Forest wines® Heya Wines Kanz, Lebanon – 9488036102434

ORGANIC / NATURAL 

With a name that means ‘treasure’, this is a whole cluster blend of Syrah and Grenache that works wonders when chilled. Expect dried flowers, red plum and cherry, as well as some spice and a funky note on the nose. The palate is dry, fruit forward with a chalky minerality on the finish. There’s some tannins, but the mouthfeel is light and pleasant.
Carbonic macerated, aged in amphorae, unfiltered, and with minimal sulphur added at bottling: everything we love!

Heya Wines is a project of close friends Claudine Lteif and Michelle Chami (also wife to Mersel Wine’s Eddie Chami), who hope to bring more equality to the winemaking industry by working with an all-women team in the vineyard, and handling everything “from a to z” themselves (and yes, that includes labelling bottles!) during vinification. They craft their wines following a natural, minimal intervention approach, using only native indigenous yeasts, and cultivating their plants organically, to give back to their land and achieve authentic results. So much so that even the labels on their wines are picture they took at harvest.

Origin: Batroun, Lebanon
Vintage: 2023
Grape varieties: Grenache (60%), Syrah (40%)
Food pairings: cold cuts, charcuterie and light snacks, smokey meats, grilled veg, herby dishes
Bottle size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%