From Curiosity to Passion: My Personal Wine Journey Through Lebanon & Cyprus

The First Sip

It started with a single glass.
Aged Château Musar in a quiet corner of a Beirut bistro. The wine was deep, complex, and unlike anything I’d tasted before. It lingered on my tongue and in my thoughts long after the meal ended.
That moment sparked something in me — a curiosity that would lead me down winding roads, into sun-drenched vineyards, and across kitchen tables filled with laughter and stories.

Cyprus: Rediscovering a Hidden Treasure

I didn’t expect Cyprus to surprise me — but it did.
In a tiny village tucked into the Troodos Mountains, I met Yiannis, a retired schoolteacher who opened his home and his cellar to me. Over a bottle of his homemade Maratheftiko, he told me stories of his youth, of summers spent picking grapes, and of the importance of passing traditions to the next generation.
That night, I understood something profound: wine is memory. It holds the past in every drop and invites us to create new stories with every pour.

Moments That Stayed With Me

• There was the Easter dinner in Paphos, where a whole family toasted me with Commandaria.
• The sunrise bike ride through Bekaa Valley vineyards, followed by a breakfast of za’atar manakish and Viognier.
• The late-night conversation with a winemaker in Byblos, who told me, “Wine is our language. When words fail, we raise a glass.”

Lessons Learned

I came to Lebanon and Cyprus chasing wine — but I left with so much more. I found connection, history, and humanity in every bottle. I learned that wine isn’t just about flavor — it’s about place, people, and purpose.
And most importantly, I learned that sometimes, the best journeys begin with a simple question: What happens if I take another sip?