Wine trail · Lebanon

Coastal Cities Wine Route

1. IXSIR - World's Greenest Winery 1 2. Château Saint Thomas - Indigenous Grape Pioneer 2 3. Vertical 33 - Beirut Wine Bar 3 4. Vinifest - Lebanon's Wine Festival 4 5. Les Caves de Taillevent - Fine Wine Sanctuary 5 10 km 1. IXSIR - World's Greenest Winery 1 2. Château Saint Thomas - Indigenous Grape Pioneer 2 3. Vertical 33 - Beirut Wine Bar 3 4. Vinifest - Lebanon's Wine Festival 4 5. Les Caves de Taillevent - Fine Wine Sanctuary 5 20 km

Explore Lebanon's coastal wine scene: IXSIR's LEED Platinum winery above Batroun, boutique estates in mountain villages, and Beirut's vibrant wine bar culture.

3days

Moderateeffort

5stops

Chapter 1 of Phoenician Wine Trail · Lebanon

The stops

  1. Winery · Price: low IXSIR - World's Greenest Winery Founded in 2008, this environmentally sustainable winery offers self-guided tours (free) or guided tours ($3/person) through vineyards, winery, and cellar. Full range tasting of 8 wines for $10. Restaurant on-site with stunning sunset views.
  2. Winery · Price: moderate Château Saint Thomas - Indigenous Grape Pioneer A medium-sized family winery with cellar carved 25-30m into the rocks. The 65-hectare vineyard sits at 1,000m altitude on Mount Lebanon's eastern slope. Personal tours conducted by the founding family.
  3. Tasting · Price: moderate Vertical 33 - Beirut Wine Bar One of Beirut's premier wine tasting spaces. Enjoy a glass, bottle, or flight of Lebanese wines paired with local dishes. The perfect introduction to Lebanese wine before or after visiting the wineries.
  4. Festival · Price: moderate Vinifest - Lebanon's Wine Festival October 1-4, 2025 at Beirut Hippodrome. Four days of wine tastings, gastronomy, music, and entertainment. Sample wines from dozens of Lebanese wineries in one location. Tickets via AntoineTicketing.
  5. Tasting · Price: high Les Caves de Taillevent - Fine Wine Sanctuary A decadent evening destination with up to 1,600 wine references to discover. The intimate space allows you to sprawl out and indulge in Lebanese wine culture with expert guidance.

The story

Combine vineyard visits with urban wine exploration and the annual Vinifest if timing aligns.

Plan the trip

Getting there and around

Safety
Coastal route safe. Mountain roads winding but paved. Beirut nightlife safe in trendy neighborhoods (Mar Mikhael, Gemmayze). Standard urban caution.
Parking
Free at all wineries. Beirut street parking nightmare - use valet or hotel garage. Mar Mikhael has paid lots (5-10 EUR/evening).
Transport
Car rental for winery visits (IXSIR, St. Thomas). Beirut itself is walkable/Uber. Coastal highway fast but congested Friday evenings. Mountain roads winding.
Accessibility
IXSIR fully accessible (LEED Platinum design). St. Thomas has stairs. Beirut wine bars ground floor, accessible.

Where to stay

Notes
Beirut as base makes most sense. Vinifest accommodation books 2 months ahead. Mar Mikhael has boutique hotels within walking distance of wine bars.
Budget
Beirut hostels (€20-30/bed). Talal Hotel Mar Mikhael (€50-70/night).
Splurge
Le Gray Beirut (€250+/night, rooftop pool). IXSIR area: rent villa via Airbnb (€150-200/night).
Mid-range
Albergo Hotel Beirut (€90-120/night, boutique). Batroun has coastal B&Bs (€60-80/night).

What it costs

Per day
€70-120/day mid-range. €40-50/day budget (hostel, street food). €150+/day luxury.
Ways to spend less
IXSIR self-guided tour is free. Beirut wine bar happy hours (some spots). Shared service taxis along coast (€5-8 vs €30-40 private). Street food (manakish, falafel) €3-5 vs €20-30 restaurant meals. Buy wine at IXSIR shop (direct pricing).

Where to eat

Must-try dishes
Mezze, grilled seafood (Batroun coastal), manakish zaatar, Lebanese breakfast spreads, wine bar small plates.
Food and wine
IXSIR Altitudes white with grilled fish. Lebanese reds with mixed grill. Wine bar charcuterie with rosés.
Recommended tables
IXSIR restaurant (€40-60/person, sunset views), Batroun fish restaurants (€25-35), Mar Mikhael gastropubs (€20-30), Tawlet (farm-to-table, €30).

If your time is short

Do not miss
  • IXSIR sunset tasting
  • Beirut wine bar exploration
Recommended
  • St. Thomas family visit
  • Vinifest (if dates align)
  • Mar Mikhael neighborhood walk
Skip if time is short
  • Ô Caveau (if already doing Vertical 33)
  • Multiple Beirut wine bars (pick 1-2)

Mistakes to avoid

  • Don't visit IXSIR at midday - the sunset is THE experience
  • Don't drive from winery to wine bar - Uber/taxi back to Beirut after tasting
  • Don't assume Vinifest walk-up tickets - they sell out 2-3 weeks ahead
  • Don't skip IXSIR thinking it's "too modern" - the sustainability story and views are exceptional

Worth stopping for

  • IXSIR: arrive 4PM for golden hour terrace shots with Mediterranean (6-7PM sunset depending on season)
  • Batroun: old souk and Phoenician sea wall at morning light (8-9AM)
  • Mar Mikhael: street art best photographed weekend mornings before crowds (9-11AM)
  • Beirut Corniche: sunset shots toward Raouche Rocks (7-8PM)

More trails in this chapter