Eddie Chami, who grew up in Australia after his family emigrated from Lebanon in the 1960s, felt a profound connection to his homeland. His journey back to Lebanon began after he studied winemaking at UC Davis, leading him to return in 2007 to revive his grandparents’ vineyards.
Initially, Eddie collaborated with a cooperative winery, but he soon diverged from the typical trend in Lebanon of producing French-style wines from international grape varieties. Instead, he embraced the country’s indigenous varietals like Merwah, Marini, Dow Al Amar, and Jouzani.
The name "Mersel" is taken from the Maskar Mersel region, which has become Lebanon’s highest wine-producing area, with vineyards positioned between 1900 to 2650 meters above sea level. While the peaks reach over 3000 meters, Eddie believes that 2600 meters is the maximum elevation suitable for vineyards. Notably, the Bekaa Valley, which lies just to the west, houses 90% of Lebanon’s vineyards at elevations between 700 and 1200 meters, which are increasingly affected by rising temperatures. Eddie also produces wine from the Wadi Quannoubine area where his family is rooted, known for its snowy winters and warm summers, despite a lower elevation of 600 meters.
Beyond his own winemaking, Eddie opens his winery to aspiring vintners, allowing them to create their own small-lot wines.
Notable Wines from Mersel:
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Mersel Elevate Marini 2021: From 150-year-old Marini vines at 1800 meters. Fermented in Georgian qvevri and matured in Lebanese amphorae, this wine is a pale pink/red, offering wild strawberry and cherry aromas with hints of rose petals. The palate is juicy and complex, showcasing mandarin and orange alongside red cherry and a spice finish. Rated 95/100.
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Mersel Elevate Marini 2022: Made primarily in amphora, with a blend of Merweh and Marini. Crunchy and vibrant, this wine showcases energy with redcurrant notes and a firm structure, also rated 95/100.
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Mersel Phoenix Merweh 2023: Sourced from 150-year-old Merwah vines at 1600 meters, this wine has textured pear and yellow plum flavors, with a slight pithiness. Rated 92/100.
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Mersel Jaffa Crush 2024: A blend of old Mersel and young Muscat, utilizing carbonic maceration. This wine is lively and bright with excellent complexity. Rated 94/100.
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Mersel Red Velvet 2022: A carbonic Cinsault that presents with ripe cherries and raspberries, showing a nice structure and a spicy undertone. Rated 94/100.
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Mersel Elevate Daw Al Amar 2022: An indigenous white varietal from 50-year-old vines, providing a layered texture with minty and citrus notes. Rated 94/100.
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Mersel Leb Nat 2022: A Pet Nat made from equal parts Viognier and Merweh, it is bright and juicy with citrus and marmalade notes. Rated 93/100.
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Heya Wines Nour 2024: Part of the small wineries emerging from Mersel, this is a Grenache Blanc and Obeidh blend, rich and spicy with pear and peach flavors. Rated 93/100.
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Heya Wines Kanz 2024: A blend of Grenache and Syrah, known for its juicy and refined character, rated 95/100.
For more details on Mersel wines, visit Mersel Wine.