What We're Drinking

Modern Lebanese wine dates from the "discovery" of Serge Hochars Chateau Musar (stocked Waitrose) at the 1979 Bristol Wine Fair.

Currently Lebanon's wine exports are showing healthy growth, with the UK the biggest importer, giving refuge to a quarter of all wine produced.

Akram Kassatly studied winemaking in France in the '60s. Ever since, he dreamed of making wine in his homeland, Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

Unfortunately wars and political uncertainty intervened preventing him from realising his ambition until recently, when financed by his success in the drinks industry, he succeeded in establishing Chateau Ka.

This full flavoured, food friendly red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grapes.

A quarter of the blend is then given 12 months' ageing in French oak barrels which adds a toasty, vanilla edge to the mulberry and bramble fruit flavours.

Full bodied, but not austere, this is a versatile red for accompanying red meat dishes, beef steak in particular. A recipe card for this is available in store as part of Waitrose's Mediterranean Wine Showcase promotion at the front of the shop, Mall level.

- Bernard Wilkes is assistant wine manager at Waitrose