now emerging as winemakers realise the potential for varieties that carry more of an indigenous signature.

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Lebanon going back to its - Cinsault - roots

Published:  01 February, 2017

Lebanon is going back to its roots - in every sense.

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Obituary: Serge Hochar of Lebanon's Château Musar

Published:  04 January, 2015

Michael Karam, acclaimed journalist, ambassador for Lebanese wine and author of  Wines of Lebanon remembers, Serge Hochar, the charismatic and buccaneering owner of Lebanon's Château Musar, who died at the age of 74, while on holiday with his family in Mexico over the new year.

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Discovering the wonders of Lebanon: An insider's view

Published:  13 December, 2013

Lebanon really should to be the sexiest wine-producing country in the world. No I'm not having one of those moments of misty-eyed sentimentality to which we Lebanese are often prone.

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?Discovering the wonders of Lebanon

Published:  13 December, 2013

Wine has been made in Lebanon for thousands of years, but for many it remains a great unknown. Richard Siddle, Natasha Hughes and Michael Karam draw back the veil on its glories

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Michael Karam: Getting behind Lebanese winemakers

Published:  11 October, 2013

Harpers' clarion call to support Lebanese wines in September was heeded by at least one retailer. Slurp in Banbury is promoting 30 Lebanese wines from five producers: Massaya, Chateau Ksara, Domaines des Tourelles, the EU-backed Coteaux Heliopolis and of course the mighty Chateau Musar.

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Exclusive: Domaine Bargylus reveals what life is like as Syria's only winery

Published:  05 September, 2013

"It makes me very sad that I can't go there," says French oenologist consultant Stephane Derenoncourt speaking from Beirut yesterday. "You have no idea what is like to make wines by [looking at] photographs, and emails and receiving grapes [samples] by taxi. This is not how it is supposed to be done, but this is our baby. We started from scratch and now we are working with exciting terroir that will one day be famous all over the world. I know these wines can age and I want to be able to taste the war vintage in 15 years."

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Michael Karam: The Lebanese red and white debate

Published:  20 August, 2013

For some reason my radio in London is tuned to LBC, the capital's talk radio station. I really should twiddle the knob along to Radio 4 but there something comforting about the "I say get rid of the lot of 'em, I do" right-wing cabbie rants, don't you think? 

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Syrian winery defies war to supply wine to European restaurants

Published:  24 July, 2013

Syrian winery, Domaine Bargylus, continues to go to extraordinary lengths to get its wines from a war zone to the elite wine lists of Europe.

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Michael Karam: The alcohol revival in Lebanon

Published:  19 July, 2013

Greetings from Lebanon, where I can report that Levantine innovation has rekindled its affair with all forms of... 

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